The Golden Gals

If you have never heard the names Dorothy Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux, Rose Nylund, or Sophia Petrillo, you never saw one of the best all-women comedy sitcoms on television. Yet, for seven years, these ladies brought laughter and joy to audiences worldwide, and each won an Emmy Award, making it one of only four sitcoms in the award's history to achieve this.

Directed by Ginger Minj, who also plays the role of Blanche, Fruit Wine Productions, "The Golden Gals Live!" pays tribute to these four sassy seniors in a witty and comical theatrical performance. The cast included Gidget Galore (Rose), MR, MS Adrien(Sophia), Divine Grace(Dorothy), and featuring Jason Richards.

Minj pulls this skit from season 3, episode 17, called "My Brother, My Father, when Sophia's brother Angelo, a priest, comes to visit, and Sophia has never told him that Dorothy and Stan are divorced. So she bribes them to pretend that they are still married. Sophia also had another surprise for Dorothy when she told her that her older sister Gloria was coming to town. This episode is full of secrets, surprises, and severe weather.

Golden Gals is close to two hours. The stage, perfectly set up like Blanche's house, even starts with the same theme song. They changed the copyright words, but it's sung like the Golden Girls' intro. Galore, MR MS Adrien, and Minj's performances were solid; however, Divine Grace, who looked and sounded like Dorothy, was excellent.

With seven seasons of episodes to choose from, this episode wasn't one of the Golden Girls' most comic performances. And to extend the production, Minj adds other Golden Girls episodes. One addition is when Gloria, Dorothy's sister, is gay instead of her friend, Jean ( Isn't It Romantic), in the fifth episode of Season 2, where Jean falls in love with Rose.

Kudos to the cast, who provided several comedic lines, but the lack of camaraderie, wit, and flair seen from the legendary Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty; caused this production to have several moments that seemed lethargic and lacking humor. But with a bit of work and losing some scenes, like the talent show during the power outage, this can be a delightfully funny production.

If you like the Golden Girls, Fruit Wine's The Golden Girls Live! is a solid, entertaining production you will enjoy.

Let's Play Theatrical Review Somewhat Recommends, The Golden Gals Live!

Mercury Theater Chicago

Fruit Wine Production Presents

The Golden Gals Live!

Directed by and starring Ginger Minj

January 13 - February 12, 2023