I can see clearly now

New company rocks one-acts

by Christopher Key

One of the most exciting things that can happen to an old, jaded reviewer is to be invited to the premiere performance of a new theatre company.  It’s exciting for me, too.  Rimshot.

Mijo Buiskool and Spenser Stumpf are two Lynden theatre veterans with a vision.  It’s called Clear Space Youth Repertory and is sponsored by the Lynden Performing Arts Guild.  Artistic Director Buiskool calls it “…a community of like-minded people who create art, regardless of whether they’re on the cast or crew.”  Their productions are designed, managed and directed by theatre students from around the state.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

I was all prepared to lower my standards a bit for a first production by students, which goes to show how much I know.  Clear Space is a serious contender among local theatre groups and you’ll be impressed and entertained by their first effort.  They’re smart enough to start with one-acts and that’s refreshing because we don’t get to see enough of them.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

The plays are a very well-balanced group of comedies and dramas by everyone from Anton Chekov to some local playwrights that are getting first exposure.  There are remarkably few weak spots.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

Directors include Buiskool and Stumpf, in addition to Julia LaFortune, Laurence Meenk, and Weston Whitener.  The actors are an intriguing mixture of veterans and newbies and they play very well together.  Because this is an ensemble effort, I’m not going to single anyone out.  More or less in order of appearance, they are Emma Ritchie, Trevor Burden, Skyler Jones, Kit Vonnegut, Madra Likkel, Sarah Miller, Evan Riccii, Chelsea Burlile, Jonathan Phlaum, Isaiah Stumpf, Gillian Dodson, Kyle Anthony Pennington, Carole May, Laura (Williams) French, Levi Langstraat, Skyler Jones, Carmen Ferran, Dale Ross and Laurence Meenk.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

All of the techies are students, as well.  Elizabeth Barrett has designed a deceptively simple set that serves all the one-acts with a few changes of props.  Her work is enhanced by Lighting Designer Gavin Wynne.  The cast as a whole is responsible for the props and costumes and they come through like champs.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

Ever since Mickey Rooney said, “Hey, let’s put on a show” to Judy Garland, young artists have been doing theatre with varying levels of success.  This company will astonish you with the professionalism of their first production and it’s because they did a lot of homework before hitting the stage.

They seriously deserve your support and you have only three nights to show them your appreciation: June 23, 24 and 25 at the Claire vg Thomas Theatre in Lynden.  Tickets are $5.00 at the door or at the Clear Space website.

You’ll want to be able to say, “I saw them back when…”

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May I have some more, please?

Claire vg rocks Oliver!

by Christopher Key

Audiences will no doubt consider themselves at home as the Lynden Performing Arts Guild opens the beloved musical Oliver! this week.  Based on the classic novel by Charles Dickens,

Lionel Bart wrote the book, music and lyrics, prettifying it more than a bit for the stage.  It opened in London’s West End in 1960 and went on to a long run on Broadway before becoming one of the most popular musicals for community theatre.

Directors Ruth Posthuma and Tina Miller understand that when you put a couple of dozen adorable kids onstage, you’re guaranteed full houses.  That helps make up for a backstage scene that probably resembles a change of government in a banana republic.  Add a plethora of stagehands manipulating a complex set and it’s a wonder the directors aren’t in an assisted living facility.  Permanently.  The real magic of theatre is that an actual show emerges from such chaos and, in this case, it’s a winner.

The title role is double-cast.  I saw Sagelynn Dennison in the role on preview night and she’s about as good as it gets.  Invincibly innocent and with a sweet voice, Dennison does exactly what she’s supposed to do: steal the show from the adults.  Sarah Hoekema will play the role in alternating performances.

Sagelynn Dennison and Allison Visser play Oliver and the Artful Dodger in LPAG's production of Oliver!  Photo credit - Christopher Key

As usual in community theatre, a lot more girls auditioned than boys and some of them ended up in male roles.  This is not a bad thing.  Allison Visser, who plays the Artful Dodger, does so with a confident stage presence far beyond her years.

Playwright Bart, for better or worse, doesn’t give the kids much stage time.  For which the adult actors are immensely grateful.   Oliver! offers some of the best roles in musical theatre for the big kids and they take full advantage.

Amy Keiper plays Nancy.  Photo credit - Christopher Key

Amy Keiper is notable both for portraying an iconic battered woman and for her professional-level singing voice.  Her abuser, Bill Sykes, is played by 16-year-old Gabe Adams, who is not only genuinely frightening, but comes across as a much older actor and steals most of the scenes he’s in.

The role of Fagin is one of the places where Bart Bowdlerized Dickens.  Be that as it may, Leif Egertson plays him with gusto as a charming rogue rather than an evil villain.  Larry Phlaum personifies Mr. Bumble and the inimitable Carol May is, literally, a scream as Widow Corney.

This production offers more delights than I have room to enumerate and among them are the technical magicians.  Musical Director Celeste Larson leads a whimsical orchestra that perfectly backs the singers.  That Byzantine set I mentioned earlier is the work of designers Wayne Vogel and Chris Jones and the set changes are as much fun to watch as the show itself.

LPAG president Susan Duncan and Ashlie Blaske have the kids dancing like pros and Child Wrangler Karin Hoekema should probably get a bow at the curtain call.  Gavin Wynne is responsible for the moody lighting design which is, unfortunately, difficult for photographers and why you’re not seeing more visuals.

Ann Balfour, one of the true props geniuses in local theatre, has spread her wings into the costuming aerodrome and proves herself equally brilliant.

Oliver! plays May 5 – 22 at the Claire vg Thomas Theatre, 655 Front Street in Lynden.  The box office is open 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday – Friday at (360) 354-4425.  Tickets may also be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com.

I trust you appreciate that I never once said, “This is a Dickens of a show!”

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The odds are excellent

Grrls rule at Claire vg

by Christopher Key

If Neil Simon had never written anything but The Odd Couple, he still would have become a showbiz industry on his own.  Not to mention being able to retire in more comfort than most of us will ever know.  We’re talkin’ a two year run on Broadway with multiple Tonys, a hit film, a hit TV series, performances by every community theatre on earth, and, of course, the female version.

Simon himself revised his original script in 1985 to include the ladies (I use the term loosely) and that version also had a respectable Broadway run with Sally Struthers and Rita Moreno.  Director Alan Peet has brought the distaff adaptation to Claire vg Thomas Theatre in Lynden and it’s way better than the female version of The Clinton Administration.

Peet knows that 90 percent of directing is casting the right people and he did that with bells on.  Our Felix and Oscar are now Florence and Olive, played by Teri Grimes and Laura Nelson.  No one even remotely familiar with local theatre should need an introduction to these two.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

Grimes, of course, is the legendary drama teacher at Bellingham High School who has more students in professional theatre than Stanislavski.  Now that she’s retired, she’s got more time to act and that’s like winning Lotto on your birthday.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

Nelson, a self-described “church lady,” has never let that interfere with her theatrical adventures, including a truly nasty turn as a rock singer in Evermore.  She and Grimes work together like nitric acid and glycerine.  KA-BOOM!

Photo credit - Christopher Key

The clash between the slob and the neatnik has become so much a part of our cultural heritage that one forgets it was originated by Simon and not Shakespeare or Sophocles.

In the male version of The Odd Couple, the story centers around a weekly poker game amongst the boys.  In the female version, it’s Trivial Pursuit and that, if you’ll excuse the expression, is a game changer.  The question-and-answer format provides some delicious moments that the grrls make the most of.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

The Grrls are Melissa Nienhuis as Sylvie; Amy Landino as Renee; Susan Duncan as Mickey; and Terry Sacks as Vera.  As Sacks said to me after the show, “There is nothing like working in an ensemble.”  Not much I can add except that the ensemble is brilliant.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

In the male version of OC, Felix and Oscar romance the ditzy Brit Pigeon Sisters.  In the female version, they become the equally ditzy Spanish Costazuela Brothers, Manolo and Hay-Zoos.  With a J.  Larrin Weidenaar and Evan Ricci are superb as Spanish stereotypes that only Simon could get away with without being pilloried.

Director Peet also designed the set, which is a work of art on its own.  Beth Vonnegut designed the perfect costumes and Laura Nelson’s hubby Steve runs the sound and light board.  Jon Oesting, a legend in his own mind, is guilty of the lovely light design.

Photo credit - Christopher Key

Quite frankly, the female version of The Odd Couple is like a hot shower on a cold winter’s day.  The feeling is familiar, but made so much more enjoyable by the contrast.  I don’t unconditionally love shows very often.  I love this one.

The Odd Couple performs February 18 through March 6 at the Claire vg Thomas Theatre, 655 Front Street in Lynden.  Tickets are available by calling (360) 354-4425 or online at http://www.clairevgtheatre.com/box-office-information-2/.

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