A&E
The CL ac I camas P rint
_____ L
WedNEsdAy, ApRil 10, 2002
'Dirty Blonde' has all the fun
SHADRA BEESLEY
Staff Writer
“When I’m good, I’m very
good. But when I’m bad I’m
better,” -Mae West.
“Dirty Blonde” is a hilarious,
quick-witted play by the Port
land Center Stage, with themes
including celebrity idolization,
female empowerment and
cross-dressing. I was fasci
nated and surprised by this
unique dramatic comedy by
Claudia Shear.
The physical elements of
the play were pared down to
emphasize the dimensions of
the main characters: The set
was stripped to bare walls and
a few simple pieces of furni
ture to ensure that spectators
focused on the characters.
The costumes displayed neu
tral colors and simple de
signs.
Except, of course, for Mae
West. Dripping with dia
monds and wrapped in bright
colors, West was the only vi
sual spectacle present. Her
flashy garb appeared espe
cially outrageous surrounded
by plain clothes and sets.
Three actors portrayed all
the characters in the show.
Transitions between charac
ters were performed bril
liantly, each depicting mul
tiple ages and personalities.
Jennifer Taub played both
Mae West and her biggest fan,
Jo, adding depth and meaning
to the play. Colin Thompson
and Roy Abramsohn played all
the male characters.
The unconventional timeline
of the play was interesting and
complex. The setting shifted
rapidly between several differ
ent time periods, including the
early 30's, the late 70’s, and
present day. Near the end of
the play, time shifted so
quickly that past and current
events seemed to happen at
the same time.
“Dirty Blonde” delivered 90
minutes of fast-paced dia
logue and action. Every
scene produced a new devel
opment in the lives of the
present-day characters or
added history to the life of
Mae West. There was no
“down time,” just humor,
drama, and character develop
ment.
To reach Shadra Beesley e-mail
her at shadrab@hotmail.com or
drop by B-104.
——
Dirty Blonde
Newmark Theatre
Portland Center for
the Performing Arts.
Runs until April 14.
OWEN
(503) 274-6588
CAREY/PORTLAND
CENTER
STAGE
Mae West, played by Jennifer Taub, is the centerpiece for
glamour In "Dirty Blonde."
Students contribute to Arbor Day celebrations
left: Kate Yoder, a Clackamas student, bags fertilizer for trees
that will be sent to local grade schools for Arbor Day
celebrations. She prepared the tress In Clairmont Room 127 last
Monday, April 8.
In Oregon, Arbor Day is the first full week in
April. The state tree is the Douglas Fir.
Quick facts and quotes:
"One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four
tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people."
-U.S. Department of Agriculture
"Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values
as much as 20 percent." -Management Information Services/ICMA
"No shade tree? Blame not the sun but yourself."-Chinese Proverb
Arbor Day has now spread beyond the United States and is ob
served in many countries of the world.
Th«
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