Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage

Retro is cool these days, at least according to the fans of Mad Men and the recent revival of Promises, Promises. Old-fashioned clothing and mannerisms are making a comeback, and, if done correctly, can be quite amusing. Sadly, Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage, currently in performances at the downstairs space of Sofia’s restaurant does not fall into that category. Starring Eve Plumb, who is most well known for her role as Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch as the titular character and Manuel Herrera as her assistant, Paco, the show attempts to offer an old-fashioned and humorous perspective on dating. It only succeeds in one of its two goalsWritten by Ken Davenport and Sarah Saltzberg based on the outdated advice book by Abigail Grotke, the show attempts to work improvisational comedy and audience interaction into the script, but the performances rarely break from the prepared material, and the few audience interactions falls very flat. Plumb invites audience members to come onstage and participate in a game of identifying whether someone is in, “Love, Lust or Stalking,” She also teaches her signature flirting techniques to audience members who are selected to come onstage and demonstrate them. Audience members are also encouraged to submit questions to Miss Abigail but that part of the production I attended was uneventful and not entertaining.As Miss Abigail, Eve Plumb appears quite stiff and unengaged. She is playing an old-fashioned, demure woman, but the production would have benefited from a more relaxed performance. Manuel Herrera’s performance as Paco, her assistant, is much more entertaining and enjoyable, as he expertly finds the deadpan humor in many situations. However, the subplot of a budding romance between him and Miss Abigail is predictable and adds little to the show.While the contrast in old-fashioned dating compared to present day romance is amusing – the repeated references to weenie roasts and soda shops as well as the use of the word “courtship” – the drastic difference in the role of a woman in current situations is alarming at times and one can’t help but wonder what Carrie Bradshaw might think of Miss Abigail. Is there a place for old-fashioned chivalry in a post-feminist world? The question begs examining - perhaps in a different production.