What I liked
The writing, acting, and heart of the play.
What I didn't like
Nothing, ready to be a full production.
My overall impression
Wilhelmina, although written in the past couple years, has the tonal and atmospheric feeling of a great American classic play. A glimpse into a Virginian home in the 1950s filled with dysfunction, newcomers, and a whole lot of emotional trauma.
The actors are dialed in, grounded in their circumstances, and breathe great life into the characters. Cheyenne Washington, in the titular role (AND playwright) graces the stage with damaged elegance, perfectly honest for Wilhelmina. Her shared chemistry with star-caliber actor, Tanner Hake, is intense and sultry. Hake, in the role of Mr. Brayson Ashford, is comparable to a stick of dynamite on stage. Brooding strength, conniving intelligence, and unpredictable in his actions.
This production at the Hollywood Fringe is barebones, raw, gritty, and proves the play has legs to be produced all around the country in large or intimate theater houses.
