September 25, 2013
^Inrtlanh (Observer______________________ Page 9
East County
Beaverton
Economy Gone Sour
Portland Playhouse presents Detroit
When Ben loses his job as a bank loan officer, he and his wife
Mary ponder how they can stay afloat. Then Sharon and
Kenny, who met in rehab, work dead-end jobs and can’t
afford more than ramen noodles for dinner, move into the long-
vacant house next door.
Over impromptu, charged, and often hilarious patio en­
counters, these two very different couples find common
ground in the new economic doldrums, culminating
in a “delirious, dangerous bacchanal.”
Detroit, a Lisa D ’ Amour Pulitzer finalist play
featuring a story ripped from the headlines
kicks off the sixth season of Portland Play
house.
While the play is not necessarily set in
Detroit, its title is intended to be a meta­
phor for the economic challenges facing
Main Street America.
The production stars a diverse
cast, including Jason Rouse who
appeared in the Portland Play-
continued
on page 14
Welcome to life on the edge, played out in a suburban backyard. Portland
Playhouse, 602 N.E. Prescott St., opens its sixth season with the play Detroit, a
story about the economic challenges facing Main Street USA.