THE BEST BOARDING HOUSE IN DELAWARE

Besides that this new play is really good, (and you have only one weekend left to see it,) I had the best overall time at the Electric Lodge Theater in Venice this past Sunday. So did the many audience members whom my New Best Friends and I kept running into after the show as we partied on famous Abbot Kinney Boulevard, just one block away.

More on all that fun later on, but first I must laud this entertaining short play, (it’s only seventy-six minutes, including an intermission!,) which is inspired by an interesting true tale; I suggest you research it after you see the show because it’s fascinating! (In a macabre way.)

All you really need to know about the premise of The Best Boarding House in Delaware is that it takes place in a boarding house in Delaware. (Duh—to both.) The year is 1983, and it begins with a visit from a resident’s niece who plans to move her aunt out of there. Knowing more than that might ruin it for you. I wish I had gone in with no knowledge of the plot because I feel that shows are always more interesting if you discover the journey for yourself.

And there are a few well-done surprises along the way. Even though I knew they might be possibilities, they still got me. My seat-mate said that my reactions to them were the best thing he’s ever seen in a theatre, so you know they really worked!

I don’t know how to classify the story. The Best Boarding House in Delaware is mainly a drama, but with a lot of humor, (which makes it basically a dramedy,) and it could alternatively be called a thriller or psychological drama or dark comedy. You’re just going to have to decide for yourselves.

Truth be told, I had opted to see the play only because Emmy-winning veteran actress Leigh Taylor-Young is in the four-female cast. I had never seen her work before, but, as she’s been uber-famous for just about my whole life, and I had actually met her a bunch of times a few decades ago, I really wanted to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to finally see her act. I believe she had just about retired some years ago, so this show was very lucky to have convinced her to return to the stage.

And let me tell you—that woman is still gorgeous! It’s unbelievable. I spoke with her after the show, (I’ll tell you about that in a few minutes, as well,) so I saw her up-close, and I promise you—Leigh looks at least twenty years younger than she is. Maybe even thirty years younger! And I’d kill to have her body. Which made me actually consider giving her a bad review, out of jealousy!

But I can’t even joke about that because Leigh is absolutely perfect in the role of the kindest, sweetest, most supportive woman one could ever imagine. Leigh’s character, Fiona, is the one resident in the titular senior boarding house. Every note in her performance rings true.

As for the rest of the cast, Heidi Sulzman, who does the heavy lifting as DeeDee, (or is it “Didi?”—there are no programs,) the old woman who owns and runs the boarding house, really sells her character, with no melodrama involved. That makes the action so real, (which as I said before, is!)

Also real is Michelle Gardner as Shannon, the niece of the resident she’s come to take to her own home. She makes the most of her comedic lines.

The final cast member is Jessie Warner, who plays the judge in a “Best Small Business” contest that DeeDee enters. Not only is she excellent in her role, but I love her hair. Trust me, I’m going to try to copy it because when I let my hair be wavy, it doesn’t look anything like the gorgeousness of hers!

Michael Fitzgerald’s cluttered-by-design set is spot-on; I’m sure it took a lot of work. (Or maybe he just studied my living room. Can I sue?)

Writer/director Marja-Lewis Ryan did a great job with the entire production. And on a side note, her darling boyfriend, Joseph, really helped me with a crazy phone problem that night, and literally saved the day for me! Actually, everyone who works there was very pleasant.

Perhaps that pleasantness is why the venue was packed…on Easter! And I wore no make-up because I thought I’d be the only one in the audience on such a big holiday. That audience fullness is a testament to how good the play is; it must be creating quite the buzz. I hope I’m adding to it with this review because I’m highly recommending The Best Boarding House in Delaware.

But, a warning, though—it gets freezing in that theatre, so I advise you to bring layers. If I had had a blanket I would’ve been happy. The guy next to me told me at intermission that when I put my sweatshirt on, he knew I was cold. (As was he! Along with at least half the assemblage.) Then when I put the hoodie up, he knew I was even colder. But when I put a mask on my face with no one coughing around us, he knew that I was freezing! I’m glad that someone knew I was using a face mask solely for warmth.  And just to let you know for future reference, it works.

Now here’s my Leigh Taylor-Young story: A few decades ago, Leigh was roommates with my friend, Paul Ryan, in a big beautiful house in BelAir. I met Paul when I was doing my TV show, and he asked me to join his improv group. From there, a few of us became the Laugh Factory Players. So I was over at that house quite a bit. I actually think I was there more than Leigh! But anyhow, because she was so good in this play, I decided to stay to see her afterwards, and she was as gracious as she is beautiful. So I’m glad we reconnected for a moment.

And as to my opening declaration of fun, this is what happened: The entire assemblage loved the show so much that everyone stuck around the lobby and entrance for a long while afterwards. We discussed what we had seen, took photos for each other, and greeted the amiable cast. A couple of guys even offered to help me find my car, which was possibly lost in the unfamiliar-to-me Venice neighborhood! When I finally left and walked to the corner, a lovely duo approached me to inquire about the notes I was taking during the show. We had such a good convo, (they had come to see Leigh, as well,) that we walked right over to Abbot Kinney and…they took me to dinner!!! We had the best time. (At least I did—they may be blocking me forever!) It hit me that in these days of life being more and more like Dateline, I’m amazed that we all trusted a stranger, especially after seeing the chilling The Best Boarding House in Delaware! But that’s what the show brought out in us all—a fun time! (And whether they want to be or not, Gigi and Sumit are now My New Best Friends. And they’re the first brother and sister pair upon whom I’ve ever bestowed that title, so I hope they cherish it for the brief time they’ll hold it; many others are vying for it at all times, so I have to switch it up when someone new deserves it. But someone will have to go far to beat-out these two.)

Now go see the play this last weekend! You’ll be glad you did.

The Best Boarding House in Delaware running through April 11, 2025
The Electric Lodge Theater
1416 Electric Ave., Venice
thebestboardinghouseindelaware.eventbrite.com