This invisible character is, of course, Time. Onstage, Coward has stirred together an irresistible mix of nine old ladies, retired actresses all, reluctantly facing the end of their days together, in a charity home for aging female hams.

Coward's script reflects his lifelong association with actresses ~ a species known for supreme ego, vanity, vulnerability, bluntness ~ and yet also, supreme sensitivity and a love of life. These nine ladies hilariously reveal how strong and opinionated personalities, aged well, become ~ even more so! This is a subtle and challenging play which, were it performed badly would disappoint greatly. Happily, the WCT cast playing these creatures does so deftly, with superb timing, admirable ensemble playing and graceful, highly individuated development of the whole gang of grumpily aging thespians. This cast gently develops these difficult and demanding
ladies into real people whom one must love, as well as laugh and cry with. Bravo to director Felicity Johnson, for choosing "Wings" and for casting and coaching its denizens so well.

Without meaning to slight wonderful work by the entire cast,
including strong supporting role players, one must mention several individual opening night highlights. Lisa Aitken plays a new arrival to the Home, Lotta Bainbridge ~ beautifully unfolding a complex soul who brings both catalyst
and backbone to the body of this play. Likewise, Robyn Reck Duquesne first exposes the ornery, disappointed character of May Davenport, and then surprises us with May's ultimately revealed complexity. And poignant indeed, in an evening of great depth, is the performance of Kathleen Donovan as Sarita Myrtle, who unravels before our eyes a wise woman going mad from dementia, and, at the same time, making her lonely journey from madness to wisdom. Age does that sometimes, and here Donovan shows it with brilliant daring.

The essence of great comedy is always the underlying pathos of the human condition. So it is that playwright Coward wittily inflicts the impact of Time on this strong-minded and eccentric group, such that the audience too can safely view its own impending demise with more understanding, and with love and laughter. The ultimate success of this production is not only
an evening of ever-building laughter, but also is the fact that this production handily defeats the hidden enemy, Time. For this two-plus hour production disappears, like a life well lived, in a flash of enjoyment.