Jake's Women Is (and Are) Delightful

By James E. Trainor III

Cedar Rapids - Jake (Philip Schramp) loves women, and women love Jake. And why not? He's witty, charming, and sexy. They even tell him so. Of course, then mainly tell him so when he's having imaginary conversations with them in his own head, but so what? Everyone needs a hobby.

Jake's Women is Neil Simon's comedy about a neurotic writer who can't deal with the women in his life on their own terms. TCR's production, directed by Scott Humeston, opens in the Grandon Studio this weekend. With a sharp look, masterful direction, and a hilarious cast, the show strikes a good balance between relentless comedy and heartfelt reflection.

Jake's Women Cast List Announced

Cedar Rapids - Theatre Cedar Rapids has announced the cast for its upcoming production of Jake's Women by Neil Simon. The show will be directed by Scott Humeston. It opens November 1.

Cast List: 
JAKE-Philip Schramp 
MAGGIE-Heather Akers 
KAREN-Susan Scharnau 
MOLLY (at 12)-Lily Palmersheim 
MOLLY (at 21)-Katie Vogel 
EDITH-Jen Boettger 
JULIE-Angela Billman 
SHEILA-Noel VanDenBosch

Jake's Women's pace is slow, acting great

by Meghan D'Souza

ICCT - The cast and crew of Jake's Women made a complicated concept simple. The story deals with Jake's personal struggle accepting the relationships with the women in his life: the fact that his first wife died, his daughter is grown up, his second marriage is failing. Jake prefers to shut himself in his home office where he can create characters and control what they do rather than deal with reality. A majority of the play takes place in Jake's mind, which sounds much more confusing than it is. As Jake was summoning his sister, his daughter at different ages, his wives as they once were, and even his therapist, the audience could follow along because of the lighting, costumes, and well-delivered dialogue.

The set had two levels with Jake's office up high and comprised of a desk, word processor and phone. The stage level was the living room he shared with his second wife, designed with a couch, chair, coffee table, phone and scotch with tumblers that the characters used throughout the show.

The show had its slow parts, likely due to long dialogues between Jake (Chuck Dufano)and Maggie (Barb Arceneaux) that were supposed to be sharp and intense. These conversations were intended to help Jake and Maggie work through their relationship and come to a conclusion about what was wrong and what they could do to move forward. My date and I found ourselves wishing for a resolution sooner. Stay together or not; we just wanted a new scene. This might have been resolved with more movement on the stage or perhaps by finding a way to break up the conversation to help us digest it and feel the pain with the characters instead of feeling like we were watching a soap opera.

The good news is that the actors made up for the slow flow. Of course, there was Dufano, who had a large load on his shoulders by taking on this play. He did a fabulous job delivering his lines, setting the right atmosphere through his acting, eliciting laughs at the appropriate time, and making our hearts ache just a bit when he reminisced about days that Jake missed.

I won't lie... though Dufano is a little young, I wished he were my dad during his scenes with Alison DeVore and Emily Larson, who played Jake's daughter Molly at two different ages. Both girls exhibited the right sort of familial chemistry with Dufano, and managed to be believable as different versions of the same girl. Outside of resembling each other, they also held themselves similarly, acted with the same cheerful disposition (when the script called for it), and, simply put, became Younger and Older Molly. They did a wonderful job bringing relatable nostalgia to the play.

Ellen Stevenson played Jake's sister Karen, who was always brought forth solely as a character in his mind. Her excellent acting abilities is what initially helped the audience understand that she was not supposed to be in Jake's house as a physical entity, but that we were watching what he was thinking. Her ease on the stage, ability to be Karen, not just act like she is Karen, and good humor served the entire play well.

So, I review plays. I have to be honest and say this one moved a little slow. It's my job, even if I'd rather sugar coat it. However, I also get to be honest and say the actors were wonderful. Dufano and the ladies are on stage for a reason and that's because they know how to act.

Jake's Women continues this weekend

ICCT – Jake's Women by Neil Simon is the first play the Iowa City Community Theatre is presenting at the 4-H Johnson County Fairgrounds. The show opened last weekend and continues October 8-10. Regular ticket prices are $18, with student and senior discounts.

Jake's Women recounts the travails of Jake, a successful novelist, who copes with a marital crisis by having imaginary conversations with the women in his life. Although imaginary characters playing their roles on multiple reality levels is not the typical Simon play, many of his hallmarks are still evident here, including masterful one-liners, glib psychoanalysis references, and simultaneously funny and serious lines delivered by a self-absorbed and self-effacing protagonist.

The play features a variety of actors, both veterans and newcomers to the ICCT stage, including Chuck Dufano as Jake, with Barb Arceneux, Ottavia de Luca, Alison de Vore, Emily Larson, Ariane Parkes-Perret, Robin McCright and Ellen Stevenson. It is directed by Josh Sazon.

Jake's Women cast chosen

ICCT - Director Josh Sazon has selected his cast for the Iowa City Community Theatre's upcoming production of Jake's Women by Neil Simon. ICCT last produced this show in 1999 with Jay Stein in the title role. The show opens October 1st.

The Cast:

Chuck Dufano - Jake
Barb Arceneaux - Maggie
Ellen Stevenson - Karen
Robyn McCright - Edith
Ottavia de Luca - Julie
Alison de Vore - Molly (age 12)
Emily Larson - Molly (age 21)
Ariane Parkes-Perret - Shiela