"Enchanted April" opened last night at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater's Stiemke Theater. A story about how the lives of four English women entwine thanks to a "holiday" at a villa on the Italian Riviera, it does well to balance the story of men the Rep is currently presenting in the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater, "Glengarry Glen Ross."

The tale begins as the character of Lotty Wilton schemes her escape from the weary rains of England and the monotony of her role as wife to a man who very much takes her for granted and dictates her every move. After hearing for the umpteenth time about how sore my husband's back is from shoveling this week, I could not help but sympathize with Lottie on the point that men can be such babies! (Not that she said it out loud, nor that the snow was light.)

Characters are added one by one to the plot, each more interesting than the next. Lotty adopts Rose Arnott -- played skillfully by Laura Gordon -- as her bosom buddy to whom she spills her soul. Almost as if against her will, Rose is dragged down Lottie's path toward "sunshine and wisteria."

The women all have their particular quirks that drive the others crazy and yet are embraced because what we hate and what we love are two sides of the same coin. Hmm, where have I seen this before? Oh, that's right, real life.

One hilarious scene begs mentioning. In it, Brian Vaughn as Mellersh Wilton, Lottie's husband, gets his due through his own doing. I believe the entire audience, as well as every person on stage, was genuinely laughing out loud.

The lush brown-flowered curtains that comprised the set of the first act appealed to my sensibility, and the set of the second act, bursting with blooms, was a fine sight on a winter's day. The ladies' dresses, in the mode of the '20s, were always interesting and in many cases dazzling. So, yes, I like flowers and pretty dresses, it's true. You probably think I am some sort of girlie-girl. Maybe I am.

The play did work itself out quite nicely. In fact, it almost wrapped itself up in a neat little package with a big pink bow of hope on top -- kind of like Lottie -- a bit "Pollyanna," a tad much. But hey, I , for one, could use a bit of sunshine right now, so I'm not complaining.