Workplace tensions explode when the acquisition of an African-American-owned company by a major New York advertising agency adds racial sparks to already rampant sexism in Judith Leora’s scathingly funny World Premiere comedy Showpony, the latest from Burbank’s Victory Theatre Center.

 Leggy blonde 20something Tara (Sionne Elise) and the somewhat older, a whole lot butcher, shamelessly abrasive Sam (Lizzy Kimball) are already at each other’s throats as they await the arrival of head honcho Walker, team member Todd, and three newbies joining them from the black-run agency the larger one has just bought up.

 These include Patricia (Elle Verneé) and Destiny (Bianca Lemaire), and though each was promised job security when their boss Regina sold her firm, how long they actually get to stick around is open to question.

After all, avers Sam, it was Regina’s agency’s client base, not the talent of its personnel, that made her firm so appealing to the big guys, meaning that only a handful of the African-American newcomers are likely to be staying on “in the big house” once they and their clientele have been segregated into a niche-market “ghetto.”

At the moment, at least, the women have a pitch to prepare by themselves, Patricia and Destiny’s co-worker Carlton having found himself stuck on the B train and Todd certain to bail on working overtime with a bunch of women on a Friday night.

 And so Tara, Sam, Patricia, Destiny, and perky African intern Omolola (Krystel Roche) get started, ultimately jettisoning a sexist stiletto-pumps pitch for one that is both feminist and feminine, a brief calm before a storm that has accusations of racism flying fast and furious, just one reason Leora’s comedy is sure to provoke as much discussion as it does laughter, and even more of the former when four of them find themselves and the previously unseen Walker (Marshall McCabe) in their boss’s Miami hotel room soon after dueling pitches have been made.

Playwright Leora’s writing is razor-sharp and incisive, the issues she raises are as hot-button as they get, and the performances elicited by director Tom Ormeny are all six absolutely terrific.

Talented UCLA grad Elise gives us a Tara whose Elle Woods blondness must surely signal a privileged upbringing, just one reason Kimball’s sensational, ball-of-fire Sam can’t stand her, but appearances can be deceiving.

 Lemaire’s smart, sleek Destiny and Verneé’s quietly confident Patricia are gems too, McCabe is spot-on as a man whose gender privilege awakens his colleagues’ ire, and Roche’s Omolola is a saucy, sassy delight.

Showpony looks fabulous on Evan Bartoletti’s stylish, double-duty set, vibrantly lit by Carol Doehring. Lauri Fitzsimmons’ costumes and props add to the production’s all-around good looks, and sound designer David Duarte contributes just-right effects along the way.

Jeff Kober’s onstage slides (including a PowerPoint presentation featuring model McCallah Moriarty) are a delight as well.

Jennifer Brown is stage manager.

Herb Hall directs 2nd Company members Kelly Cross, Victoria Grant, Ty Jefferson, Emily Jerez, Latonya Kitchen, and Michaela Sprague at selected performances

Showpony is produced by Maria Gobetti, Ormeny, and Katie Witkowski.

World Premiere plays can be a tricky proposition often in need of further work-shopping. Not so Showpony, whose second act ties up Act One threads in the most unexpected and satisfying of ways. It will get you thinking.  It will get you talking. It more than merits a visit to the Victory.

The Victory Theatre Center, 3326 West Victory Blvd., Burbank.
www.thevictorytheatrecenter.org

–Steven Stanley
September 28, 2018
Photos: Tim Sullens

Tags: Judith Leora, Los Angeles Theater Review, The Victory Theatre Center