By Kai Bisby

Swinging in the OC

When out actress Maile Flanagan takes the stage, audiences can't help but be entertained and tickled by her presence (not to mention shocked by what comes out of her mouth). She was a stand out as an easily offended religious fanatic stage manager in Justin Tanner's Oklahomo! with the newly formed Third Stage Company. Now, Maile (pronounced like smiley without the "s") is back under the proscenium in a role that was written for her in Justin Tanner's play Wife Swappers, the third show in the theater company's first season, running through Nov.19 at the Third Stage, (2811 W. Magnolia Blvd.). Wife Swappers takes us into the world of conservative swingers when a married couple from Orange County opens their home to friends and strangers for an evening of sex and appetizers. "Justin's writing is hilariously funny," says Maile, who plays a conservative Orange County wife attending the party. "He wrote the part for me which, of course, bodes well for me. I get a lot of the punch lines." Taking a hit right out of the pages of the current conservative culture, Wife Swappers exposes (in a hilarious and filthy manner) the hypocrisy of some conservatives who maintain the image of Ward and June Cleaver but really like to get down and dirty with other Wards and Junes. And with this being the third incarnation of the show, Maile has experienced a wide range of reaction from audiences. "When we did this show in the very beginning, we had people walk out," says Maile on what some of the more conservative audience members may call racy content. "It is about sex," she continues, "But we don't have sex on stage, only in euphemisms." While Tanner's colorful writing is at times a belly-aching-from-laughter good time, this show is not necessarily for the type of people it portrays. Maile explains, "I think we do have swingers that come see the show. They are couples and dressed too well for this theater," jokes Maile, "But I don't think people who are hypocrites would recognize that in themselves." The hypocrisy gets loud and clear when the mention of swinging gay comes out. "There is a line in the show asking about men having sex with each other, and the response is, 'Oh my God, we don't advocate that kind of behavior, we'll throw you right out.'" So does this mean that there is no gay swinging in this play? Maile says "You'll have to see the play to find out." For tickets and information, call (818) 842-4755.