I highly recommend you go see Secret Bridesmaid’s Business at St James’ Cavalier over the next two weekends.
The cast, led by Cathy Lawlor, are all so perfect for their roles.
Cathy plays a butter-wouldn’t-melt bride to be, who has a heart-wrenching tear jerking eve of her wedding with her mother, played convincingly and accurately as any bride-to-be will tell you by Vanessa McDonald; bossy, naive gentle, regretful, strong and OCD all at once.
Best friends Kate de Cesare and Nicola Abela Garrett pose an awkward dilemma. The would you wouldn’t you. Not envying either of their positions, but identifying with each of their characters, and guessing that secretly, they wanted to be more like each other , in this complex, but highly observational play of few characters, they both turn out to be right and wrong in their belief.
Each member of the cast gave strong monologues, where more of themselves is revealed, each received unscripted applause. Except that is, for the groom, played by the gorgeous David Ellul, whose introduction through the first act made sure he was an unwelcome guest at the party. It was almost eerie how quiet the theatre was after his delivery.
The scarlet woman, Elektra Anastasi, made me feel a little sad – knowing that there are people out there like that. Fabulous body though – I would strip off in public if I looked like that!
The final scene had me in tears. But I know what I would have done.
