theater
BY RICK LEVIN
Assisted Lifting
Crime pays for the old folks in Breath of Spring
O
n March 4, 1513, the Spanish
explorer Ponce de Leon, on a
valedictory commission from
King Ferdinand, set out from Puerto
Rico to fi nd the rumored “Islands of
Benimy.” He found Florida instead. It
was only posthumously that writers began
mythologizing de Leon’s voyage as a
search for the mythical Fountain of Youth.
What he was really searching for was gold,
slaves and other imperial booty.
Nonetheless, old people continue to
fl ock to Florida, where they pluck up condo
shares, swill gin fi zzes, pop Viagra and,
just like everybody else, shrivel up and die
under the melanomic sun. Time remains
unvanquished, and there are no quick fi xes
to aging. Unless you happen to fi nd magic
alien eggs incubating in your swimming pool
— like those lucky fogies in Ron Howard’s
1985 quasi-religious movie Cocoon — the
only remedy for the ravages of old age is
spirit, self-care and the spry inspirations
available to a mind kept open to surprises.
Speaking of old, Eugene’s Very Little
Theatre is completing its 84th season,
now making it the longest continuously
running community theater in the nation.
As befi ts its octogenarian status, VLT has
mounted a near-immaculate production of
Peter Coke’s 1958 play Breath of Spring, a
comic romp about fi ve British pensioners
who are unexpectedly revitalized when
they happen into a life of crime.
Helmed by fi rst-time director Nancy
Boyett and peopled by a swell cast of
veteran actors, Breath of Spring is exactly
that: a fresh, bracing breeze of boisterous
comedy that winks at you with sly
intelligence and wicked complicity.
When Lily (Erica DeJong), maid to
Dame Beatrice (Sharon Sless), hands
her employer a fur, Beatrice pries it out
of her that the gift was stolen; Beatrice
demands it be returned. But Lily, it turns
out, once served a sentence for theft, and
if she gets caught fur in hand, it’s back
to the hoosegow. Beatrice hatches a plan:
Enlisting the aid of her boarders, they will
return the fur to its rightful owner.
Enter the crew: Brigadier Albert Rayne,
Ret. (David Kessler) who, tapping his past
military expertise, devises a complicated
scheme for returning the fur. At once
pompous, distracted and oddly charming,
the Brigadier takes charge of this ragtag
group of seniors, which also includes the
svelte, saucy Lady Alice (Tere Tronson);
Nan (Susan Keller), a prim, fastidious
music teacher; and the nervous, neurotic
Hattie (Chris Hugo), whose penchant for
panic threatens to derail the caper.
The group succeeds in returning the fur.
All is well, and Lily is safe. But, as their
collective adrenals begin to wane, this
wizened wild bunch realizes they’ve now
acquired quite a taste for criminal enterprise.
Breaking the law, they discover, restores
their youthful vigor and zip. It’s a pip.
Stealing things also brings the Brigadier’s
britches back to half-mast, causing Alice
and the Dame to vie like peacocks for
his erotic attentions. Like some geriatric
James Gang, this senior sextet — plotting
ever more risky, complicated and thereby
satisfying heists — believes itself to be
bucking the system by fencing its booty and
distributing the cash in anonymous brown
parcels posted to the needy.
Being a screwball comedy of the late
Golden Era, Breath of Spring is quick to
throw a wrench in the works, as Lily —
wise to the pitfalls of pinching furs —
discovers her employer’s double life and
demands that her crew stop before getting
popped. This isn’t so easy, of course,
especially when lifting furs provides a
shot of oxygen to the anaerobic sterility of
enforced old age.
Everything about Breath of Spring
works. From Richard Sheeland and Vern
Hafffner’s bright, elegantly bourgeois
set design and dressing, to the precise
costumes of Gail Rapp and her crew, to
the smooth interplay of director and cast,
this production sails along fl eet and yar, a
thing of beauty. Like the fi nest of madcap
comedies, the play is so diverting — time
just fl ies — that its billowy philosophical
content caresses like a warm wind. Only
after the fi nal curtain do you get the gist
of this play’s message: Heaven is on earth,
forever is now, and the only Fountain of
Youth is the life you have.
It’s been a very good year for theater in
Eugene, and Breath of Spring might just be
the capper.
ew
Breath of Spring plays through Aug. 11 at the Very Little
Theatre, 2350 Hilyard St.; info & tickets at TheVLT.com
or 344-7751.
Mad Duckling Theatre at it again
with Cinderella! Cinderella!
Cinderella In a Size 10 Slipper
For everyone who has ever wished that Cinderella would just pull herself up out of the ashes
and tell her wicked stepsisters to go buckle their own bustles, Edith Weiss has written a charming
makeover of the classic Grimm fairytale.
In Weiss’ version, Cinderella! Cinderella!, the problem isn’t her evil adoptive family; it’s that
she can’t muster the strength to defy their ridiculous orders. Plain and large-footed, Cinderella is
nice to everyone, including her tormenting stepsisters. With just the right amount of magic, her
vision-impaired fairy godmother (Martin Diaz-Valdes) helps Cinderella fi nd the courage to stand
up for what’s right.
Director Michelle Yeadon inspires her cast to completely buy into the story and the lessons it
teaches. They enter singing the Beach Boys’ classic “God Only Knows” and proceed to delight in
the performance and their young audience members.
John Jeffrey plays a down-to earth Prince and Shannon McInally is gratifyingly awkward as
Cinderella. Antonia Gomez and a monstrous puppet are the fi erce stepsisters, swallowing every
one of society’s worst stereotypes for women.
My guest reviewers Owen, 9, and Margaret, 7, loved this play. Owen particularly enjoyed
Cameron Walker’s quirky town crier, but with fun historical references and humor ranging from
a cat in drag to misused French, there are laughs for everyone. Bring a blanket, snacks and your
favorite kiddos and enjoy a new take on an old tale. — Anna Grace
Cinderella! Cinderella! runs through Aug. 11 and Aug. 7-11, with performances at 11 am in Amazon Park; tickets are $5
and can be purchased from the box offi ce starting at 10:30 a.m. on the day of each performance, children under 3 free.
READING, DISCUSSION & RECEPTION
Cottage Theatre presents
“A soul-satisfying new musical...”
The New York Times
KATE HOPPER
Thursday, August 9 th tQN
$BNQVT%VDL4UPSFt6QTUBJST-JUFSBSZ%VDL
FREE
EVENT
Th
Sp fire Grill
August 10, 11, 12* • 17, 18, 19* • 23, 24, 25, 26*
*matinee
Music & Book by James Valcq, Lyrics & Book by Fred Alley
Based on the Film by Lee David Zlotoff
Directed by Tony Rust
Music Direction by Catricia Gill
$21 Adult, $19 Senior/Student
&UI"WFtt60%VDL4UPSFDPN
28 AUGUST 2, 2012
EUGENE WEEKLY
700 Village Drive • Cottage Grove • www.cottagetheatre.org • 541-942-8001
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM