A Review by Christina Koomen
Susan Poulin’s Ida LeClair Proves Laughter Never Goes Out of Style. There are certain characters who become more than characters—they become old friends. For audiences throughout Maine and New England, Susan Poulin’s wonderfully outspoken, warmhearted and slightly off-kilter Ida LeClair is certainly one of them.
In A WICKED GOOD TIME, now playing at Footlights Theatre in Falmouth, Poulin proves once again why Ida has delighted audiences for so many years. This new show shines every bit as brightly as those before it, with material that feels particularly funny—and surprisingly relevant—in 2026.
Ida and her longtime friends—Celeste, Rita, Betty, Dot and Shirley, collectively known as The Women Who Run With the Moose—have been gathering weekly since, as Ida says, “Moby Dick was a minnow.” Their adventures give Poulin plenty of opportunity to explore friendship, aging, relationships, changing times and the everyday absurdities of life.
And laugh the audience did.
The laughter was nearly continuous, but Poulin’s gift is that we recognize ourselves between the punchlines. She doesn’t simply play Ida; she inhabits her. The comic timing is impeccable, but underneath it is genuine warmth and affection for these women and the friendships that survive decades of disagreements, disasters and questionable decisions.
Adding enormously to the fun is Gordon Carlisle’s hilarious set, featuring Ida’s double-wide and a lawn overflowing with wonderfully tacky ornaments. The set gets laughs before Ida even opens her mouth and becomes another character in the show.
Without spoiling anything, the final story alone is worth the price of admission—and Ida’s unforgettable costume choice had the audience absolutely losing it.
Yet underneath all the hilarity is a simple truth: life changes, we get older and the world gets stranger, but if we’re lucky enough to have friends who know our history and can still make us laugh, we’re doing pretty well.
In 2026, when we could all use a little more laughter, an evening with Ida and the Women Who Run With the Moose feels almost medicinal.
Susan Poulin has created another show filled with big laughs, recognizable truths and enormous heart. Longtime Ida fans will feel right at home, while newcomers will quickly discover what audiences have known for years:
There’s only one Ida LeClair—and spending an evening with her really is A WICKED GOOD TIME. Highly recommended. Ayuh.
A WICKED GOOD TIME plays Thursdays at 7pm through August 27 at The Footlights Theatre, 190 US Route 1, Falmouth, Maine. All seats are $25. Air conditioned with free onsite parking. Walk-ins welcome. Reservations: (207) 747-5434. thefootlightstheatre.com
Christina Koomen is a longtime professional theater reviewer from Virginia who now lives in Midcoast Maine with her husband and two dogs.