Something joyously funny is happening at Tropicalia Lounge. How To Be The Perfect Wingwoman: A New Musical, produced by Golden Ginger Productions, is a romantic musical comedy with a fresh take on female friendships, flirting, dating, and douchebags, supported by a witty book and lyrics by Dara Gold, a catchy musical score by Janani Ramachandran, and Justin Paschalides, and a ridiculously appealing cast.
Imagine a trio of bright, attractive, twenty-something women — Jazelle (Kristina Brooks), Deb (Katie Jeanneret) and Stevie (Kaisha Huguley) — who fret about ending up “cat ladies” or the local chapter of the Lonely Hearts Club. Three very funny songs lament the pitfalls of dating in a smartphone world: “Swipe,” “Friendzoned Again,” and “Decoding Emojis.” Terrific musical direction and arrangements by Justin Paschalides accentuate the humor. He gets the background vocals just right.
Help is on the way. While browsing a book sale with her friend Josh (Jonathan Hilgendorf), Jazelle literally stumbles upon a 1950s how-to manual for women helping women find love. She enlists her gal pals, Deb and Stevie, to give the guide a field test. It’s a pretty genius premise by Gold, and she and director Merancia Noelsaint lucked out in finding Shelby Sour (as ’50s author Violetta Grace Johnson) to provide inspired silliness in wingwoman instruction and song, “Perfectist of Perfect Wingwoman.”
The men they pursue, Alex (Harvey Fitz), Nick (Kenny Washington) and Tyler (Noah Sommer), have some great comedy moments which they really nail. Josh has several very funny encounters with Jazelle and proves his comedy chops singing “Why Can’t I Tell Her Tango?” Yes, a tango!
Among a very talented cast, Kristina Brooks shines vocally and comedically. In one notable scene in a bar, she goes from zero to plastered in two minutes and has the audience roaring with laughter.
How To Be The Perfect Wingwoman: A New Musical is sure to be one of the standout productions of this year’s Fringe Festival.
Running Time: 90 minutes, with no intermission.
How To Be The Perfect Wingwoman plays through July 16, 2016 at Tropicalia Lounge – 2001 14th Street, NW, in Washington, DC. For tickets, call (866) 811-4111, or purchase them online.
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Check other reviews and show previews on DCMetroTheaterArts’ 2016 Capital Fringe Page.
RATING:Â 
 BEST OF THE 2016 CAPITAL FRINGE!
