For a black comedy about female assassins, "Killing Women" is an oddly sluggish affair. Directed with nary a thought to comic rhythms by Adam Fitzgerald, Marisa Wegrzyn's play never feels like the satire of corporate life it's meant to be. The premise is an exaggerated look at the ways in which women are routinely passed over for jobs in favor of men. These women just happen to carry guns.
"Killing Women" does occasionally soar, especially when no-nonsense Abby (Lori Prince), flighty Lucy (Lisa Brescia) and reluctant Gwen (Autumn Hurlburt), who has recently made herself a widow, are on stage together. Their conversations about manicures, childcare and men are given a welcome off-kilter perspective because of their concealed weapons. A scene featuring Lucy teaching Gwen how to kill people using needles has all the hallmarks of a girls-only slumber party, except that instead of taking Cosmo quizzes, she's showing Gwen how to off somebody in a humane fashion.
Brescia is the highpoint throughout the show, nailing the contrast between Lucy's giggly exterior and her job, while Hurlburt has some nice comic moments as the wife and mother who is shocked to discover her natural affinity for killing. As the tough-talking Abby, Prince is hard as nails, but she yells her dialogue too much to be entirely effective. Nor does it help that Wegrzyn has saddled her with the play's worst dialogue.
As the various men of the story, Brian Dykstra, Adam Kantor and Michael Puzzo all have their chances to shine. Puzzo does a particularly fine job as the love-addled assassin Mike, who just wants to take Abby out for ice cream. However, it's not a good sign that all momentum dries up every time a guy interrupts the all-girl proceedings. Lugubrious when it should be swift, "Killing Women" is an intermittently fun way to kill time, but it can also be a deadly bore.
Presented by kef theatrical productions and South Ark Stages at The Beckett Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St., NYC. May 16–June 5. Wed.–Sat., 8 p.m. (212) 279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com.