Outdoor Living: A Hurricane Diane Review

Christina DeCicco, Sharina Martin, Alyse Alan Louis, and Katya Campbell in Hurricane Diane (2025). Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Under the direction of Zoë Golub-Sass, Hartford Stage presents Hurricane Diane, a play centering on a lust-filled demigod on a quest to flaunt her power, who descends on a cul-de-sac of unsuspecting New Jersey housewives. Consent is out the window, and coercion takes its place in the show of force that is Hurricane Diane. This depiction of the antics of the Greek god Dionysus is humor-filled but also burdened by a vulgarity that drowns the potential for a nuanced plot.

In this play, four neighboring women with identical floor plans find themselves at the mercy of the demigod Dionysus, who comes to the neighborhood disguised as a landscaper. The pretense quickly falls apart when the eager Diane (Bernadette Sefic) makes a move on the unwilling Carol Fleischer (Katya Campbell). Taken aback by Carol’s rejection, Diane plots to seduce the three remaining housewives, Beth Wann (Alyse Alan Louis), Renee Shapiro-Epps (Sharina Martin), and Pam Annunziata (Christina DeCicco). Diane’s plan comes together in a bizarre, hysterical ritual in which 3 out of 4 women fall victim to Diane’s power of seduction. In a move of desperation, Diane tries one final time to coerce Carol to join her friends, succumb to Diane’s wishes, and acquiesce to the crazed cult. Carol remains obstinate. 

Beth is a whisper, her presence subtle, a trait that Louis honors with a delicate delivery. Martin is punchy and fun in her depiction of Renee, who is layered and a force in her own right. Campbell characterizes Carol’s half-mousy, half-assertive nature well, riding out Carol’s reservations that build into her own eventual show of force. DeCicco keeps the comedic time and is central to most of the uproarious moments of laughter that the show offers. 

The set, designed by Emmie Finckel, is a sleek, minimalistic, HGTV-worthy kitchen interior with no specific personal touches—playing into the stereotypical herd mentality of reality television housewives. The lighting and sound design of Krista Smith and Joyce Ciesil accent the beautiful set work and create a quality production value that compensates for a story that falls flat.

Though the story itself lacks substance and promotes an uncomfortable presentation of sexual coercion, the cast and crew come together to deliver a fun experience for the audience.

Hurricane Diane ends Hartford Stage’s 24/25 theatre season. The show can be seen through June 29th. For tickets, visit http://hartfordstage.org/