The Catholic Girl's Guide

     The Catholic Girl’s Guide To Losing Your Virginity is a pleasantengaging comedy which opened the newly appointed Pico Playhouse. The play has had previous runs at The Hudson Guild in Los Angeles and at Cincinnati Playhouse in The Park. This is an all- new production ably directed by Eli Gonda.

Annie Hendy is the writer and the star of this tale of a girl’s journey into the world of dating, men, and sex while, at first trying to hold onto her virginity and saving it for marriage. This rather quaint notion quickly gives way to a frantic search for someone to be her “first” as she approaches her 25th birthday. I guess being a 25-year-old virgin could be worse (think Forty Year Old Virgin). Ms Hendy is a charming performer but her appeal somewhat lessons as she becomes more and more frantic in her search. She is also hampered by having to stay stage front and walking from side to side while her partner in the proceedings (the very talented Cyrus Alexander) is changing clothes for yet another transformation on a gorgeous set by Tom Buderwitz. Even with his back to us I was fascinated to see what was he going to come up with next. He also got to interact with the set more than Ms. Hendy.

Cyrus Alexander showed amazing versatility in play a dozen or so different characters in this two-hander. Just the sheer creativity of the choices he made were enough to upstage the evening. His characters ranged from the devote priest to several varieties of the “predatory male”, .as well as a priest in training, a speed dater, a horny bar patron, a jock etc. Mr. Alexander varied his voice, stance, mannerisms, and body to fit the range of characters he was asked to portray. Through no fault of his own, he stole the show.

The play is more comedic in the showing than the telling. The interactions between Ms. Hendy and Mr. Alexander were often hilarious. Her monologues in between became annoying at times. I mean how often can you hear an attractive girl complain about not getting laid and the difficulty in meeting the ” right” man. When she finally realizes she doesn’t just want sex but rather a partner she, drum roll, meets someone who is worthy of her. We are left hoping that after the show is over the characters get it on. Performances at the Pico Playhouse until March 1