**** Lately, we have had some of our local theater companies do co-productions with others. I think this is a remarkable event for our area theater audiences to see. Currently, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble ( it’s Women’s Work) and Raven Theatre are producing an amazing two person play written by Keiko Green, “Gorgeous”, now on stage at Raven Theatre located at 6157 N. Clark Street ( at Granville)., The Raven is the larger of the two venues, and this show, despite only being a two person production, almost demands the larger space for the set (Mara Ishihara Zinky) and the number of seats in the theater, itself.

Directed by Kirsten Fitzgerald, this is a story about a woman, who has just lost her lover and is preparing for the funeral and the imminent sale of the house that has been left to her. As  Jenny (  deftly handled by Stephanie Shum) starts the process she is visited by a stranger, Bernie ( played to perfection by Tara Mallen) who appears to be a con-woman trying to get some money from Jenny. At the very outset of the story, we do see Jenny at a dog show, where her prized bulldog, “Gorgeous” runs off and is disqualified.

As the play proceeds, we learn a great deal more about each of these women, who are like night and day, but we later find out are closer to each other than they should be, as well as the bulldog, who do we meet in the final scenes ( in person on the stage, and a beautiful dog indeed). During the scenes that compose this 90 minute story ( no intermission), we learn a great deal about each of the women that have been created by Green.

We learn that Jenny, who is Japanese, was a caretaker that Bill ( the man who passed away) hired and over a period of time becomes his “girlfriend” and helps him to show his ( or should I say their) prize winning bulldog. His house and other possessions have been left to her as well as the show dog, which is what she wants to continue doing. As the story goes on, we learn that the intruder who enters the garage at Jenny’s home is not a stranger seeking to con Jenny, but in fact, the spouse that left both Bill and Gorgeous behind years ago.

What happens in the next 4 scenes is both hysterical ( some great comic one-liners) and sad, as we learn more about each of these ladies and their relationships with Bill and others in the neighborhood. There are ups and downs in the trust department as these two ladies appear to bond, then break, then bond and we begin to think, what will happen between them? I prefer not to give away the ending of the play, but will tell you that the crux of the story involves accountability as well as trust and forgiveness. We also learn that there is a special bond that is brought out due to the love of and for this champion bulldog “Gorgeous” ( what a beautiful dog she  is).

On the tech side, in addition to the set ( the only question on this is why the garage door was always open?), the sound (Connor Wang) and lighting (Seojung Jang) were right on and effective, and the props (Paoloma Locsin) of which there were many were amazingly accurate. The costumes by Maegan Pate and the fight choreography by Stephanie Mattos were perfect making the total production one that I would call flawless. While there are many comic moments, there are some very thought provoking moments as well as we look at some racism, revenge, hate, jealousy, but in the long run, there two ladies, who only had two things in common, find the one that is worth sharing.

“Gorgeous” will continue thru – June 7th with performances as follows: