"Leading Ladies," the season finale at the Butler Little Theatre is not to be missed.

On opening night, the audience left complaining their sides were hurting from laughing so hard and I have to agree. This show was perhaps the funniest show I have seen in years.

The writing is truly excellent but the delivery by an extremely talented cast would have made the writer, Ken Ludwig, quite proud.

Honestly, when I looked at the cast list and saw the supremely talented Phil Ball and equally delightful Casey Bowser were the actors who would be dressed up as women, I had to pause. These men are fabulous guys, but I was a bit leery about the type of women they would make.

I needn't have given it a thought. Bowser was remarkable and Ball totally hysterical and a delight to watch.

The story is about two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, who find themselves performing the Moose Lodge circuit in Amish country. To find their fortune they pass themselves off as long lost nieces to a wealthy heiress.

All the actors hit their mark, and it was a marvel how they could stay in character during the zaniest moments of the play. Nary was a smirk or smile or glint of laughter was seen by these consummate actors. It was truly remarkable considering the sights, sounds and subject matter involved.

Little Theatre volunteer Jaclyn Harrison decided to try her hand out front as opposed to behind the scenes and she was fabulous. She played Meg, the straight laced but passionate niece of the wealthy widow. Not only was she gorgeous but she was spot on with her performance.

Angelo Quaranta, who played Duncan the pastor, was capable in his role of a conservative yet greedy rector. He garnered his share of laughs in the Twelfth Night Scene.

Doc and Jack, a father and son played by Thom Hilliard and Jeff Carey, where a comical duo throughout the show. Their chemistry was classic.

Casey Lazor, who played Audrey, was simply adorable. She had a slight slow patch at the beginning but regained her momentum until the final curtain.

Her performance as the comical, naïve girl next door was truly enchanting.

It is obvious the apple doesn't fall far from the tree as this beautiful talented woman is the daughter of Little Theatre veteran Heidi Nicholls-Bowser.

Judy Green was a joy as the wealthy widow, Florence, from her opening line to her final one, she was sassy and fun and enjoyable to watch.

A great play is truly a pleasure to review; it is awesome to not have anything negative to report about a show. Yet there are those who consider a review merely fluff unless there is a criticism.

The only negative comment I heard during the performance was that the soda machine did not take dollar bills.

Kudos to the cast and to Bob Meals for giving me a pleasant and easy assignment this time.