Review: 'The Hatmaker's Wife' a Complete Mess

The Arctic Playhouse has had many artistically successful productions, so perhaps it was inevitable there would be an end to the winning streak. "The Hatmaker's Wife" is a complete mess, with a confused and nonsensical narrative which wastes the efforts of a talented cast.

A young couple move into an old house. The woman (Ashley Medeiros) is the editor of safety manuals. Her boyfriend Gabe (Mario Sasso) is a college professor. One day, the woman hears a voice coming from the wall. Pieces of paper are slipped through an air vent and fall to the floor. The woman reads about the tale of elderly Hetchman (Terry Simpson), a hatmaker, and his long-suffering wife (Mary Paolino). The wife, whose name Hetchman doesn't remember, disappears, along with his treasured hat.

What I think writer Lauren Lee was aiming for was a romantic fantasy with some supernatural elements. In the hands of director Rachel Hanauer ("The Diary of Anne Frank"), there is never any momentum to the storytelling. It all just lumbers along. "The Hatmaker's Wife" is alternately tedious and inane, with one awkward moment after another.
The absolute low point is when Hetchman sits in a lawn
chair and guzzles beer at a cemetery. Watching this bitter and selfish man defile a sacred burial ground is disgusting. It plays out like a bad "Saturday Night Live" skit.

There's also a golem (D. Collins), a strange creature which invades the house and likes to eat Cheetos.

Simpson is a terrific actor. He has delivered engaging performances in "On Golden Pond" and "Miracle on 34th Street." He fully commits to the role of the hatmaker. The problem is the character is such a mean-spirited and morally bankrupt bore. He also uses demeaning language to describe women. Are we really supposed to care if he gets his hat back?

Paolino, a veteran actress, also does outstanding work as the hatmaker's wife. She's sympathetic and determined to find a hat of her own.

Simpson and Paolino do have a genuinely heartfelt moment at the end of the show, but it comes off as too little, too late. After spending 90 minutes of seeing this man treat his wife like dirt, a sudden burst of affection can't redeem his misogyny.

Bill Cabrera is charming as Meckel, the hatmaker's close friend. Meckel is a widower who has some secrets about the hatmaker's wife.
Medeiros and Sasso are also adequate as the unhappy younger couple. Too bad their story is never resolved in a satisfying way.

I was also annoyed by the endless scene transitions, when the lights would dim so the stage managers could move props and chairs around. This happened at least a half dozen times.
Even though the story and characters left me cold, "The Hatmaker's Wife" did feature something enjoyable.
At one point, some glass jars with colored lights inside were placed on the stage. I liked the jars and wanted to take one home when the show ended.

"The Hatmaker's Wife" runs through May 8. The Arctic Playhouse. 1249 Main Street, West Warwick, RI. For tickets, call 401-573-3443. thearcticplayhouse.com.

Simpson is a terrific actor. He has delivered engaging performances in "On Golden Pond" and "Miracle on 34th Street." He fully commits to the role of the hatmaker. The problem is the character is such a mean-spirited and morally bankrupt bore. He also uses demeaning language to describe women. Are we really supposed to care if he gets his hat back?

Paolino, a veteran actress, also does outstanding work as the hatmaker's wife. She's sympathetic and determined to find a hat of her own.

Simpson and Paolino do have a genuinely heartfelt moment at the end of the show, but it comes off as too little, too late. After spending 90 minutes of seeing this man treat his wife like dirt, a sudden burst of affection can't redeem his misogyny.

Bill Cabrera is charming as Meckel, the hatmaker's close friend. Meckel is a widower who has some secrets about the hatmaker's wife.
Medeiros and Sasso are also adequate as the unhappy younger couple. Too bad their story is never resolved in a satisfying way.

I was also annoyed by the endless scene transitions, when the lights would dim so the stage managers could move props and chairs around. This happened at least a half dozen times.

Even though the story and characters left me cold, "The Hatmaker's Wife" did feature something enjoyable: At one point, some glass jars with colored lights inside were placed on the stage. I liked the jars and wanted to take one home when the show ended.

"The Hatmaker's Wife" runs through May 8. The Arctic Playhouse. 1249 Main Street, West Warwick, RI. For tickets, call 401-573-3443. thearcticplayhouse.com .