Women, money and golf – Ken Ludwig’s new play at Signature has it all.
By Julie LaPorte
Andrew Long, Holly Twyford and Jeff McCarthy in Ken Ludwig's A Fox on the Fairway. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of A Fox on the Fairway, written by DC playwright Ken Ludwig and directed by John Rando. Running through November 14, this side-splitting, zany show tells the story of rival golf clubs – the underdog Quail Valley and bullying Crouching Squirrel – as they face off in their annual golf tournament. Club directors Bingham and Dickie bet an astronomical amount on the outcome and chaos ensues.
“It’s always wonderful to premiere a Washington playwright’s newest work in their hometown,” says Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director at Signature. “With a terrific cast, a rapid-fire plot and the talents of Ken and John, A Fox on the Fairway promises to be filled with plenty of laughs and shenanigans!”
The Cast of Ken Ludwig's A Fox on the Fairway. Photo by Scott Suchman.
The story takes place at Quail Valley (the set beautifully rendered by James Kronzer), and concerns a two-day golf tournament, love triangles and $200,000. Matching wits and macho swaggers are club directors Bingham, played by Jeff McCarthy, and Dickie, played by Andrew Long. This longstanding rivalry has touched everything from women to money to golf, and this weekend tournament is no exception.
The women involved are Quail Valley board member Pamela (the fabulous Holly Twyford), a woman who knows what she likes: cocktails and men – and not always in that order, and Muriel (Valerie Leonard), the wife of Bingham – her predatory animal print dresses a perfect fit for personality.
Justin (Aubrey Deeker) is Bingham’s intense new personal assistant who becomes the last great hope for the tournament. And Louise (Meg Steedle) is his love interest – a cocktail waitress who is attending night school to improve herself and who provides a Homeric frame for the ensuing action.
Reminiscent of the Marx Brothers and Grant/Hepburn classics like Bringing Up Baby, A Fox on the Fairway is a mad-cap production in overdrive and is a sure bet for anyone looking for a night’s entertainment. For more information and tickets, visit Signature Theatre.
Julie LaPorte is a freelance writer living outside Washington, D.C. For the past year she has served as a columnist for Washington Life Magazine – penning reviews for the Performing Arts and the Paint the Town columns. She also works as a political marketing copywriter for candidates in local, state and national campaigns as well as for Congressional franked mail.
