Billed as “Sex in the City” meets the vineyard, Winesday: The Wine Tasting Musical is currently playing at The Jerry Orbach Theater at The Theater Center in New York. This off-Broadway comedy, with book and lyrics by Jenne Wason and music by Joseph Benoit, follows five wine-loving girlfriends who meet every Wednesday as they attempt to participate in a book club, tap dancing club and yoga club. However, it quickly becomes apparent that what they really want is an excuse to taste wine, gather and gab (or sing) about their messy love lives, parental woes (both child and pet varieties), career stresses and even attempt to solve a wine caper.
Audiences who venture to this boozy musical will find themselves with a wine scorecard in place of a typical playbill and are invited to partake in a wine tasting, as the title promises. Each scene, designated as “pour” in the script, is paired with a wine introduced by a wise-cracking, fun-loving "Wine Stewart," played by Michael Valvo, who provides colorful commentary on the wines and the plot.
For the first pour, audiences are served a Riesling that “pairs well with misguided relationships and whining about other people’s wines.” Audience members can expect to enjoy a Syrah for the third pour, and Act 2 opens with Viognier.
If wine wasn’t enough to bring you to the theater, the upbeat, eclectic score features songs for every palate and are expertly sung by the charming quartet of grape-loving gal pals. All the actors are solid, but Amanda Lea Lavergne especially stands out as Molly, the bright, bubbly single friend on a mission to find her “perfect” pairing. Debra Thaïs Evans also delivers a stand-out performance as Winter, the relatable friend who insists on hosting despite her always serving cheap $3 plonk.
An Unreal Real Housewives
“Winesday” isn’t the only vin de theatre offering this summer. On the other side of the country, Lucky Penny Production’s of The Real Housewives of Napa Valley just finished its run in the location where the musical is set. In this witty, alcohol-infused farce, writer Barry Martin and musician Rob Broadhurst gently poke fun at the region and the people who call it home in a reality-show romp with singing and dancing. (No word on whether any cast members will market their own wines, as some of the real Real Housewives have done.)
After their show is threatened with cancellation, the Napa housewives set out on a mission to raise their ratings and save their jobs all the while hanging on to their luxurious lifestyles. Although the show closed in May after a three-week run, there’s always hope that this latest addition to vino musicals will eventually find itself a new venue.
