'Miss Abigail' offers advice between laughs

We don't all need reminders to change our skivvies every day. But for those who do -- and you know who you are -- it's time to call on Miss Abigail, the wise and witty star of "Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage."

Based on Abigail Grotke's book of the same name, "Miss Abigail" premiered at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, in association with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises. Co-authors Ken Davenport and Sarah Saltzberg created Miss A. from Grotke's 2006 publication, which was inspired by the author's website and personal collection of advice books dating from 1822 to 1978.

The show is finely honed, a bit gimmicky and very funny. Laurie Birmingham is the midlife Miss Abigail, and Mauricio Perez plays her young Mexican sidekick, Paco. They represent the Lone Ranger and Tonto of relationship wrangling.

It all started with Brad and Jen. Their breakup shocked Miss A. into an epiphany that she should help others find and keep love. She figured her 25 years of bliss with husband Robert, now deceased, were sufficient credentials to doctor relationships.

Referring to manuals that Paco pulls from her extensive living room library, Miss A. explains the pitfalls of muffin tops and the value of confidence - the No. 1 datable quality. She invites audience members to participate in a game show to define situations of lust, love or stalking. On marriage, she cautions against focusing on the wedding instead of the union and distributes cards with tips on how to get along.

Meanwhile, Miss A. reminisces about her husband but flirts with Paco, reminding the audience of what Celine Dion once said: "The heart does go on."

Together, Birmingham and Perez had terrific chemistry. Their heated flirtations were a hilarious contrast to the wholesome words of yesteryear. Separately, each actor stole the show in his and her own way, which suggested that the duo was designed to hedge the one-woman-show element.

Birmingham kept pace with the unscripted aspect of audience participation, while her leadership over the Flirt Athletes (also audience members) was classic skit material.

Perez was boyishly charming and in perfect control of his physical comedy. Just a toothy grin from him elicited giggles.

The show's climax, so to speak, was Paco's sex education film: a cheeky montage of vintage clips and voiceovers.

Directed by Davenport, with Scott Cooper's "Home and Gardens" set design and Rick Criswell's spot-on costuming, this new piece of theater should enjoy a long life of anniversaries.

THEATER REVIEW

'Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage'

WHEN: Through July 3; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, Jaeb Theater, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa

HOW MUCH: $17.50-$34.50; call (813) 229-7827 or visit www.strazcenter.org

RUNNING TIME: 85 minutes