Romantic comedy accents fine acting and plenty of laughs

A few minutes into the newest River City Players dinner theater production "Getting Sara Married" I had already laughed and was optimistic about the rest of the play.

One question remained in the back of my mind: Where are the New York accents?

The play, about a New York lawyer whose crazy Aunt Martha is scheming to get her married, takes place in Sara's New York apartment. Aunt Martha, played by Holly Raines, has a handsome New York man delivered to the apartment in an interesting fashion. Laughing, smiling, laughing, but where are the dang accents? Sara, played by Melissa Wade, sounds like she's from Southeast Missouri. Matthew Heisserer as Brandon, Aunt Martha's fix up for Sara, has an indiscernable mid-America speech pattern.

Then Brandon has to call his fiancé Heather to explain his absence and there it is: Brooklyn all the way. Lindsay Miller as Heather expertly adopted and never broke her stereotypical New York accent.

Mystery solved. The play was perfection.

Holly Raines character, Aunt Martha, had a visit from the chiropractor, played by Joe Reed, during the opening night performance of the River City Players production of "Getting Sara Married." (Laura Simon)

Each character knew what to do and did it well. Director Debbie Barnhouse took care of every detail.

Heisserer as Brandon has great comedic timing. He plays a regular guy and plays one well, switching from topic to topic and chattering on. His monologue about visualizing the worst of marriage goes on just long enough to be real, and really funny.

Melissa Wade, in her second play and first lead role, stays on stage the entire time and holds up well. While on the phone with Aunt Martha, who gets a riser and spotlight on the side of the stage, Wade never even glances at the crazy aunt with a headset and unwavering dedication to marry off her niece.

The play wraps up into a predictable ending, but with a few surprises that keep the laughter going and when the lights finally dim, you're left with that smile that always accompanies a good rom-com.