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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 28, 2016)
T H E AT E R BY RICK LEVIN ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE KISS University Theatre takes on playwright Sarah Ruhl’s love letter to the theater W ay back when, the late, great American writer Kurt Vonnegut published a short story — “Who Am I This Time?” — about a pair of community theater actors who, awkward in so-called real life, fall in love through the character they play on stage. In Vonnegut’s sure hands, the conceit is melancholy and sweet, a concession to the fraught slapstick of authentic emotional connection. In Stage Kiss, now in production at University Theatre, playwright Sarah Ruhl (The Clean House) takes Vonnegut’s simple yet profound theme of actors acting themselves into (and out of) love and turns it into a sprawling comedy of manners, part postmodern farce and part sexed-up dramedy. After the grueling assault of UT’s previous production, the excellent (but nearly four-hour long) Scorched, Stage Kiss is just what it says: a light, refreshing buss on the cheek for fans of smart romantic comedy. At the center of the play are the appropriately named She (Anna Klos) and He (TJ LaGrow), the lead actors in an amateur production of a forgotten (and rather bad) fictional 1930s melodrama about a heroine with one month to live. Turns out He and She have a bit of a burnt romantic history, and their surprise reunion on stage leads to a kind of doubling: As they rehearse the play, they work out their failed affair and present resentments, as well as their ambivalent attraction, through the characters they’ve assumed. The passage of time, of course, has complicated things. He, a cynical snob, is currently in a lukewarm relationship with a bouncy schoolteacher from Iowa (the wonderful Clare McDonald), and She’s married to an investment banker (Riley Mulvihill) who proves something more complicated than the stuffed shirt he at first seems. Director Zeina Salame does a fine job juggling all this zaniness and chaos, which amounts to no less than a play within a play within a play. The rest of the cast is strong, including Hannah Rice as the pollyannaish director of the ’30s melodrama under rehearsal, and Conner Criswell as the rather hapless understudy Kevin, whose attempts to depict straight people making out provides one of the shows most hilarious running gags (especially for Her). By turns silly and sharp, Stage Kiss is a kind of love letter to the joys of theater itself. It takes the audience backstage, quite literally at times, as the cast roams about the theater in a bustle of activity. Ruhl’s play hits all the right notes; it is bittersweet and funny about the romantic shenanigans actors get themselves into, and it’s wryly warmhearted about the collective energy that sustains, and must necessarily sustain, the art of theater. In Stage Kiss, the audience is the fly on the wall of theater, given a candid peek behind the curtain, and what we see is that, yes, all the world’s indeed a stage, whether we’re hitting our marks or not. Stage Kiss plays through May 7 at UO’s Robinson Theatre; $14-$16, info and tickets at blogs.uorgeon.edu. CLASSIFIEDS To place a classified ad: CALL 541.484.0519 EMAIL classy@eugeneweekly.com WEB classifieds.eugeneweekly.com WRITE 1251 Lincoln St. Eugene, OR 97401 VISIT our office Monday-Friday 9am-5pm EVENTS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSIC HERITAGE SHOWCASE: In Celebration of African- American Gospel Music, A Musical Journey, presented by Inspirational Sounds, a non-profit Gospel Choir with the Lane County NAACP. Sunday May 1st, 3pm, Soreng Theater in the Hult Center. Some featured artists: John Gainer and the Portland/Vancouver GMWA choir, praise dancer, Shekela Fortson, Stone Cold Jazz, African dancers Habib and friends, God In Charge, a Portland children’s group, Montrell Goss, Stanley Coleman as Bayard Rustin, early civil rights activist. Emceed by Eric Richardson, pres. of the Lane NAACP. Tix at Hult Center box office. This program paid for in part by a grant from Lane County Arts Council of Eugene, cultural services divi- sion. FOR SALE Clothing REMIX APPAREL EXCHANGE located at 1449 Mohawk Blvd in Springfield, men’s and women’s resale clothing store meets art studio. While you search through our con- stantly changing name brand inventory, enjoy all the local artist’s work on the walls and coming through the speakers. Furnishings QUALITY FURNITURE Clean, modern & antique, furniture, electronics, tools & col- lectibles. New estates arriving daily. We are also buying! 939 River Road, 689-4554, riverroad2ndhand.com CHECK US OUT!! Household KILL ROACHES - GUARANTEED! Buy Harris BULLETIN BOARD Announcements * * HELP SHIFT THE PARADIGM * * PEOPLE POWER Heals Life on Earth 3-min. YouTube video “Time for Change” share-international.org TAKE HEART Lost & Found FOUND WATCH . Found along 99 recently, still running. Call to describe watch and where you lost it. (541) 285-0999. LOST BROWN IPHONE/WALLET Friday April 15, 5 pm. Campbell Ctr parking lot. Pls return my phone & ID’s, no questions asked! EPD has been notified, can return to them or the Campbell Ctr or call Phil at (541) 521-0427. Wanted CASH FOR CARS: Any Car/Truck 2000-2015, Running or Not! Top Dollar For Used/ Damaged. Free Nationwide Towing! Call Now: 1-888-420-3808 (AAN CAN) SEEKING KIDNEY DONOR Type O is preferra- ble but any blood type is ok. All medical expenses paid. Contact 541-255-5257 Pets GREENHILL HUMANE SOCIETY Everybody Deserves a Good Home. Fr-Tu 11a-6p. Closed Wed/Th 88530 Greenhill Rd 541-689- 1503 green-hill.org See our Pet of the Week! SHELTER ANIMAL RESOURCE ALLIANCE S.A.R.A.’s Treasures Gift & Thrift Shop. Volunteer, Donate, Shop, ADOPT! 871 River Road, Open Daily 10am-6pm. 541-607-8892 sarastreasures.org LOOK FOR THIS WEEK’S RESCUED CAT . ANNA KLOS, CLARE MCDONALD, CONNER CRISWELL AND TJ LAGROW IN STAGE KISS EVENTS LINE ADS: $11/3 LINES ADDITIONAL LINES: $4 CALENDAR HELP WA NTED ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS We are looking for an Administrative Assistants to act as a liaison, provide prod- uct/services information and resolve any emerging problems that our clients might face with accuracy and efficiency. He/She will support our manager and employees through a variety of tasks related to organi- zation and communication ensuring that all administration tasks are completed accu- rately and delivered with high quality in a timely manner. The target is to ensure excellent service standards and maintain high customer satisfaction. For more info contact: thutton12@hotmail.com $DANCERS$ Tired of your current club! SWEET ILLUSIONS has day & night shifts available. No experience, can train. Excellent tips! 541-852-8625 or 541-517- 7196 THE HOTTEST CLUB IN LANE COUNTY! EUGENE WEEKLY is looking for a person to join our classified advertising team. This position requires professional customer service, phone skills, data entry and all aspects of account management. This is a full time position with an hourly wage and a potential for a bonus when sales goals are met. Benefits include medical, dental and more. Please send a cover letter and resume to office@eugeneweekly.com or mail them to our office; 1251 Lincoln St. Eugene, OR 97405. Raise the Kundalini! Dwell in the Hear t 3635 Hilyard | yogawesteugene.com Whiteaker Art Walk Schedule: Friday 4/29 5-9pm Featured at WTC -Sharden Killmore’s dead fl y art -Music & paintings of Mike Smith & Sandy Ego -Illuminated Botanicals Art of Violet & Rose -the band SAFFRON -After party at Blairally ZEN MEDITATION and MINDFULNESS for PHYSICAL PAIN • 5-Week Course May 31 - June 28 (5 Tuesdays) 7:30pm to 9:30pm details at www.bluecliffzen.org JUNE DANCE CLASSES! 4 Weeks / Thursday Nights MEET OTHER SINGLES or DANCE WITH YOUR PARTNER 6pm Beginner and Beyond/ Fox Trot and Hustle 7:15pm Intermediate/ Experienced / Quick Step Registration Deadline May 20th, 2016 245 VAN BUREN Download Flyer & Registration Form at www.danceeugene.com or (541)342-3058 KITCHEN HELPER AT SERENITY LANE. For complete job description and application process, visit www.serenitylane.org and click on Employment Opportunities. Drug Free Workplace. EOE. Roach Tablets with Lure. Odorless, Long Lasting. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN) eugeneweekly.com • A pril 28, 2016 31
