Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 1985)
I Play review Fancy footwork staged in British comedy By D. Dietrich Of The Print If one were to try to summarize the plot of Phillip King’s British comedy “See How They Run,” the point would be mute. A more useful purpose would be served just to describe the kind of split-second and fluid timing involved in any successful reproduction of the show. Portland Civic Theater’s production of the play touts some of the finest scrambling seen on local stages. With nary a slip, the Civic’s rendi tion warms up to a fast pace and never slows down until the final curtain. ♦ Easily labeled in the genre of comedy evolv ing around mistaken identities, the play almost challenges itself by announcing a preview of things to come in the following scenes. If anything, the signpost beginning only serves to whet the audience’s appetite and leave a satiated-viewer in the end. The play is set in the vicarage of a small English town shortly after the Second World War. The resident vicar and his wife offer a sharp contrast in culture and ideas. He’s a native Britain with a good heart but little courage and even less personality. He appears completely fitting as a man sporting the less- than-ominous name of Toop. Toop’s wife, on the other hand, holds all the vibrance that he lacks. Raissa Fleming s lively version of the already passionate role of Penelope (Toops wife) offsets the excessively staid performance of Michael A. Parker s Toop. The innately slower .pace of the first act allows the audience to question the likelihood of the ultra-conservative Toop snaring such a lively match as his American actress wife. Penelope is not the type to blend into a crowd and does little to try and appease the likes of the stodgy parishoners who highly disapprove of her informalness. The most appalled by the Vicar’s marital choice is that of Miss Skillon, played by Lucretia Gardner, wonderful in her role of a woman you love to hate. Miss Skillon is upset not only because Mrs. Toop is so unconven tional for the time, but also due to her own romantic notions toward the vicar. Joining the vicar and his wife and the unwelcome Miss Skillon for an evening of laughter and suspense are an unsuspecting American soldier visiting Penelope, her uncle the bishop, a very meek visiting vicar, a British College to host ‘multi-clinic’ jazz fest By J. Jason The College’s own vocal jazz ensemble will be perform Jazz vocalist Nancy King, ing throughout the day as well highly respected local talent, as helping out with the event’s will be . performing at the organization. Cline pointed Oregon City High School out that many of the College’s auditorium on Saturday, Feb. vocal jazz ensemble members 9 to wrap up a full day of In will be featured in their own vitational Vocal Jazz Festival solo performances. Although non-competitive, festivities held at Clackamas awards will be presented by Community College. “This is the third annual the judges for outstanding vocal jazz festival the College solo performances and two is holding,” Lonnie Cline, six-term tuition waiver talent choral and vocal activities grants will be presented to the director said. “In the past they outstanding senior per have been very successful, and formers. Judges for the competition we’re ahead of the game this include Mt. Hood Community year,” he added. More than 40 high schools College faculty members Sue from Oregon and Washington Harris, Steve Christofferson, received invitations. Of these Mikkel Iverson, Dan Sachs 20. schools paid the $70 entry and former instructors Waldo fee to participate. Jazz fans King and Harry Gillgam. Each will have to invest $2 to see the judge is highly respected in the festival and $5 for King’s 8 "jazz field. Cline said the festival is p.m. concert performance. “The festival is non beneficial because “it attracts competitive and highly educa students to* the campus and tional,’’Cline said. Six provides them with educa qualified judges will be on tional experience based on the hand to offer constructive shared concepts of jazz, which criticism on each band’s per will in turn enhance their own formance. “The pressures of everyday music program. It is competition are gone. They all a valuable way to develop our enjoy sharing ideas with the program by preparing this other schools and the judge’s festival. We will gain a lot of comments help them so that experience in producing the they can compete well in other festival,” he added. King’s performance will competitions,” he added. Cline describes the day-long start at 8 p.m. and will last event as a “non-competitive, about two hours. “She is ex multi-clinic performance- tremely good. She sounds a lot like jazz greats Sarah Vaughn, oriented jazz festival.” Of The Print Wednesday, January 30, 1985 Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter,” Cline said. King’s band consists of bassist Tom Wakeling, pianist Steve Christofferson and Lawrence Williams on percus sion. She has performed with the likes of immortal talents Earl Hines, Dave Brubeck and Dizzy Gillespie. Her future plans include recording and touring with Ray Brown and his band. police sergeant, a desparate escaped Russian spy and the consistently hilarious Cockney maid. A well-seasoned actor, Charles Bernard graces the show with a charming personality as a confused bishop caught in the midst of the hectic consequences of his niece’s whim. After building the audience’s expectations in the first act, the second and third acts are unerr ing in fulfilling their share of surprises and plot twists. If even just a tad overdone, the maid is delightful as she makes an effort to keep her employers from complete social suicide. Lucretia Gardner earns an equal amount of laughs with just a bit too much of playing to the audience. In both cases little, if any, harm is done to the absorbing story line and constant visual circus. Director Scott Parker had his work cut out ! for him just to get the staging to flow as smoothly as it is managed. The play is polished by colorful dialogue and timely physical com- 1 edy. “See How They Run” at the Civic Theater will continue playing at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through Feb. 16 on the mainstage, 1530 S.W. Yamhill St. -Humanities feature Oregonians - The Humanities department be “Nothing But Wood...is at Clackamas Community Wood,” an exhibit of fine College is offering a series of woodworking by the Guild of films and lectures presented by Oregon Woodworkers and Oregon artists, filmakers and prints by Betty Tribe at 8 p.m. musicians. “Humanities Ex in the Pauling Gallery beginn perience” meets in ing with the film. “Oregon McLoughlin Theatre each Wednesday from 7 - 9:30 p.m. Woodcarvers” at 7 p.m. on The class is available for col Feb. 6. On Feb. 13, a film titl lege credit but is open to the ed “Claymation” will be public free of charge. For shown along with a presenta more information, call exten tion by Joan Gratz, an animator and set designer for sion 333 at the College. The next two programs will Will Vinton Productions. SEMESTER IN SPAIN Not just for Spanish majors only, but for everyone: beginners, “in between" students, and advanced. Put some excitement into your college career!! BEGINNER OR ADVANCED- Cost is about the same as a semester in a U.S. college:$3,480. Price includes jet round trip to Seville from New York, room, board, and tuition com plete. Government grants and loans may be applied towards our programs. F-6 Live with a Spanish family, attend classes four hours a day, four days a week, four months. Earn 16 hrs. of credit (equivalent to 4 semesters taught in U.S. colleges over a two year time span). Your Spanish studies will be enhanced by opportunities not available in a U.S. classroom. Standardized tests show our students' language skills superior to students complisting two year programs in U.S. Advanced courses also. college you attend Hurry, it takes a lot of time to make all ar rangements. your name SPRING SEMESTER — Jan. 30 - May 29 FALL SEMESTER — Aug. 29 - Dec. 19 each year. FULLY ACCREDITED — A Program of Trinity Christian College. your present street address city zip state If you would like Information on future program« give permanent address below. your permanent street address city state zip For full information — send coupon to: SEMESTER IN SPAIN 2442 E. Collier S.E., F-6 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506 (A Program of Trinity Christian College) Page 5
