Hippodrome’s Latest Production “Ripcord” in Review

The Hippodrome Theatre’s production of Ripcord, written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by V Craig Heidenreich, runs until March 25.

Ripcord follows two elderly roommates, Abby Binder (played by Sara Morsey) and Marilyn Dunne (Nell Page), as they try to acclimate themselves to living together at the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility in New Jersey.

“Try” is the key word here, as from the very beginning, Abby makes it clear that she is not happy to be sharing her room with anybody, let alone somebody as bubbly and talkative as Marilyn.

It doesn’t take long before the roommates strike a deal: If Marilyn can scare tough-as-stone Abby, she gets the bed by the window. If Abby can make happy-go-lucky Marilyn angry, then Marilyn has to ask to transfer rooms.

The situation is ripe with comedic opportunities, and Ripcord builds on it for some hilarious gags. Predictably, each scene after Abby and Marilyn strike the bet become scenes out of a TV sitcom, but this fits the tone of the play. The jokes come fast and almost never take a break until the third act.

And sure, some of the jokes may seem overdone or played out (like people mistaking heavy lifting for sex noises, for example), but the jokes often still work thanks to the superb delivery by the actors, especially leads Morsey and Page.

It is truly Morsey and Page’s excellent acting that carries this production. Not only are their deliveries pitch perfect, but their mannerisms and motions really set their performances apart.

It was the exasperated looks that Abby gave Marilyn and the way that Marilyn practically skipped across the stage that made these characters feel real for the show’s two-hour runtime.

The rest of the cast is able to hold its own, too. Logan Wolfe plays Scotty, the roommates’ nursing assistant, and is often just as funny, if not more so, than the leads. The rest of the actors in the ensemble each have their own moments to shine, even with their limited time on stage. There are no weak links in this production of Ripcord.

Well, at least if you’re not counting the script itself.

The plot sets itself up for some fun situations, but script writer David Lindsay-Abaire leans on uncreative tropes far too often. Abby never gets scared, so of course we get a haunted house scene that lasts way too long.

Actresses Morsey and Page clearly try their best to work with what they have, but they can only do so much. No matter how flawless your delivery is, its effectiveness will always be dampened when you can see the punchline coming from a mile away.

Near the end of the play, the script takes a hard right turn that nearly derails the whole production. Without spoiling too much, the lighthearted nature of the preceding hour and a half goes out the window for a not-so-brief scene.

Almost every modern-day comedy attempts to get serious for a while, and Ripcord is no exception. There’s a chance you might buy into the dramatic twist, but to me, it simply felt unearned.

As for the production value of Ripcord itself, the Hippodrome and director V Craig Heidenreich come up with some creative ways to use the limited space to make it feel like a real setting.

For example, the fact that there is a window on one side of Abby and Marilyn’s room is an important plot point. So, rather than have a prop signify that there is a window, the Hippodrome lit the stage as if there was a window to the right, and this trick worked perfectly.

While Ripcord clearly has its shortcomings, I would still say without a doubt that you will enjoy yourself watching the Hippodrome’s production of the sitcom.

Will it change your life? Will you be talking about it for years to come? Probably not. But, will in entertain you for two hours and consistently keep you laughing throughout? Absolutely.

There will be seven performances a week, with two on Saturdays and none on Mondays. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $35-$40, $28 for adults under 30 and seniors, and $18 for youths. They can be purchased at the Hippodrome or online here.

For more on the production, you can check out the Hippodrome’s mainstage page.

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