“The Lost Virginity Tour”

By Rachel Galvin

Tough as nails Viola McGee (Sharon Pfeiffer) caused a tussle with fellow Happy Trails Baking Club member Kitty Warmerdam (Betty Ann Hunt Strain) and kicked her to the curb quite literally. This becomes the topic of the meeting as other members Elaine Matthews (Elise Levine) and Rita Hanson (Raven Adams) listen attentively to the conflict in between sharing cookie samples. Just as it seems like the mediocrity of their day to day lives may be all there is, McGee poses a brilliant plan… a road trip to all the spots where each has lost their virginity. It seems oxymoronic to their humdrum existence but this change of pace is exactly what they all need. And it comes complete with T-shirts.

But these “Golden Girls” find the journey not to be all fun and games. It seems that each has been holding on to a secret, which they hesitantly reveal one by one. The laughter moves into heartache and the revelations bring the foursome closer together.

The play, called “The Lost Virginity Tour,” held at the Delray Beach Playhouse, May 3-19, started out simple but got much more complex. One moment pulled at the heart strings while the next left the audience in stitches. With a wide emotional range for each character, the play really gives each actress something to sink their teeth into, and each dive into their parts with gusto. 

The biggest comic relief throughout came in the form of hot pants and leopard top wearing Sharon Pfeiffer as McGee, which is more impressive due to the fact that this is Pfeiffer’s first time in this type of theatrical role, having dialogue in almost every page of the script, so much so that she had a swing on two of the nights, just in case, played by Francie Friedman. Pfeiffer is known locally as being a stand up comedian and independent film actress, and she played opposite Matthew McConaughey in the movie “Beach Bum.” Despite her prowess as a comedienne, she brought a tender moment in the play home causing many in the audience and Pfeiffer herself to shed a tear. And McGee let her armor down and showed her vulnerability.

Each actress has plenty of experience in the industry and had a chance to showcase their skill through the retelling of their tales in the play. Adams, who has worked on Off-Broadway, television shows, commercials and soap operas, had a hilarious moment recounting her loss of virginity in a chaotic romp among unusual circumstances and involving a fire extinguisher. Strain has a long history in the theater and showed her skill as she told the tale of having to leave her first love due to parental pressures. Levine, who also reveals losing her love, started out as a litigation attorney and a financial recruiting specialist before returning to her roots as an actress.

A slideshow of pictures of the foursome provided the perfect transition between tour stops and a slow motion selfie-filled scene reenacting the car ride in the convertible was also clever.

Before the play even began, director Jeremy Quinn spoke to the audience and instructed them on certain theater etiquette, including not leaving quickly after curtain call. He did not have to worry about that as, not only did people stay, but many gave a standing ovation.

To find out more about the Delray Beach Playhouse, visit www.DelrayBeachPlayhouse.com.