TH EA TER
..............V...............
E
van Wyler is a struggling, young gay writer.
His debut novel has just been published,
and his bare-chested likeness is selling
books across town.
He’s “the next big thing,” on the verge of
his 15 minutes of fame. And he’s caught the
attention of a sophisticated and glamorous
woman with an electric presence that capti
vates Evan in more ways than one.
Alexa Vere de Vere is flawless. She’s a sexy
black dress clinging to ample cleavage and legs
to die for. She’s a black hob, an expensive
clutch purse and a starlet’s cigarette holder.
She’s smart, she’s resourceful, and her charisma
is compelling.
But as suave as she is, Alexa is more than
just a rich fag hag. She’s a manipulator, more
grifter than goddess.
She’s an alluring, name-dropping, bigger-
than-life persona who quickly entrances
Evan— and, in just their first meeting, con
vinces him to write the screenplay of her life.
Almost as quickly, he fools himself into think
i
ing he loves her.
And that’s just the beginning of Douglas
Carter Beane’s As Bees in Honey Droum, a com
edy staged by triangle productions! As the story
continues, we learn the truth about Alexa and
who she really is.
And, true to her character, Daria O ’Neill’s
bewitching portrayal is the centerpiece of this
production. Audiences might recognize the
multimedia personality from her morning show
on KNRK-FM or her recent stint as the volup
tuous WB32 weather gal.
But here, O ’Neill maintains a savvy sense of
restraint and understatement. She makes this
would-be caricature believable, even endearing.
We, tcxi, want to he won over by Alexa, follow
A ffiiguiling buzz
triangle productions! opens its 12th season
with a captivating comedy
by
T im o t h y K r a u s e
her, worship her, he seen with her and take
care of her.
Spencer Conway plays hot, young Evan as
eager, earnest and striving for literary acclaim.
His physical appeal is evident, and no one
Names Alexa for scrambling under the sheets
with him. It’s late in the play, however, when we
glimpse Evan’s neuroses brought out so deftly by
Alexa, finally illuminating why a gay man who
says he dcx:sn’t love anyone, but sleeps with
men, could be so swept off his feet as to fall
for this female con.
We end up
not caring that
Evan gets
screwed
(pun intended) and instead find ourselves drawn
back to Alexa. (Yes, perhaps, as bees to honey.)
Portraying the rest of the romantic and grit
ty New Yorkers are Timeca Briggs, CW Jensen,
Mieko Mitchell-Berke and Scott Weimer, who
enliven the urban landscape. They swirl
around Evan and Alexa like ballroom dancers
who, for the most part, find their rhythm.
Outstanding among this quartet is Weimer,
who happeas to be
Portland’s Mr. Gay
Pride 2001-2002.
He nails each of
W
his multiple
roles,
none more important than Mike Stabinsky, the
frustrated artist who ultimately reveals Alexa’s
juicy past. Weimer’s carnet« as a sales clerk and
a musician showcase his comic range, while the
final role of Mike permits him several tender
and honest moments.
With director Don Horn at the helm, this
Portland premiere of Bees is a clever and cun
ning production, smoothly sailing around Man
hattan. His sparse staging allows the ear to
savor Alexa’s deliciously affected repartee.
(“Dahling! Laaamb! Where did I see you last.1
Tiffany’s? 1 so adore Tiffany’s.’’)
Horn’s minimal sets and props wisely focus
attention on the performances, as does lighting
designed by Jeffrey D. Woods. Costumes by
Elizabeth Wright go a long way toward fleshing
out the sometimes sketchy minor characters.
Beane, who also penned the screenplay To
Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar ,
is a witty storyteller, to be sure. But that skill is
actually somewhat of a weakness in Bees, bend
ing one of playwrighting’s primary principles to
“show, don’t tell.” His intriguing characters
articulate funny and absorbing stories, but the
play’s thin plot provides little action, offering
more amusing characterizations than active
motivation.
Still, as Evan says to Alexa, confection,
pure confection. j n
A s B ees in H oney D row n plays Thursday to
Sunday through Sept. 29 at Theatre! Theater!,
3430 S.E . Belmont St. For times and tickets call
503-239-5919 or visit www.tnpro.org.
TIMOTHY K r a u se is a UTiter and editor in Port
land whose former life included several years of
working in professional theater.
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