'Ladies, Sigh No More' is laugh-out-loud funny

By Saja Hoffpauir

Lifestyles Editor

Theatergoers who catch the Teen Acadia Players’ production of “Ladies, Sigh No More” at the Acadia Parish Center for the Arts and Culture next week will not be disappointed.

The comedy is set in an inpatient psychiatric ward (or possibly purgatory) and features a variety of Shakespeare’s leading ladies working through their personal issues to bring closure to their theatrical lives.

The show is wonderfully cast, and all of the players bring their characters to life. Katt Barousse makes it clear that Ophelia “out-crazies” everybody, and Michaela Jabusch is a perfectly bored and cynical Cordelia. She is rivaled

only by Dilyn Stewart, who, as Kate, brings a new meaning to the term “shrew.”

Lauren Babineaux’s portrayal of ditzy Desdemona is spot-on, as is Rachel LaCroix’s ambitious noblewoman Lady Macbeth. Likewise, Sidney Gilder does an excellent job of mimicking the nervous, naive behavior of Lady Anne.

Jessica Clayton is outstanding as Juliet and does some of most realistic fake crying ever witnessed.

Adelle Arceneaux, as the psychiatrist trying to fix them all, rises to the occasion.

As for the two male players, Zach Wright hams up the role of the obviously put-upon orderly, Jamison, without overdoing it, and Wyatt Kennedy is, in fact, a “mystery man.”

The show is laugh-out-loud funny and intriguing until the end.

Showings will begin at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13-16, and there will be a special 2 p.m. matinee on Feb. 13. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students with school I.D.s, and they can be purchased through www.theacadiaplayers.com and on www.facebook.com/acadia players.