Theater Works aims for chuckles in 'Smell of the Kill'

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The women’s unloving, miserable husbands accidentally lock themselves into a meat locker in the basement. The women must determine whether to leave the men in the cold to freeze or save them from their deaths in this dark comedy, which opened Friday at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.

Robyn Allen, Theater Works artistic director and one of the three stars, said the play puts these women in "an outrageous, heightened situation that goes for laughs."

"I consider the show a combination of ‘Desperate Housewives’ meets ‘The Producers,’" she said.

Allen said she read the comedy, written by playwright Michele Lowe, a few years ago and thought it would be a great fit for Theater Works. The show is a joint collaboration with the Algonquin Theater Company, which she co-founded with Ron Hunting, the director of "The Smell of the Kill."

"Even though it’s a comedy, this show talks about what could happen with a relationship when you don’t honor a person’s dreams," she said.

Heather Cambanes, who portrays wife Molly, agrees.

"These women are struggling to balance all of things that they want, but doing that while they’re all unhappy in their marriages," Cambanes said.

"The Smell of the Kill" features Allen, a professional actress who appeared on the Theater Works stage last season in Neil Simon’s "Proposals," along with veteran Christi Sweeney, who appeared as the infamous Mrs. Robinson recently in a local production of the "The Graduate."

Cambanes is making her final appearance in the Valley before she moves to New York to pursue a professional acting career.

Cambanes, who was last seen in the drama "Extremities" at Theater Works, said she’s happy to share the stage with Allen and Sweeney.

"It’s so nice to be challenged and be on stage with some of the best, seasoned actresses," Cambanes said. "I know that they bring out the best in me."

The Northern Arizona University graduate has taught workshops and directed youth productions at Theater Works as well as been in other shows in the Valley. Cambanes said she’s had so many opportunities to work on her craft in the last several years.

For Cambanes, "The Smell of the Kill" is a roll she’ll carry to New York along with her other experiences.

"I will take all of these experiences and use them to the best of my abilities to make it happen for myself," she said.

Mitchell Vantrease can be reached at 623-876-2526 or mvantrease@yourwestvalley.com.

IF YOU GO

"The Smell of the Kill."

Theater Works, 8355 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria.

Through Nov. 22.

$29, adults; $19, students.

Call the box office at 623-815-7930 or www.theaterworks.org.