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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2020)
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 GO! magazine — A&E in Northeast Oregon 3 A laundromat, a word game, a love story ■ Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre presents the comedy ‘Stiff Cuffs’ Jan. 24-26 and Jan. 31-Feb. 2 By Lisa Britton EO Media Group BAKER CITY — It’s 45 minutes after the new year begins and Haynes Kittridge is already pen- ning resolutions into her notebook as her laundry washes in a lonely laundromat. She wants to write a novel, learn CPR, get a raise and, as she runs a fi nger through her hair, “learn to use mousse. By August.” So begins the comedy “Stiff Cuffs” presented by Baker City’s Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre and directed by Abby Dennis. The show opens Jan. 24. Cur- tain times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. It runs again Jan. 31 through Feb. 2. Performances are at the EORT theater, 2101 Main St. Tickets are $15 adults, $13 EORT members, $8 students. These are available at Betty’s Books, at www.easternoregonre- gionaltheatre.com and at the door. Playgoers are asked to arrive at the door 10 minutes before the show begins. Latecomers will be seated at intermission. A s the play opens it seems that Haynes, played by Andie Voboril, will pass the night in quiet. Then the door bangs open and in breezes a man — Billy Allman played by Paul McNeil — who im- mediately sets her on edge. He needs her to leave, he wants her to leave, and here’s $30 if she would just leave — now! Now Taking Reservations for Valentine’s Day Call for details - 541-805-5981 or leave a message on our website winedownlg.com Join us for Social Hour Monday-Saturday 4-6pm Salsa Mondays 7pm-8pm ish... $ 10 Includes Lesson and a Beverage (House choice) 115 Depot Street, La Grande Photo by Lisa Britton Paul McNeil and Andie Voboril star in “Stiff Cuffs,” a comedy opening Friday at EORT in Baker City. She’s so disturbed by his behav- ior she threatens to call 911, all the while brandishing the only weapon available, a bottle of Windex, to keep him away. He fi nally backs down and they settle into silence. But when he starts moving posters to cover the graffi ti she can’t help but ask him questions. It’s soon revealed that he’s meant to rendezvous with a woman. Haynes, already lonely on this holiday night, immediately packs up to leave despite the man’s ef- forts to keep her at the laundromat. Seeming to have changed his mind, he pleads, “I’ll give you $30 to stay!” The title of the play comes from a word game called Stiff Cuffs. One person says a compound word, then the next person uses the second part of that word to create a new word. Example: sweetmeat, meatball. Haynes and Billy play the game as they await his guest and it slowly binds them together. But then the truth of Billy’s tryst comes to light: He is supposed to run away with his best friend’s wife. Haynes doesn’t think much about this scheme. “Seems like a pretty stinky way to treat your best friend,” she said. The two verbally spar through- out the play, at times seeming to grow closer right before something else sets one of them off. Then a surprise character breez- es into the laundromat and sets everything on its proper course. The cast list also includes Holly Moore and Justin Kendall. EORT Stay updated on happenings at EORT at www.easternoregonre- gionaltheatre.com and on Facebook.
