arts
Cynical society investigated in
Feiffer’s “Little Murders”
By Steve Lundgren
Of The Print
Mass cynicism and ram
pant paranoia is no laughing
matter, or is it?"
“Little Murders,” a two-act
comedy by the master of sar
donic wit, Jules Feiffer, per
formed at Clackamas Com
munity College by Jack
Shield’s merry troupe of
theater people, may just settie
that question.
“Murders” is a grotesque
view of urban society view of
urban society in* America
represented by a middle-class
family that struggles feebly to
preserve its traditional values
despite the insane, violent at
mosphere in which it lives. As
is par for Feiffer’s work,
“Murders” is a tongue-in-cheek
social statement that will leave
the viewer with a knot in his
stomach, either from laughter
or sheer disgust. The mood of
tfie play is set immediately by
the New York children’s street
chant, “2,4,6,8, who do we
assassinate,” printed on the in
side cover of the program.
From pot-shots in the street
and a heavy breathing caller, to,
the eventual violence that
directly touches the family, the
characters are subjected to a
constant barrage of insanity
that eventually overtakes them.
Although this story is billed
as a comedy, it is truly a
tragedy. Its humor, comes not
from the plot or theme, for it is
heavy stuff, but from the cast’s
intense interpretation of a very
satirical script. Feiffer made use
of gags about family, hysteria
and homosexuality, plus over
exaggerated paranoia when he
wrote “Murdprs.” These are
the mainstay of an otherwise
simple story. Adding to the
humor is the dialogue which
has all the subtlety of. a
howitzer, at least, in the Col
lege’s rendition.
The story centers on the
marriage of Patsy Newquist,
the family’s strong-willed
daughter, played by Amy
DeVour,
and
Alfred
Chamberlain, a neurotic
photographer played by Sean
Carlson. Although Alfred
becomes the protagonist, the
first act is dominated by Patsy
and her aggressive coercion of
him and her attempts to make
the family accept her fiance
(and symbolically, everyone)
for whaFhe is.
DeVour’s portrayal of Pat
sy is effective if not entirely
convincing. Because Patsy is
the only normal, realistic
character in the play, DeVour
was required to play the part
intensely and avoid exaggera
tion, something she did well
but shakily.. Alfred; on the
other hand, is a very strange
character. The catch, word for
him would be pure hyperbole..
Carlson treated this part very
well,, with a touch of
melodrama.
Patsy (Amy DeVour) and Carol (Roy
Osbourne) watch on as Kenny (David
Harvey) Marjorie (Lynn Meyers) and Alfred
Page 4
Among the family there
are no static characters in this
play. Each is touched by the lit
tle murders happening around
them. The mother, played by
Lynn Meyers is near hysteria
throughout the story, but finds
happiness in the most perverse
manner which is the final ironic
twist of the play.
Something should be said
for a very captivating perfor
mance by an actor with a small
part. Neil Hass, who plays the
judge, a friend of the Newquist
family who is picked to marry
the young couple, comes
across powerfully with his
“What, no God in the
ceremony!” speech to them.
Usually a small part like his will
not have a great' impact on
either the stdry or the au
dience,’ but the judge sym
bolizes the story’s theme of
traditional values being shelved
and Hass was very convincing.
Near.the play’s end the ac
tion takes a severe downturn
but is resurrected by an unex
pected twist. This final scene is
guaranteed to catch the au
dience offguard.
‘Murders” is not a great
script to begin with, but in this
case the cast pulled it off well
enough to make it worth see
ing.
“Little Murders” was per
formed May 19, 20, and 21
and will by shown again this
Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the
McLoughlin theater.
Patsy (Amy DeVour) and Carol (Roy Osbourne) wrestle
toprove who is strongest.
Photos by Brett Bigham
(Sean Carlson) entertain on the couch in
Clackamas Community College’s produc
tion of Jules Feiffer’s “Little Murders.” The
show will run this Friday and Saturday at 8
p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the
McLoughlin Theater.
Clackamas Community College