This show is guaranteed to chase the wet winter blues away! Take a look, and see why you should be buying your ticket for this show, opening March 9th …
David Douglas Theater Department works on the parts in this play, “See How They Run”. It’s loaded with multiple mistaken identities, gaffes, and well-timed comedic confusion.
Story and photo by David F. Ashton
The line, “See how they run”, originally drawn from the nursery rhyme about the “three blind mice” is best known in popular culture today from The Beatles’ use of it in two of their songs, “I am the Walrus” and “Lady Madonna”.
But perhaps Paul McCartney and John Lennon used this phrase in the songs not because of the children’s rhyme, but because they enjoyed the comedic confusion that reigns in this 1945 farce by Philip King. It’s marked with screwball situations and humor.
The play’s storyline
Set in the 1940’s, the quiet house of a British minister is turned upside down by four mistaken identities, two impostors, an escaped spy, and one train- wreck of confusion after another.
But the plot doesn’t stop there. The closet is filled with surprises and prisoners. The town busybody is found inebriated, out of control, and in the most embarrassing of situations.
The dizzying pace of the plot culminates in a roundabout chase through the middle of a polite conversation between a new house guest and hostess who maintains impossible appearances.
David Douglas Theater Department’s Michael Givler goes over rehearsal notes with the cast.
Staging provides intimate setting
Because all of the play’s madcap action takes place in one “house”, Theater Manager Mark Taylor and his student staff built the set out, away from the fixed stage. This moves the action up close to the audience.
Order tickets today
See How They Run opens on Friday night, March 9, and Saturday, March 10. It continues the following weekend, on March 15, 16, and 17.
Showtimes for all performances are at 7:30 p.m. in the beautiful Howard Horner Performing Arts Center, 1400 SE 130th Ave., Portland, OR 97233.
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Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults.
For ticket information, call the David Douglas Box Office at (503) 261-8270.
© 2007 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News Service