excitement
mounts in
performance
Actors/actresses are, by the
definition of Helen Hayes, her­
self a great actress; “A musician
who plays on a home-made in­
strument—himself.”
By Tom Rhodes
Of The Print
here
would American theater be
without the British? A better question
would be: where would American media
be without the British? The English have always
been a strong influence in American theater and
television. The television show, “All in the
Family,” the comedy series that changed the face
of situation comedies, was based on a BBC
production. One reason for their influence is
because the British authors (namely Noel
Coward, Harold Pinter, Tom Stoppord, and
William Douglas Home) have a special sense of
wit that is hard to find in American playwrights.
W
That special form of British
wit was on display last
weekend in McLoughlin Hall
through the Theater Arts
presentation of “The Reluctant
Debutante.” Written by William
Douglas Home, the light British
comedy about an over-anxious
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mother attempting to-introduce
her daughter into society,
played Feb. 28 and 29 and
March 1.
Lisa Kaser and Rolland
Grubbe led the cast as the
father and mother of Jane
(nicely played by Tracy
Hablet). Their daughter was
being pursued by two suiters.
David Bulloch (performed with
the perfect absurd touch by
Rod Ragsdale) and another
David,
David
Hoylake-
Johnston. Mr. Johnston was
portrayed by Tod Bassham, a
newcomer to both Oregon and
the theater. Reading that piece
of information in the program
was a pleasant surprise.
Rolland Grubbe did a good
job portraying one of the few
sane characters in this comedy
of manners. I could probably
never over-praise the perfor­
mance of Lisa Kaser. She
dominated every scene she
was in as Sheila Broadbent.
She perfectly portrayed both
the hopes and the fears of
raising a daughter.
What was equally enjoyable
was watching a comedy that
didn’t emphasize slapstick
humor. In many of Noel
Coward’s plays, slapstick is
almost a necessity. It has no
place in this play so, thank you,
director Jack Shields, for not
slapping it in.
The theater department’s
next production will be the
Oregon premiere of the new
play “Wings,” by Arthui
Kopits. The auditions will take
place today at 3 p.m. in the
McLoughlin Theatre. All in­
terested persons are welcome
to attend.
By Roy Osborne
For The Print
The curtain closes and the
applause stops and the audien­
ce goes home, or wherever
audiences go. It’s time for a
theater tradition—the beloved
cast party.
This is a review of one of
those parties for Clackamas
Community College’s theater
department production of “The
Reluctant Debutante.”
To save you from the
suspense, I give the party four
stars, even though we did run
out of scotch.
Theater parties are the best
parties. The energy level is high
the people are interesting and
varied and everyone has just
shared a common experience:
the play. It’s electric. The cast,
crew, friends and hangers-on
all share the same warm glow.
The best analogy I know of is
the ubiquitious California-hot-
tub-party. Drinking white wine
and sitting in hot water gives
everyone a marvelous feeling
that everything is right with the
world. The analogy goes much
further with the cast because
the reality of the situation is that
the performers have just stood
nude on the stage and dared
the risk of making complete
fools of themselves. They have
’been nude in the sense that so
much of who they are has been
stripped away and all they have
to cover themselves with is a
character. The performer has
voluntarily made himself/her-
self directly vulnerable to the
criticism of others and to the
animal of self-recognition.
. That exposure is a gift, one
of the best, most tender
presents you can receive.
If there are no atheists in
foxholes, there are no different
actors/actresses. They care,
they have feelings and a desire
to express them, and they have
found a way to channel those
feelings into a format for which,
in.exchange, they receive ap­
plause.
“Would you like a cup of hot
sake?”
“What’s your sign?”
“Scorpio.”
“So’s Bill Walton. Nov. 5.
“My birthday’s the second.
“Oh.”
Last year at a party I finally
learned what the director
meant by the difference of up­
stage and downstage (it’s the
direction rain used to drain
when stages were outdoors).
God, I love theater talk.
At this party I heard the host,
Rod Ragsdale, explain in detail
the different “stuff” he might try
the next night as David
Bulloch.
“Do you think I should tell
Jack(Jack Shields, the direc­
tor)?”
“No, surprise him, he’ll love
it.”
I stop and flirt with Becky
Steele for a couple of minutes.
She has the best line in the
play: “I always thought that
was a stamp collector.” It’s
funnier in context; she also has
pretty shoulders.
Sally Rettke is here. She’s
made her debut and she loves
it. She’s already trying out new
readings of her two lines as the
maid.
“I like that version, try that.”
I watch Tod Bassham flirt
with Diana Bauer. Or was
Diana flirting with Tod? Or
was...?”
I think I’ll lay off the tequilla
for awhile.
“Hi, Tracy, what’s your
roomate’s name?”
Tracy—with the sparkling
eyes. Never at a loss, always
on top of things. She’s a sharp
cookie, but a very sweet one.
“Goonight, Diana. Now that
you’re 21 I have to buy you a
drink some time.”
“Tod, you’re an actor now,
how do you like it so far?”
“Rolland Grubbe, you’re a
man that enjoys acting and
you’re good at it. But really,
nobody’s that nice all the time,
Last but never least, Lisa.
How I envy her. To be such a
strong individual at her age. I’m
amazed by the things she will
learn because of the person she
is. Fly with the eagles, Lisa
Kaser.
“Is there any scotch left?”
The first time. Do you
remember the first time?
At one time or another we’ve
all said that we’d like to try ac­
ting once. It looks like fun.
How hard can it be? Well,
maybe next year. The ac­
tors/actresses of “The Reluc­
tant Debutante” have reached
out and grabbed a wish.
_ A burst of laughter. Jack
Shields, the director, comes in
veiw, in fact becomes the view.
He’s on stage here; joking,
hugging and celebrating. His
balloon won’t land tonight.
“Congratulations, Jack, you
did it again. It was a really good
show.”
“I didn’t do it. They did. This
cast came together and worked
together so well I didn’t have to
do anything.”
A stroll around the room
shows me what the crew is
doing. There’s Roby sitting on
the sofa eliciting all the sym­
pathy for his bad knee. Leru
talking about teaching dance.
Deena gives me a hug.
Everyone else is ranging from
happy to captivated. A good
party with good people.
The young and innocent
begin to drift away to their
homes to dream their dreams.
The hardy revelers hold on to
the evening as long as they
can. Party til you drop.
The party is over. A round of
good-byes, a thank you to Rod
and Ada, his wife.
“If you ever get tired of this
guy, remember there’s always
me, Ada.”
Outside into the still warm
evening. There’s almost a full
moon tonight. A joke, a last
goodbye and I walk to my car.
It’s that moment when it
becomes gray. That impercep-
tive moment night becomes
day, a new day to learn, to be,
to do.
Now, if those damn birds
would just stop singing.