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James Dean resurrected in West Linn
Christopher Pillette brings the necessary intensity and
masculinity to his portrayal o f James Dean in Marilyn Hall s
Professionals 100, Inc., Realtors
Speed of Light
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“At Oak Street Station
centration on factual information robs the even-
ing o f warmth and momentum.
The playful, free-wheeling format of the play
lends itself to the use of some creative theatrics.
hey were not kidding when they named it
At one point. Dean describes auto racing while
The West Linn Very Little Theatre. About
45 mismatched chairs sit on risers and lights the lecturer vocalizes the sounds of high-
powered engines. Later, the lecturer lists the
hanging from the ceiling illuminate the miniscule
star’s television credits which Dean punctuates
acting area. But then, not much else is really
on a drum.
necessary for a theater.
Christopher Pillette brings the necessary in
The major theaters in Portland are chasing
tensity and masculinity to his portrayal of James
after grants the size of which could pay all of
Dean. He makes Dean’s passion for his art and
Very Little Theatre’s bills for a year. VLT’s
his egotism a firm foundation for the character.
financial concerns center around paying next
Less successful is his portrayal of Dean’s
insecurity and lack o f self-awareness.
The more fundamental, but less gratifying
role of the lecturer is played by Glenn
Haberman. The script gives him little in the way
of character, and Haberman fails to embellish
much on his own. Fortunately, his line delivery
month’s rent. To do that, they are currently
is lively and varied, essential for some of the
running a children’s show, presenting musical
lengthy, fact-laden speeches.
performances Sunday nights, have a late night
Both actors are most exciting when
show called “ Private Wars,’’ as well as
embracing a simple, sincere moment. The
performing Speed o f Light, their main
intimacy of the theater makes it conducive to
presentation.
subtleties
generally lost in a large hall, and false
Speed o f Light is an in-depth, meticulously
emotion is easily detected because of the close
researched essay on the life of James Dean. It
proximity of the audience.
opens with a lengthy lecture about the film idol,
If Speed o f Light is a success, it is partially
then opens up a bit when Dean returns from the
dead. (Unfortunately, this interesting return is
due to this unique intimacy. It is also due to the
never explained or explored.) After some initial
energy, enthusiasm, and genuine love the actors
bantering, the play returns to its scholastic tone
hold for the theater. It is tempting to contem
as the lecturer and Dean expound on the actor’s
plate the outstanding major productions that
life.
The Very Little Theatre may someday deliver.
Playwright Marilyn Hall’s work has many
But VLT’s simplicity is what makes it unique
exciting moments, even for those only margi
and valuable right now.
nally interested in Dean. The insights into act
Speed o f Light plays Fridays and Saturdays at
ing as an art and the scuttlebutt from behind the
8:00, through March 25. Tickets are $5. Call
movie camera are fascinating, but Hall’s con-
655-6150 for reservations.
•
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—
Foofy opens original
theater season
he populace of Portland seems to have
been stricken with a bug. No, I’m not
talking about the flu bug, I mean the theater bug
— the “ original” theater bug. This warm and
damp Oregon weather has caused the scourge to
grow all over the place. Monday and Tuesday
nights have become original theater nights at the
Columbia Theatre and at the Long Goodbye,
playwrights are meeting in guilds, and people
are going so far as to improv in each others’
basements.
Happily, things have gotten completely,
and Foofy is a fun show. I suppose you could
stark raving out of control at the end of this
say that we are a company that doesn’t
month, a whole season of this sort of stuff is set
segregate itself into a category.”
to open in the downstairs part of The Bull Ring
This is reflected in the theater’s staff, made
Northwest. The theater. Stark Raving Theatre;
up so far of one heterosexual woman, one
the season opener. The Foofy, Open-Toed Shoe.
heterosexual man, and one lesbian.
Stark Raving Theatre is not necessarily a
The Foofy Open-Toed Shoe opens on
women’s theater company, nor is it necessarily
March 30 and runs through April 22. The cast
a gay and lesbian theater company. And so, the
consists of nine lesbians and a dog. Some of
first show is a not necessarily politically
these women also make up Portland’s first
correct, lesbian, feminist, mystery farce.
women’s improv company, WACKO
Stark Raving staff member Robin Suttles
(Womyn’s Acting Company and Komedy
explains it like this: “ We are a theater without
Organization), yet another group of people who
an agenda. We want to do quality original work
improvise in each others’ basements.
•
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