Great acting, great costumes, great set propel play
KIM COOL – Venice Gondolier – Our Town Editor Emeritus
VENICE — In a drawing room befitting royalty or at least a wealthy family, Moliere, a 17th century French playwright, crafted a love story about Henriette (Aleah Colon-Alfonso), the youngest daughter in a wealthy family of that era.
That her mother, Philaminte (Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan), the mother’s sister Belise (Linda Ramzel) and older daughter Armande (Nicole Moeller) put a strain on the younger daughter, her father, her uncle and even the family maid is the gist of “The Learned Ladies,” now playing at Venice Theatre.
Not only are the “learned ladies” blinded by their intellectual pursuits but Belise and Armande also seem blinded to the fact that Clitandre (Zachary Taylor) is not in love with either of them, probably never has been nor ever will be.
Belise, in particular, is delightfully ignorant as to whether any man is in love with her, believing that all men are, have been and will be.
Ramzell’s facial expressions nearly steal the show in her portrayal of this exceptional learned lady but for the talent of the other ladies in the cast who, thanks to director Benny Sato-Ambush, are also scene-stealers par excellence.
Moliere and Sato-Ambush prove to be a good team at Venice Theatre. With a stunning set by Brian Freeman and lighting by John Andzulis, enjoy.
While there are roles in this play with few lines, Moliere made every part a meaty one, and Sato-Ambush and his cast delivered and enhanced every nuance, especially scenes including some great physical comedy.
That these late 17th century “ladies” could be such “hussies” is all the more fun because of the performances of Menaldi-Scanlan, Ramzel and Moeller.
Along with the great set, direction, wonderful characters and acting were the costumes, thanks to VT costume costume shop manager Ross Boehringer and Dee Sullivan, costume designer at the Asolo Conservatory of Actor Training.
From the wigs to the dress hems, the ladies dresses were stunning and period perfect as well.
The loan of costumes from the Asolo Conservatory also offers proof of the way area theaters often work together. In more than 25 years of reviewing area theaters, I have seen everything from borrowed chairs and costumes to repairing leaking roofs, as was done many years ago for the Sarasota Players longtime theater on North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota.
That old saying “the show must go on” is demonstrated so often, and especially here in Venice where Hurricane Ian provided such an awful test of that adage.
For tickets to this or other productions, visit: venicetheatre.org/box-office.
“Learned Ladies is in the Venice Theatre’s Pinkerton Theatre in the Tampa Avenue Building. “Alice in Wonderland” continues in the Raymond Center Building at the north end of the campus.
Tickets to “Learned Ladies” are $35 for general admission, $22 for college students or educators and $15 for young people through high school. A $3 restoration fee will be added to each ticket at check-out.
“Learned Ladies continues through Sunday, April 27. There is no performance on Easter Sunday, April 20.
Photos by Renee McVety Photography
The Learned Ladies, 2025
The Learned Ladies, 2025
The Learned Ladies, 2025