LOOSE KNIT by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Often friends, who enjoy the same hobbies such as quilting, sewing, or knitting, find joy in meeting together to pursue their friendships along with their creative talent.   This is the scenario of Theresa Rebeck’s comedy Loose Knit playing at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.

            The play takes place in the early 90’s in New York City where a group of ladies meet in each other’s apartments once-a-week to socialize as they pursue their hobby of knitting.  (Set design by Chris Winfield)  They include Liz (Marie Broderick), Liz’s sister Lily (Stephanie Colet), Margie (Julie Davis), Gina (Lisa McGee Mann), and Paula (Cathy Diane Tomlin).  Knitting, it appears, is secondary to just having each other for friendship and support against the problems that haunt them in their lives.  And problems they do have!

            Lily is married to Bob (Doug Haverty).  Does she have a problem!  Why, because Bob is having an affair with Lily’s sister Liz!  Wow!  Do Liz and Bob have a problem!  I can’t imagine which one is suffering the most, but I would suspect it would be Lily.  Paula is a psychologist having problems of her own trying to find herself (maybe in need of one herself).  Margie simply wants a man in her life, and Gina is falling apart because she just lost her job. 

            Yes, these women need solace, and it may mean more than sitting and knitting with one another.  Enter Miles (Todd Andrew Ball), a brash egotistical self-made millionaire who ends up dating three of the women, first with Margie, then Paula, and last, but not least, with Liz.  Could he be the solution to any one of their calamities?  All three end up in the same over-priced sushi restaurant with Miles who turns out to be a rather obnoxious date that sits and takes notes while in the company of the women throughout the entire evening.

            How did it happen that all three of these ladies ended up on a date with the same man?  Lily happens to be the one who knows Miles very well and somehow arranged these dates in hopes that it would help them see their problems in a different light and bring some closure to them.  Does her tactic work?  Wait and see for yourself.  This is an unusual comedy you won’t want to miss.

            Theresa Rebeck has written an extraordinary play that is very funny while, at the same time, quite witty.  Under the astute direction of L. Flint Esquerra, every cast member makes the audience feel their angst, while at the same time, comedy persists.

            Loose Knit plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, through September 8, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood.     For information or for tickets, go online at www.thegrouprep.com, or call (818) 763-5990.                      

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