Review by James Wilkinson

‘Maytag Virgin’ – Written by Audrey Cefaly. Directed by Eleanor Holdridge. Scenic Designer: Kris Stone. Costume Designer: Charlene Alexis Gross. Lighting Design: Karen Perlow. Sound Designer: Scott Stauffer. Presented by Merrimack Repertory Theatre through February 2, 2020

The emotional effect of Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s production of Maytag Virgin is a peculiar one. I’m hard pressed to think of a scene where I was able to stop poking holes in what I was seeing. The continuity between two scenes didn’t seem to quite match up. Motivations for certain character elements were questionable. Deep in Act Two, as the play’s action begins to pick up, the thought crossed my mind that entire scenes from Act One could have and perhaps should have been cut. And yet, by the end, none of this seemed to matter. As I was driving away from the theater, all of the “problems” I had with the production melted away in my mind, leaving me with only a lovely feeling of serenity. The production’s high points had stuck. I don’t think that the play is especially notable (like it or not, those story issues are still there), but I don’t say that as a reason to keep you from seeing the production. Sometimes it’s enough for a show to be pleasant and enjoyable the way that this one is. I had a good time without feeling emotionally manipulated the way I often do at plays aiming for the kind of feelings that this one invokes. There’s a warmth and generosity that the audience members bring to the play, allowing them to fill in any gaps and by some churning internal force, the elements pull together.

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