Review: ‘Exit Laughing' by Olympia Little Theatre
Originally published on The JOLT News on March 10, 2026
Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet was interviewed last week by Matthew McConaughey and made the following comment:
“And I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive.’ Even though it’s like no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there.”
This sparked anger across the arts communities in our nation. This video features my full response to this discussion.
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Actively participating in our arts scene, I can confidently tell you that we have a large audience for the performing arts with shows selling out frequently.
This weekend alone, I went to four shows, including Olympia Little Theatre’s “Exit Laughing,” and I did not even see everything that was being offered. Covering the arts in Olympia could truly be a full time job!
My capacity at The JOLT allows me to bring you two out of four reviews that I have written this week. When cases arise where I cannot cover everything through The JOLT like I really wish to, I publish remaining content on my writing website, under the tab “Rachel’s Choice.”
Anytime I publish such content, I will let this loyal JOLT audience know so that you can remain up to date on all our local happenings. This week, I published reviews of Olympia Family Theater’s, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” and Timberline High School’s, “Something Rotten” on my website. I invite you to read them and make it a priority to purchase tickets to both of these shows.
With all of that in mind, it is truly an honor to review “Exit Laughing” at the Olympia Little Theatre. This charming theatre creates a sense of home for its audiences and always brings shows that embrace originality with its unique charm and heartfelt messages. This show definitely followed that pattern and made audiences exit laughing.
'Exit Laughing'
Directed by Dave Marsh, this show explores one of life’s toughest moments, and our opportunity to make the best out of what arises. Taking place in the South in the late 1990’s, “Exit Laughing” follows a group of women who try to find a way to cope with reality now that one of their dearest friends has passed away.
Similar to the iconic “Golden Girls,” these women each have their own distinct personalities that add flavor to this story. My favorite golden girl of this show was Millie, played by Debbie Sampson, who made this bubbly and perhaps air-headed character feel genuine, kind, and positive despite the way her friends mocked her. Her friends called her stupid, I call her delightfully silly and fun. We all need a Millie in our lives, and to allow ourselves to be silly from time to time.
The biggest plot point of this show is when Millie steals her friend’s urn from the funeral home so that she can join them for one more night of bridge. The play unfolds as they experience the surprises their friend planned ahead and left behind before she passed. Each is clever, witty, and makes the women think outside of the box and begin to seize the day in their own lives.
I applaud the cast of this show for the way they have seized the day in their own lives by choosing to invest in community theatre and add sparkle to our lives. Their efforts paid off as audiences roared with laughter and remained smiling throughout the show.
The set design allowed us to feel a part of this little family they created on stage, and again felt reminiscent of “The Golden Girls” in color scheme and fashion design. More than anything, that feeling of home the Olympia Little Theatre created allowed us to step into a space of our hearts, memories and sense of nostalgia.
If nothing else, I think this play is important to this moment because it invites us to reflect. Let me ask you, dear reader, some questions: Thinking about the people in your life, how often do you call them, spend undistracted time with them, and tell them how much you care? In the midst of this crazy world, how often do you or your group of loved ones and friends take the time to have fun?
Life is short, and while we do have responsibilities and causes that demand our attention, we cannot forget to actually live.
Whether you choose this show or another, or multiple, the arts is a great place to embrace and feel the vibrancy of what life can offer.
“Exit Laughing” will be running at the Olympia Little Theatre now thru March 22.
https://thejoltnews.com/stories/review-olympia-little-theatres-exit-laughing,28431