By Nicole M. Robertson
Old friends Robyn and Sallie Ben are in for a shock when they drive to a ladies’ spa weekend and wind up stranded in a strange woods.
Sallie Ben’s GPS, voiced by “Elvis,” confirms they’re in the right place: “Elvis has left the building,” it announces before the car collapses and refuses to start. There’s nothing to do but go find their friend Emma, who invited them to this forsaken wilderness.
Newly divorced — for the third time, Robyn points out — Sallie Ben (Sonja Marquis of Brighton) has invested in Emma’s new business, as well as a $3,000 workshop that taught her “my attitude toward money is what kept it from my life.”
She expects her investment to bring massage, yoga and gourmet food this weekend. Instead of pampering, however, our adventurers will find their own personal resilience in this world premiere of “What Springs Forth,” now at The Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea.
Emma — played by Sarab Kamoo, a Purple Rose resident artist — arrives, carrying a compass and backpack.
“Did you get my last email?” Emma chirps enthusiastically. Their weekend “concept” has changed to a “Wilding Retreat.” Yay.
Sallie Ben had understood just enough to bring along a “top of the line survival kit, from Goop,” including a personal vibrator. But, um, “What was that about bushcraft? Is that the latest trend in waxing?”
This fresh comedy, written by Carey Crim and directed by Kate Thomsen, will appeal to middle-aged women likely to appreciate the New Age satire.
Emma says they’ve come to manifest their greatest desires and to participate in a metaphorical rebirth. There is no retreat center — just the woods. The weekend involves no phones and no toilets. It will involve a stew of mushrooms and edible plants gathered by the women.
But the biggest surprise is Emma’s new business partner. Played by Suzi Regan, who previously directed Paul Stroili’s “A Jukebox for the Algonquin” at the Purple Rose. She is a feisty, tattooed and muscular Viking goddess called Malou — a name, she says, means “Sea of Bitterness.”
Sallie Ben, in her chunky high-heeled sandals, is more than a little concerned.
“We have no phone service, the car is dead, how are we going to get out of here?” Sallie Ben cries. “How did YOU get here?”
“We were dropped off,” Emma explains. “We planned to hike out of here.”
Sallie Ben wants to know how long that will take. Lou, ever quick to comfort (not), replies: “Three days!”
But after Sallie Ben manages to pee on her own foot, Robyn (the ebullient Dwandra Nickole, in her Purple Rose debut) runs from the treeline with more good news: “BEAR!!”
Emma counsels that because the bear appeared to Robyn only, Robyn needs to elevate her thoughts to a higher vibration. Sallie Ben is busy spraying her holistic “bear repellent” when she learns that the natural oils in it may in fact attract bears.
“So it WASN’T my dialog with the universe!” Robyn says, vindicated.
Kamoo, as Emma, displays a false confidence and vulnerability that contrasts her previous role as Irene Adler in David McGregor’s original Sherlock Holmes series, which played at the Purple Rose.
The “Springs Forth” set, designed by Sarah Pearline, features flowering trees and layered platforms that hint at rocky shale outcrops. And Victoria Deiorio’s sound design includes growling that seem to traverse the room, just behind the audience’s heads.
But remember, there are things in the woods more frightening than bears.
This play contains adult language and subject matter.
So grab your best gal pals and join the adventure.
• “What Springs Forth” runs through Aug. 31 at The Purple Rose Theater, 137 Park Street Chelsea. Tickets are $30-$48. Visit purplerosetheatre.org, or call 734-433-7673.
Photos by Sean Carter Photography
