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Review

What happens when you find true love, but you are already in a committed relationship with another woman? Based on the original play "Real Girls," Girl Play is the satirically funny true-life story of writers/actors Robin Greenspan and Lacie Harmon. Both women audition and are cast as lovers in an upcoming L.A. play. Their flamboyant director (Dom Deluise) demands that the actresses fully encompass their roles. At first this direction is particularly hard since they are complete opposites – Robin is essentially "married" to her girlfriend of six years and Lacie's relationships do not last past a steamy night of sex – but rehearsals are increasingly intense and inevitably both are overcome with desire. With various humorous flashbacks of Robin's mother's (Mink Stole, Pink Flamingos) denial and Lacie's trials and errors of lesbian dating, the root of their compelling story is whether relationships are genuine or manufactured. Adding her own stylish touch, director Lee Friedlander (Give or Take an Inch and The Ten Rules) intelligently balances elements of stage and film to create an irresistible charm through the sometimes painful and often-times humorous life choices.

 -- Kelly Burkhardt