It is a bittersweet comedy that chronicles the lives of three Texas high school cheerleaders at the peak of their popularity and friendship in 1963.  Five years later we find ourselves in their college sorority house at the close of their senior year.  They consider their futures and what is to become of them as individuals and as friends.  The third act unites them in 1974 at the New York City garden house of Kathy, the ring- leader.  We find their lives have diverged and the friendships, at one time thriving, are now strained and falling apart through the realization of how naïve they were to have been so vain. 

Kim Vernall handled the many nuances that remind us of our experiences from high school to early adulthood. Ms. Vernall keeps the pace brisk throughout the production (though it is a little slow starting and sometimes sloppy in the beginning).  

The set is simple yet effective in design. At the top of the show we find ourselves looking through three rear-facing vanities backed by three changing screens enabling the three women in the cast to change costume without missing a beat. However, once the play begins, the action moves downstage into simple yet effective scenes consisting of four benches and a couple of added props.  Act one we find ourselves at the benches in the gym, act two a room in the sorority house and act three a garden apartment in New York City.  

The three women in the cast deserve praise for their handling of the roles of the three former cheerleaders.

HOLLY JOHNSON plays Joanne, the naïve and religious debutant. Ms. Johnson has a natural presence on the stage and delivers a smooth and consistent performance. JENNIFER BRAU plays Kathy, the controlling planner and organizer of all the events throughout their school years. Ms. Brau manages to hold her own once she gets past a few line issues in the early part of the script.  Kathy is probably the least developed character in Vanities, so the changes she makes in act three appear more drastic than that of the other characters. 

Though the Poquoson Island Players production of Vanities starts slowly it still manages to deliver a powerful message while keeping us laughing from beginning to end.

This was my first chance to see a Poquoson Island Players production and I have to say it was well worth the trip from Southside. To learn more about the Poquoson Island Players productions go to www.pipstheatre.com.