Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 2019)
9 Wednesday, October 16, 2019 GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon FROM THE COVER ‘Gaslight’ is a thriller with a social message an inside look at northeast oregon’s arts and entertainment scene ■ The play’s story of psychological abuse will keep audience on edge of their seat By Lisa Britton BAKER CITY — Everything about “Gaslight” is designed to keep the audience a bit uncomfort- able, a bit on edge. The set isn’t quite square, with walls tilted just enough to seem off. The music builds to a crescendo in tense moments, and fl ickering lights trigger that something bad is about to happen. “The play is a thriller. There are some very tense moments,” said Justin Kendall, director of this play for Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre. “It’s designed to make the audience sit on the edge of their seats and be as uncomfortable as our leading lady.” The play opens at 7 p.m. Oct. 17, at the EORT’s theater, 2101 Main St., Baker City. More performances are set for Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. (Note that there is no Saturday show this weekend.) The play continues next weekend with show times at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26 and at 3 p.m. Oct. 27. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 EORT members, and $8 students. These are available at www.easternor- egonregionaltheatre.com, as well as at Betty’s Books, Random Resales and at the door. The term “gaslighting” refers to a form of psychological abuse where one person causes another to begin doubting his or her own sanity. It originates from the play and movie of the same name — the woman thinks her husband has left the house, then she hears footsteps in the off-limits upper story and watches in horror as the gas lights dim and then return to full blaze. Addison Collard plays over- bearing Mr. Manningham who is manipulating his wife, Mrs. Manningham, played by Liz White. The fi rst act is rife with tension as the audience witnesses the up and down emotions elicited by Mr. Manningham, who in turn delights his wife with tickets to the theater and then accuses her of removing a painting from the wall. “Mr. Manningham is manipulat- Photo by Lisa Britton Liz White (left) stars as Mrs. Manningham in “Gaslight,” a thriller that begins Thursday at the Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre in Baker City. Corrine Vegter (right) plays a maid, Nancy. ing everyone around him, and his wife thinks she is losing her mind,” Kendall said. Two maids (played by Jennifer Button and Corrine Vegter) wit- ness the abuse and one sets help in motion when she mentions it to her boyfriend, whose mother is the celebrated Detective Rough, played by Alicia Wolfe. The original play was set in the 1880s but Kendall decided to bring it forward to the 1980s. He also recast the detective as a woman. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and EORT has invited MayDay Inc. to partner in the production of “Gaslight.” MayDay helps victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child and elder abuse in Baker County. Staff from MayDay will be on hand at each performance to an- swer questions and offer informa- tion before and after the show. Also, anyone who brings in personal care items (shampoo, toothbrush, etc.) to donate to MayDay will receive a free popcorn. In addition, MayDay is offering a $2 discount off the price of adult tickets purchased at www.eastern- oregonregionaltheatre.com (select “MayDay” from the drop-down “select an option” menu after fol- lowing the links to squareup.com). Freeze the precious moments... PRESERVE YOUR WEDDING GOWN. • Your wedding gown will become your family heirloom. Keep it for the next generation of daughters. • Wedding gowns kept in plastic bags are exposed to cheimicals in the long run that effect the gown’s fibers and color. C & H Cleaning Industries and Dry Cleaning 208 Chestnut, La Grande • 541 963-9210 Open Tues-Thurs 11am-4:30pm Fri 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am-2pm
