Though he offers them free, there are no takers. As Lehrer stretches the situation almost to its breaking point, he also strains credibility now and again. Some running gags that were funny at the start grow a tad repetitious by the second act. Lehrer does give credible motivation for the stubborn protagonists' refusal to back down. That's why neither will admit to being wrong.
Flavorsome performances help make the most of the material.
Carolyn Houston Boone is near ideal as the weary, put-upon but undefeated Velma. With her plain features set in a dour expression, she reflects the impact of her unglamorous life of disappointments. She asserts authority in her sassy putdowns. And when she hears her name mentioned on the news, her starry-eyed awe is hilarious. James Parsons makes a convincing hard-luck case as Buddy Hardeman.