Weather 
Actress Ella Olesen shines in the one person, one act dark satire WEATHER GIRL about a television meteorologist in Fresno, California who gives a day-by-day prognosis of unusual weather patterns in her city and state.
Playwright Brian Watkins created a satire rather than a serious drama on the perils of climate change by having “weather girl” Stacey Gross (Olesen) be both narrator and a victim of the events to be shared with the audience.
Gross is introduced to the audience with the cheery optimism and beaming smile that most television meteorologists convey on the air. However, Gross morphs into a complicated person with a dark side that coincides with unusual environmental changes that take place as the play evolves.
When not on the air, the audience learns that Gross is an alcoholic who despises a man she is dating, deliberately destroys a car while on the date, rejects a promotion from her bosses to become a television weather girl in Phoenix, and sings in a bar while drowning herself in alcoholic drinks.
Adding to the dark side of her personality, Gross encounters a homeless woman (unseen on stage) whom she believes to be her mother. While the audience has uncertainty whether Gross sees her mother as she really is or if she sees an imaginary woman due to being an alcoholic, there are some unusual environmental changes taking place while Gross is talking to the audience.
The audience sees behind Gross on projection screens a fire that originated in a house that grows into a massive wildfire that surrounds California (doesn’t that sound familiar?). Gross also states that her mother can connect with the earth and can create water.
As the play reaches a climax, unusual events occur that create an unusual conclusion and allows the audience to ponder about what can happen when warnings about climate change are ignored.
The play shines through the talents of Olesen, a New York based actress born in Canada. whose acting recalls the innocent and happy persona of famed actress Goldie Hawn, Olesen transitions into an angry person as she shows a darker side as the play evolves.
However, Olesen alone did not make the play shine. The vision of director Nicole Stodard to keep the audience focused on the story had Olesen either crawling, standing or showing anguish with her body movements in creating tension throughout the play.
Also to be credited with Olesen and Stodart are the GableStage team of technical artists, scenic designer Frank J. Olivia, sound designer Bree-Anna Obst, audio designer Hector Martinez and projection designer Jamie Godwin. The GableStage team created three screens and sound projections that illustrated the transition of Gross from a beaming on air cheery television personality to a woman who is heading down a destructive path and is warning us of the environmental dangers to come.
Given the reality of new environmental dangers, as we see currently with continuous wildfires in California, hurricanes in Hawaii, and 2026 being the warmest summer on record for South Florida. GableStage Producing Artistic Director Bari Newport was wise to introduce “Weather Girl” for audiences to ponder how climate change is affecting our lives.
Playwright Brian Watkins’ one person, one act dark satire “Weather Girl” starring Ella Olesen is running now through October 18 at GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave. in Coral Gables. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays- Saturdays with 2 pm matinees on Wednesdays and Sundays. Tickets range from $50-95. Students and teachers may attend free performances that are not sold out 45 minutes before the show. For more information, go to gablestage.org or call 305-445-1119.
