Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story

Writer-director Bob Sloan's biographical play about Judy Holliday begins with a scene in which the actor's mother is recapitulating family history to her daughter for no apparent reason—other than to fill us in. It sets the bar for this hagiographic entertainment, which skates lightly across the surface of its subject's life.

Holliday was a reluctant actor, having wanted to be a writer or director. Sloan details how she fell into the profession, then became a star "overnight" when she replaced an ailing Jean Arthur prior to Broadway in "Born Yesterday." He makes sure to include her many famous friends—from Betty Comden and Adolph Green to Orson Welles—as well as her battles with weight, Hollywood moguls, and the blacklist. But though Marina Squerciati is positively eerie in her impersonation, of both Holliday's dumb-blonde persona and the highly intelligent woman underneath, Sloan's writing never allows her to expand into three dimensions.

Catherine LeFrere shows greater range than Adam Harrington as all the famous folk, while Mary Gutzi is effective but expected as mom. Ultimately, though, this 90-minute show has even less substance than the average 60-minute "Biography" episode.


Presented as part of the New York International Fringe Festival at the SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St., NYC. Aug. 15–28. Remaining performances: Wed., Aug. 18, 7 p.m.; Fri., Aug. 20, 6:15 p.m.; Thu., Aug. 26, 7:15 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 28, 2:15 p.m. (866) 468-7619 or www.fringenyc.org.