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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (March 30, 2017)
T H E AT E R BY RICK LEVIN ERIKAJANE JOHNSTON, MICHELLE SELLERS AND ANNIE PUSEY IN VLT’S DEAR WORLD WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE PARIS VLT’s Dear World is a slight but enjoyable musical about a gang of misfits saving the world from corporate greed T echnically speaking, Dear World isn’t a very good musical. In fact, it’s well-nigh ridiculous, a shameless crowd-pleaser that is somehow baggy and thin at once, swapping character development and narrative coherence for broad strokes of plati- tude and attitude stitched together by the pomp-and-circus-pants of forced Parisian gaiety and bunk philosophical truisms. The songs are pretty good, though. And big deal. Star Wars isn’t a very good movie, technically speaking, and for a lot of the same reasons. And yet, like Star Wars, a decent production of Dear World is capable of surviving on enthusiasm alone, like a carnival in the rain. Very Little Theatre’s current production of the musical succeeds despite the ample impediments provided by its patchwork (and overworked) book, written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. VLT’s staging overcomes a pandering spirit of political bonhomie on the strength of director Michael P. Watkins’ strong guidance, which seeks uplift through pure spirit, and strong performances, especially from the leads. I suspect the show was chosen for its startling timeliness and the Manichean morality that drives it: A trio of corporate robber barons, named Presidents One, Two and Three (Will Vanderbilt, Claude Offenbacher and Rob Roberts) discover traces of oil directly beneath a Parisian bistro in 1945. Emboldened by a devious prospector (Gene Chin), the corporate thugs enlist an upstart executive, Julian (Sheldon Hall), to blow the place up. Julian foils the plot by attempting suicide, after which the corporation’s intentions are revealed to the colorful Countess Aurelia (Michelle Sellers, who carries the show with her sure comic timing and powerful, attractive voice) and her gang of oddballs. As mentioned, the plot is flimsy and embryonic in places — especially, and inexplicably, in the love interest that develops between Julian and bistro waitress Nina (the wonderful Sabrina Gross) — while shooting off into absurd and ballooning tangents at other moments, such as the prolonged portrait of the Countess and her clan, which includes Mme. Constance (Erikajane Johnston), Mme. Gabrielle (Annie Pusey), The Mute (Darius Bunce) and others enlisted to save the world from greed and destruction. It goes without saying that Dear World achieves a certain unmistakable frisson, a shock of recognition, in this Age of Trump; much of the pleasure to be found in VLT’s production derives from the realization that the more things change, the more they really do stay the same. The show, thanks in large part to Watkins’ nimble direction, comes across as a kind 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 BULLETIN BOARD Announcements “HUMANITY AT THE CROSSROADS” FREE TALK by Michiko Ishikawa Sunday, April 2, 2:00 pm ASHLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY 410 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland share-international-west.org Classes LEVEL I REIKI CLASS Materials, Attunement, Training. $125, 10a-5p, Sat April 8, Email: cynthia27@q.com to reserve space. Lost & Found FOUND: BICYCLE PANNIER COVER, 14th & Oak in Eugene, last month. Call 541-342- 1668 to ID and retrieve. Wanted PAID RESEARCH STUDY AT THE UOFO Recruiting mothers of young children Eligibility based on household income Call 541-346-4684 for more information Pets GREENHILL HUMANE SOCIETY Everybody Deserves a Good Home. Open Fr-Tu 11a-6p, closed We/Th 88530 Green Hill Rd 541-689- 1503 and 1st Avenue Shelter open Tu-Fr 10a-6p & Sa 10a-5:30p, closed Su/Mo 3970 W. 1st Ave 541-844-1777. 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 . Adoption/Family Services PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 877-362- 2401 LINE ADS: $11/3 LINES ADDITIONAL LINES: $4 M U S I C / E N T E R TA I N M E N T Singer/Songwriters SINGERS WANTED Inspirational Sounds, an award winning, non-profit, community choir singing African-American Gospel has openings for singers in all sections. If you are interested in this vibrant, high-energy group, call Carol at 541-995-8459 or 541- 517-3770. EVENTS JOYFUL HEART PSYCHIC & WELLNESS FAIR Seeks vendors/readers for community fair June 4. Earlybird booth prices until 3/31. JoyfulHeartPsychicFair.com THE PATH OF THE SHAMAN Begins May 12-14, 2017 Roseburg, Oregon, Taught by Ginger Lee (www.SacredWaysCo.com) Assisted by Lynne Kogut (www.dancingbearcenter. com) 406 270-8129 or lkogut@mydfn.net FOR SALE Household *CLEARANCE MATTRESS SALE 30-70% OFF Store Prices. Sets Start at $150. Brand new. Must Sell. 541-799-8079 Lawn & Garden 1993 KUBOTA L2950 4WD 31Hp, Only 1898 Hours, Diesel Tractor With Loader, 4-cylinder $2500 Call:(971)217-6409 1998 KUBOTA L35 4X4 GST Transmission, Power Steering, 35 HP, 1083 Hours,Kubota TL720 Front Loader,Kubota BT900 SubFrame Backhoe. $7500 Call: (831)216- 8246 EMPLOY MENT Help Wanted BLU MIST RESTAURANT AND BAR (an Asian- Fusion concept) is now hiring through our website www.blumistrb.com: Front of the house (Bar manager, bartender, Assistant GM, server, host/hostess, busser). Back of the house (Sous Chef, line cook, prep cook, dishwasher). Apply at www.blumistrb.com CARRY-ON TRAILER IN COBURG has immedi- ate openings for General Laborers, Production welders, painters, assemblers, forklift drivers. Can’t Weld? We will train you. Apply in person Mon-Fri 8am-4pm at 91218 N. Coburg Industrial Way. EOE. $DANCERS$ 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! LOST YOUR JOB? Place a free line ad here (up to 4 lines, 160 characters) for 2 weeks. Briefly list your skills/experience & contact info. Email to: office@eugeneweekly.com or call 541-484-0519 of slapstick tweeting back at power — a rambunctious and loose-limbed response to evil by a gaggle of grotesques and misfits. It’s a revolutionary fairytale with its tongue planted firmly in cheek. Beyond these qualities, VLT’s production just looks and sounds great; the sets are by turns airy and plush, as the action moves from the outdoor bistro to the underground lair of the Countess, and the musical numbers are bouncy, triumphant and often quite funny. The whole production banks on a kind of nostalgic simplicity, a dreamy sense of good and evil, and in that sense it cashes in nicely — for all its world-saving schemes, it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Dear World plays through April 8 at Very Little Theatre; $19-$23, tickets at thevlt.com or 541-344-7751. GROW YOUR BUSINESS ADVERTISE WITH THE EUGENE WEEKLY CALL US TODAY 541-484-0519 BE the HEALING BOOST YOUR HEALING POTENTIAL! Mondays 7-8:30 pm April 3- May 22 All Levels 541-337-8769 3635 Hilyard | yogawesteugene.com Income Tax Bookkeeping Payroll We w e il t l o com ! you 541.342.1040 329 W. 13th Ave #F accountants-on-the-go.com AFFORDABLE WILLS, TRUSTS, GUARDIANSHIPS, SS DISABILITY & SSI REPRESENTATION Wednesdays & LEGAL April 5th - May 10th, 2017 ADVICE 53 0 Alice M. Plymell 132 East 9 Broadway | Suite 718 541-343-9341 also makes home visits spanish interpreter available Whether you consider yourself an older adult or someone who cares about them, this class series is for you! 6 CLASS SERIES STARTS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5TH ENDS WEDNESDAY, MAY 10TH 5:30-7pm Registration $50 eugeneweekly.com • March 30, 2017 23
