THEATER
............ V ............
November 23, 2003 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Love Makes A Family. Inc. 3rd Annual Auction@
Plain and simple
Darcelle X V
triangle shows that young love is a Beautiful Thing
by
T
im o t h y
208 N W 3rd Ave.. Portland. O R 97209
Join MC’s Poison Waters
$ Thousands of Items to Auction
& Christina Sigwart for a
fun filled evening and do
K rause
some holiday shopping
while supporting Love
hen ycxj are 16
years old, discover
you’re queer and
think you have a
cnish on the hoy next dix>r,
your legs seem to buckle
underneath you, sending the
if :
world spinning out of con
¡fr>
trol into a swirling drama of
coming of age, coming to
terms and coming out.
But in the sweet, roman
tic Beautiful Thing, on the
\4 9 *
hoards at triangle produc
tions! through Nov. 15,
British playwright Jonathan
Harvey distills this complex,
emotional situation hy sim
%
ply observing how one hoy s
1«
honesty changes the paths
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of those around him.
Sensitive, shy and stu
f.
dious Jamie lives in a
London housing project
next door to Ste (short for
Steve), an attractive and
«us*
popular classmate he idol
izes. They at first seem to
have little in common
until one night (to avoid
the wrath of his abusive
father) Ste ends up bunk
ing at Jamies. Hesitantly,
Jamie reaches out to his
new friend and together
Jamie s mom and neighbor “help” him cope with raging hormones—
they begin to realize a
all aimed at neighbor Steve— in Beautiful Thing
mutual affection.
Although Jamies mom loves her son, she’s a
sweet, sympathetic and a quiet hero. We like
working single parent, and her effort to provide
him, we understand him, we rixn for him.
for him while taking care of her own needs
Also in his first show at triangle, Christo
often leaves them at odds, especially when she
pher Woolsey lends the role of Ste a similar
sincerity, permitting Jefferson Davis as Tony
starts dating a younger loser named Tony.
and Joscelyn G xik as Leah to spice things up a
But when Sandra discovers her son’s sexual
hit, as much for sass as for fuss.
ity, Jamie’s brave acknowledgment marks a
Which makes it disappointing, then, when
turning point in both their relationship and
Harvey’s delicate storytelling seems merely to
the play, as his admission eventually alters the
shuffle along, trying clumsily to assume a gait
path of each character’s journey, including
fitting the author’s mix of comedy and drama.
Leah, an aimless, Mama-Cass-obsessed, next-
Some scenes click, while others wander aim
d(X>r dropout who has been protecting his
lessly or fall flat. Director D in Horn stages
secret as a way to connect.
Beautiful Thing without intermission, which
Throughout, we share Jamie’s pain of realiz
keeps his company on the right path— but
ing he’s different, frustration with staying hid
without climbing hills and crossing valleys,
den, fear of coming out and courage in stand
we’re left asking, “Where did that take usT
ing his ground. And we welcome the notion
Still, there’s truth in the saying that the
that it all works out relatively easily for him—
journey is more important than the destina
a happy ending to how our own coming out
tion— and that is a Beautiful Thing indeed.
might have been or might he. In short, we
recognize and honor a common dream.
B eautiful T hinu continues through Nov. 15 at
Theater! Theatre!, 3430 S.E. Belmont St. Tickets
ost notable among the cast of this Port
are $!7-$23 from 503-239-59/9 or tvuw.tnfrro.org.
land prixJuction is certainly Torrey Com -
A post-show talkback discussing the Oregon
well. Her near manic portrayal of Sandra
Citizens Alliance's netv hallat measure effort and
incorporates both depth and discovery. Last
its imfxict on queer students follows the Nov. 9
seen as Crystal Allen in triangle’s The Women,
performance. Panel members include the cast,
Cornwell constructs for the saucy Sandra a lay
the Human Rights Camfxugn's Terry Bean and
ered façade of strength and vulnerability, will
Equity Foundation's Linda Traeger.
and compromise— contradictions in her char
The Human Rights Campaign and Basic Rights
acter that thicken her magic words of uncondi
Oregon team up for a joint fund-raiser celebrating
tional acceptance: “I’m not going to put you
gay rights in conjunction with the Nov. 13
out like the milk bottles."
performance. For $50, patrons are treated to a
As the anguished Jamie, J.R. Wickman is
private pre-show receptum. For details, call
both likable and genuine in his debut role at
503-222-6151 or 503-245-9743.
triangle. In fitting contrast to Sandra, Wick-
man allows Jamie to simply and plainly be who
Features Editor TIMOTHY KRAUSE can be reached
he is, without pushing too hard. Like his char
at dm@justout.com.
acter, Wickman is the thread that binds. He’s
Makes A Family. Inc.
I *
J/
\
jH
M
Entertainment
Fashion Show
Vintage Clothes by Torso
Art (preview at the Blend Sat.. Nov. 8th. 2327 E Burnside)
• Sam Morgan
• Monte Shelton
• Penn Wellington
• Portland Art & Revolution Artists
Furniture (preview at the Blend Sat., Nov. 8th. 2327 E Burnside
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IUTE MAKES
A f A f ll M
LOVE MAKES A
FAMILY
Creating a Famuy Voice
ter Lesbian. Gay.
Bisexual ana Trans
Feopte
PO Box 5163
Portland, OR 97208
Phone: 503/228-3892
Fax. 503/228-3970
www.lmfamily.org
%
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zvill arrange
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Don Duncan
owner
Sunday Service: 10am
12250 SW Denney Road (at Hall Blvd.)
Beaverton. OR 9 7 0 0 8
503-644-2073» www.southmin.com
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&
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642-9992
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