Play review ★★★
‘I Do! I Do!9 takes overplayed musical trip
By D.Dietrich
Of The Print
Putting future shock aside, the musical adap
tation ’‘I Do! I Do! ” is a reassurance that some
things don’t change. In this case, the good , the
bad, and the trivial of marriage in anywhere
U.S.A, are harmonized over.Not to say that
times haven’t changed since the play’s turn-of-
the-century setting, but that’s not the focus of
this capsulization of a 50-year marriage.
Based on “The Fourposter” by Jan de Har-
tog, “I Do! I Do!” has attracted its share of au
diences since the 1966 Broadway opening.
Portland Civic Theater’s production is almost
assuredly, if not entirely speculatively, less
vibrant than the debut run, but the show is a
good solid effort. If not an already
acknowledged musical fan, this production is
not the one to win you over.
To list the cast as the program does (in order
of appearance), Cyndy Ramsey controls the
role of She (Agnes) while Bob Lamberson as He
(Michael) seems a bit more constricted in his
performance. The audience’s view of this less-
than-unusual couple is the narrow spectrum of
moments in the bedroom. Experts do agree,
however, that 95 percent of the average mar
riage occurs in the bedroom.
In the overextended first act, Agnes and
Michael are introduced in a farsical wedding
scene as they exchange “I Do! I Do’s!”
Ramsey’s voice and well maintained naive
charm befit her untainted character. The wed
ding night cliches are tidied up by her unper-
functory performance. Michael is of course a
more menacing player in the ’she got hers, now
he’ll get his’ scene.
Lamberson is certainly professional in his
very volatile character but his vocal style lacks
the color and effortless quality of Ramsey’s. As
their life moves rapidly through duets and
lyrical soliloquies in the first 16 years of mar
riage, two children and a successful career
bloom before the real crisis of their marriage
manifests.
With a slip of the tongue Michael admits to,
but hardly apologizes for his affair with a
young woman. Agnes is hardly up to the rubb
ing in of the fact when the Michael-turned-
pompous dramatizes the well-circulated notion
that with age, men just get better while
“women go to pot!” in “It’s a Well Known
Fact.” Agnes counters his chauvinistic call with
one of the visual highlights of the evening with
the number “Flaming Agnes.” With this
cabaret number, Ramsey kicks into life her
peacock feathers (literally) and leaves Michael
once again looking the fool.
As the second half of the marriage unfolds in
the more somber second act, the primary theme
lies with the loss of identity once the children
grow up. The sentimental bombshell hits with
the ending of their life in the house (what we
know as the bedroom) for the option of the
conveniences of a small apartment. Ramsey
and Lamberson conclude their partnership in
the play with a series of well-harmonized duets.
A creative twist is added to the final scene as
the audience gets a glimpse at the wonders of
make-up when the aging couple unabashedly
shed their youth and their wigs on stage.
“I Do! I Do!” is playing in the Blueroom,
which makes for an intimate experience in
theater, but the coziness almost becomes
cramped by the end of the evening. Lack of
space also limits the size of the accompanying
group to piano and drums. A small orchestra
would have picked up the tempo but such are
the sacrifices. Both musicians gave an ad
mirable performance, especially with the
technical timing demanded of the piano player.
With only the bedroom setting, as much
variety in props was used for a more visually in
teresting backdrop. The quality of the set and
the richness of the costumes gives the otherwise
step-above-mediocre production a touch of
gold.
Playing in the Blueroom at Portland Civic
Theater, “I Do! I Do! ” will rim through March
9. Call the box office at 226-3048 for specific
performance dates.
Renown mime to offer training
Due to a decline in student
enrollment and finances, the
College’s administration has
created a plan to generate
more student interest in the
College’s curriculum.
Francisco Reynders, who is
the creator of the Oregon
Mime Theatre, will offer mime
training to College students
beginning March 9. The train
ing will be in the form of a
mini-course, one of several to
be offered between March 4
and 22. The course will cost
$20 and participants will
receive one credit hour upon
completion.
Reynders is an international
artist who has studied with
Etienne Decroùx, the mime
teacher of Marcel Marceau, in
Paris. After touring through
parts of Europe with perform
ing groups, Reynders arrived
in the United States and spent
many years in the film in
dustry, working with major
studios as an art director,
CCC Cafeteria
scenic artist, sculptor and
visual director.
Currently the assistant pro
fessor of theater and director
of mime at Lewis and Clark
College, Reynders has ap
peared throughout the United
States in more than 450 col
leges and universities.
Reynders comes to the Col
lege with high acknowledge
ment from both members in
the educational field and the
entertainment business.
Announcement
We wish to inform CCC cafeteria customers that sulfite is not used in the
cafeteria as a food preserver and we advise, if ordering from a restaurant,
that you check to see if food is being preserved by sulfite.
What is sulfite?
Sulfite is a chemical often used as a food preservative. It prevents
undesirable changes in food color, flavor or texture. Sulfite is expecially used
to preserve fruits and vegetables.
There have been several cases reported of adverse reactions caused by
sulfite in foods. The reactions can be nausea, diarrhea, anaphylactic shock (a
severe allergic reaction), asthma attacks and loss of consciousness.
Mark Day, a student in the College’s Ornamental Horticulture
class, prunes a tree outside the cafeteria. Late morning sunshine
allowed class to try their field work skills.
Photo by Joel Miller
Clackamas Community College
Most people are not sensitive to sulfiting agents. At least to the point of
becoming ill. However, if you have asthma your chances of becoming ill are
much higher. If you are or may be sensitive to sulfiting agents you should
check the ingredients of processed foods and if ordering from a restaurant,
ask if any food have been treated with sulfiting agents.
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