SHIRLEY AT THE TROPICANA Meet Shirley Johnson. Or perhaps you already have. She is that executive secretary who is just a bit too intensely devoted to the man in charge. Nothing salacious is going on, but there is no doubt about it: Shirley is in love, and the only way she can show it is through slavish devotion, impeccably sharpened pencils and the perfect cup of coffee delivered to the boss each morning.
As written and performed by Amanda Ronconi, above, Shirley is also not very unlike Lucille Ball — her boss is called Mr. Arnaz, in fact — and at one office event the Champagne flows a tad too freely and leads to some especially Lucy-like zaniness. Ms. Ronconi plays all of the characters in this solo show, which, though not autobiographical, is inspired by her experiences during a decade as a temp, she said in a telephone interview. While working in offices just enough to support her acting without letting the administrative work consume her, Ms. Ronconi said, she met all kinds of office dreamers.
“What I saw was unfulfilled romance,” she said. “Women who were so dedicated to this one man, and he wasn’t even their husband or anything, that they would do anything for him.” In the show Shirley has big dreams for her future with Mr. Arnaz. But when Marilyn, a sexy new temp, arrives, the obsessively ordered office falls apart, and Shirley’s Champagne-fueled downfall soon follows.
Aided by several short films created by Jeff Wiens to complement the action and further the story, Ms. Ronconi’s comical tale spans more than 20 years in Shirley’s life in just 90 minutes. After losing her secretarial job and trying careers as both a flight attendant and a hand model, will Shirley find her bliss and walk off into the sunset with the man of her dreams? (Through Nov. 18, Access Theater, 380 Broadway, at White Street, TriBeCa, 212-868-4444, smarttix.com; $25.) STEVEN McELROY
Approximate running times are in parentheses. Theaters are in Manhattan unless otherwise noted. Full reviews of current shows, additional listings, showtimes and tickets: nytimes.com/theater.
