Lauren Wimer Photographer
Sophomore Stacy Douglas plays Claire and senior Daren Lundeen plays Limping Man in “Fuddy Meers,” a University Theatre comedy that
runs through May 1. The production features odd and eccentric characters who interact in dysfunctional ways.
'Fuddy Meers' uses comedy
to tackle dramas of family
University Theatre’s latest
production is off in timing
but has an interesting plot
By Ryan Murphey
Freelance Reporter
It's hard to imagine a comedy cen
tered around dead siblings, stroke vic
tims and spousal abuse, but that's ex
actly what University Theatre's latest
production, "Fuddy Meers," features.
_ The play,
TftJCATCD wri«en by
I OEM I Elf David Lind
REVIEW say-Abaire,
_ looks at the
lighter side
of the dysfunctional family. The story
pokes fun at domestic violence and
manages to find the humor in teenage
drug abuse, wrongful imprisonment
and psychological disorders.
The plot centers around Claire —
played by sophomore Stacy Douglas
— a wife and mother who has been
diagnosed with psychogenic amnesia,
an affliction that erases her memory
every time she falls asleep. Claire's
husband, Richard, who is played by
junior Sean Andries, takes on the dai
ly task of explaining Claire's situation
to her, even providing her with a book
of information pertinent to her day.
Shortly after Claire's daily reintro
duction to her son Kenny, who is
played by freshman Stevo Clay, she is
kidnapped by a limping and hideously
deformed convict who claims to be her
brother. The man tells Claire she is in
grave danger from her husband
Richard, and the pair rush off to Claire's
mother's house. Claire's mother, Gertie,
has been rendered more-or-less incom
prehensible by a stroke, but despite her
inability to communicate verbally, it is
clear she is upset by the arrival of the
limping man.
As the day unfolds, more odd char
acters are introduced, and more of
Claire's past is revealed. But despite
the many twists in the script, other el
ements in the show cause the whole
thing to fall a little flat.
The acting in "Fuddy Meers" is
repetitive. From the first five minutes
to the last, Claire is the same ditzy
Shirley Temple-like character. Like
wise, the other characters offer little
in the way of emotional range. Ger
tie is irritated, Kenny is a secretly
sensitive child wrapped up in un
mitigated angst and Richard is like a
reformed alcoholic turned camp
counselor. These one-dimensional
personalities become obnoxious
long before intermission, so by the
end of the production they become
downright exhausting.
Another stumbling block is the
play's timing. Timing is important in
a comedy, and in "Fuddy Meers" the
timing is notably awkward. Pauses
that are a little too long feel like the
actors who don't know their lines,
and characters' delayed reactions to
one another make for unconvincing
relationships.
Perhaps the most distracting element
of the play is the stack of pancakes that
sporadically appears on top of Gertie's
head. Unless the intention behind this
prop was to confuse the audience to the
point of insomnia, it failed.
Overall, "Fuddy Meers" is not a ter
rible play, but it is far from a must-see.
Fuddy Meers will play tonight, Fri
day, Saturday and April 29, 30 and
May 1. All shows begin at 8 p.m. in
the Arena Theatre, room 104 of Vil
lard Hall. Tickets for this show are $6
for the general public, $5 for senior
citizens, University faculty, staff and
non-University students and $4 for
University students. Tickets are avail
able on campus at the EMU Ticket Of
fice. On evenings of the performanc
es, tickets also can be purchased at the
University Theater Box Office in the
Robinson Theatre.
Ryan Murphey is a freelance reporter for
the Emerald.
Nelson provides tax answers
I'm not entirely sure, but I think I
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Life is calling.
How far will you go?
Find out just how far Peace Corps can take
you! Visit with us at the events listed below.
Information Table
Tuesday, 4/27 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
EMU
“Peace Corps in Africa”
Tuesday, 4/27 - 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Eugene Public Library, 100 West 10th Ave
UO Spring Career Fair Booth
Wednesday, 4/28 - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
EMU Ballroom - 2nd Floor
“Slides & Stories about Peace Corps”
Wednesday, 4/28 - 6:00 to 7:30 pm
___ EMU - Walnut Boom
April 27-28, 2004