June 23, 199l> NEWS & PUBLIC OPINION 3SA ENTERTAINMENT & AWTS Director Dunn says ‘Other Half’ is all good

ByTONYOOINS______■ More Entertainment and Arts coverage on T-shaped table, Dunn said, Suburban News Reporter page 2B “so it’s great fun to see.” Another challenge is the Otterbein College’s theater set, Dunn .said. department will kick off its Instead of setting the play 33rd summer season with a She also appreciated set acter they are speaking to, on a stage in front of the farce. designer Rob Johnson, who but from characters in the audience. How the Other How the Other Half Loves, she described as being as tal­ other couple. Half Loves will take place a farce by Alan Ayckbourn, ented as set designers she The intermingled scenes with the audience on three will open Otterbein Summer worked with in New York make the show “incredibly sides, Dunn said. Theatre tomorrow, according City. hard to memorize,” Dunn The play is helped, how­ to a press release. The play How the Other Half Loves ever, but what Dunn de­ will run through July 11. said. follows two couples, upper- Bob and Fiona have an scribes as a “stupendous The play is a British com­ class Frank and Fiona and cast.” edy about infidelity and mis­ illicit affair, and to cover it middle-class Bob and Tere­ up they tell their spouses they “These are six of the most taken identities, said Doreen sa. Dunn, the guest director. were counseling another cou­ talented Otterbein students 1 The play takes place in ple, the Detweilers. have ever worked with,” “1 guarantee you’ll laugh both couples’ living rooms at harder at this comedy than The Detweilers, mean­ Dunn said. the same time, Dunn said. while, do not know they arc How the Other Half Loves any other play you’ll see on Both couples’ furniture is in­ the stage,” Dunn said. having problems. will run Thursday through termingled, and the actors “Somebody’s having an Sunday, next Wednesday and Cast members from Otterbein College’s How the Dunn, whose day job is play scenes in both house­ Other Half Loves include (from left) Mandy Wheeler, directing the Eastland Per­ affair and everybody’s ac­ July 1, July 3 and July 7-11. holds at the same time. cused of it,” Dunn said. Tickets cost $14 for Sun­ Robin Barovic and Geof Martin. forming Arts program, has Actors must avoid running directed several plays at Ot­ Both couples invite the day and Wednesday perfor­ into each other without Detweilers over for dinner on mances, $15 for TTiursdays terbein. She said she keeps hckflowledging the other coming back for the talent successive nights. and $16 for Friday and Sat­ couple’s presence, Dunn Both dinner p^es take urday. For more information, *T love these students. said. Actors must often take place at the same time on the call the Otterbein box office They’re so well-trained.” their cues not from the char­ stage, Dunn said, at a laige at 823-1109. July 7, 1999 NEWS & PUBLIC OPINION 3B ______ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS ‘How the Other Half Loves’ is an entertaining farce

By DENNIS THOMPSON vades Ayckbourn’s world. Phillips is the most well- We.sterville. There are no per­ and Sunday. $13 Thursday Slihurhan Sews Theater Critic But this is at heart a farce rounded real person in this formances July 4 and no 7:30 and $16 Friday and Saturday. and a clever one. At times it absurd world, botli sweet and p.m. performance July II. For more information call Otterbein Summer Theatre seems to rely on gimmick, but feisty. Tickets are $14 Wednesday 823-1109. opens its season with a crisp it’s a theatrical gimmick that is Some of the farcical production of the 1969 Alan ingenious and so intricate in its moments seem too contrived, Ayckbourn farce How the staging. even for this genre. Other Half Loves. The action revolves around But it’s only dated in the Ayckbourn has often been two couples, the Fosters sense that if Star 69 had exist­ called the British Neil Simon, (Fiona and Frank) and the ed on telephones, all the mis­ writer of plays that are clever Phillipses (Bob and Teresa). understandings would have and funny without much sub­ Fiona and Bob have had a been cleared up in the first stance. fling, and to cover it up have REVIEW act. Revisionist thinking finds concocted stories involving a All in all, this is quite enter­ that a harsh sentiment about third couple, William and taining and was greeted with both playwrights. Mary Detweiler. staging of both tlinncr parties much opening night laughter. Whereas the implications of Tlic Detweilcrs get invited with the Uetweilers which depth in Simon is based prima­ to dinner on consecutive overlap the same scene. Otterbein Summer rily on his recent work, even nights at each house. Director Doreen Dunn con­ Theatre's How the Other Half this early piece by Ayckbourn TTie gimmick is that the liv­ ducts the intricate choreogra­ Loves continues through shows serious concerns lurk­ ing rooms of the two couples phy tlirough Rob Johnson’s Saturday at 8 p.m. and at 2 ing beneath the surface. blend together on stage with blended set and injects humor­ and 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Bleak suburban lives, sterile the action in each household ous bits of group business. July 11 at the Campus Center marriages, infidelities and occuixing simultaneously. Robin Borovic as Teresa Theatre. 100 iV. Home St., missed communication per­ The highlight of this is the sIDispiiltli Page^ ' ‘Other Hair has sturdy foundations

By MiduMl Qrossbeig Dispatch Theater Critic

With its well-paced, well-mounted and crisply staged revival of one of Alan Ayckbourn’s best early plays, Otterbein Summer llieatre delivers what may be the sunmier season’s most consistently fuimy farce. How the Other Half Loves, which opened last night to screams of laughter, is built on the sturdiest of comic foundations: adultery, decep­ tion and shaky British manners. Director Doreen Dunn deftly bal­ ances the ample physical slapstick Alysla Payton/DispafcA and verbal fireworks in this two-act Sonny Osborne, right, and Dana Cupp of the Osborne Brothers perform. comedy of class differences, appre­ hension and mis£pprehensioa All the action takes place in the living rooms of the upper-class Fos­ ters and working-class Philipses — Bluegrass thrives with actors talking and moving through each other’s scenes in the same theatrical space. Only onstage could such a brilliantly theatrical at festival, thanks ^ farce come to such madcap life. Aside from the placement of the Fosters’ bar, Dunn and scenic de­ signer Rob Johnson should be ap­ plauded for tlieir expert realization to its strong roots of Ayckbourn’s tricky, multilevel script. The stage blocking alone is no small feat of focus and timing. By Aaron B«ck Allison Sattinger’s upper-crust Dispatch Top Music Critic Fiona Foster and Jared Jensen’s blue-collar Bob Philips generate Mainstream country music today Music review much laughter as they navigate an 'is cowboy hats, deli tray-sized belt arc from ego to comeuppance. buckles, blue jeans, clean hair and ■ The Bluegrass Classic continues ^ But Robin Borovic, fimny enough slick, homogeneous videos that re­ at 11 a.m. today and Saturday at as Bob’s initially confused wife, semble advertisements for dating Hoover Y Park, on Rohr Road off ■ • • achieves something far greater: An services. Alum Creek Drive. Today’s 1 emotional depth and intelligence Country’s hallowed post-war mu­ performers: the Lewis Family; that ground her later scenes in a sicians have been pushed to the sha­ Northwest Territory; Lonesome River •' gripping psychological realism. In dows by the new breed that has Band; Blue Highway; Larry ^ her terrific acting and even some­ more white teetlt than memorable Stephenson Band; Del McCoury what in her appearance, Borovic story songs. Band; Larry Stephenson Band and evokes a young Annette Bening. One of country’s cousins, blue- Dudley Connell; Larry Stephenson, il. Jesse Wilson is also convincing grass, is a very different animal. As Roy Lewis, Ricky Simpkins and J and empathetic as Frank Foster. His bluegrass’ forefathers age, the mar­ Travis Lewis. Saturday’s - forgetfulness is amusing; his well- ket for their music increases. performers: Northwest Territory; ’ meaning befuddlement expands into 'The Bluegrass Classic yesterday Seldom Scene; J.D. Crowe and the , I an affecting sweetness. in Hoover Y Park provided a prime New South; Lonesome River Band; ■ • Geoff Martin and Mandy Wheeler, example. Four of bluegrass’ primary Blue Highway; Bela Fleck, Tony Rice, mimicking Elmer Fudd’s speech im­ keepers of traditional — that is, Jerry Douglas and Tim O’Brien; the ■ pediment on top of their British ac­ acoustic — bluegrass, Soimy and Ronnie Bowman Experience. Tickets cents, deftly twist and turn as defer­ Bobby OsbomeGl and 67 years old; cost $25-$30 (single day) or $55- ' ' ential William and shy Mary Del McCoury, 60, and Doyle Lawson, • $75 (two-day pass). For more ,, - Detweiler. Without their pivotal (and 55, performed with their bands songs information, call 740-548-4199. <'.t fast-pivoting) performances, the first as old as 100 years or more and origi­ act would not climax so hilariously nal tunes written only last year. at “simultaneous” dinner parties. The themes — retribution, lovers drum-tight hannonies proved why. As Otterbein’s memorable .Sard- scorned, longing for the mountains Mandolin player and lead vocalist season opener, Ayckbourn’s three- of Virginia, Kentucky,.and ea^erh Lawson took much time to tell jpl(es decades-old hit retains its manifold Tennessee and meeting the eyes of that compel a person to laugh be­ charms and amusing complexity. God — and the tools used tO get cause the listener has invested so them across — dobros, mandolins, much time. His funniest moment was stand-up basses, guitars, bai\jos and a non sequitur aimed at fiddler Doug fiddles — were constant Bartlitt: “You look a lot better since Theater review Tbe Osborne Brothers fought tlie worm medicine took hold.” How the Other Half Lorn, Otterbein, through first-day bugs in the sound Lawson’s timing was much better Summer Theatre’s student system. At one point, as power when he and the band stood in a production of Alan Ayckbourn’s zapped on and off, the sextet’s ver­ semicircle like a football team hud­ farce. Directed by Doreen Dunn. sion of Foggy Mountain Break­ dling and sang a cappella down alternated between being 'The Del McCoury Band is led by a Rona Foster...... Allison Sattinger acoustic and electric. No one under man whose voice epitomizes tlie Teresa Philips...... Robin Borovic the trees sitting in lawn chairs “high lonesome” sound. Frank Foster...... Jesse Wilson seemed to care. The Osborne Broth­ One of tlie former Monroe band Bob Philips...... Jared Jensen ers’ take on the Scruggs’ signature member’s secret weapons is his abi­ William Detw/eiler...... Geoff Martin tune was intense either way, thanks lity to unnerve the listener with a Maty Detweiler...... Mandy Wheeler to the blazing, three-fingered baryo line like “Ely killed his wife with a Well-fed farce, from soup to nuts picking of Dana Cupp, a man whose longshore Bowie knife,” then laugh it Being performed at 8 tonight and previous gig was with Bill Monroe, off while making small talk with the Saturday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. the Father of Bluegrass. people in the front rows making re­ Sunday—through July 11 — at Lawson and Quicksilver brought quests. the Campus Center Theatre, 100 W. to the festival their gospel music and McCoury would save the requests Home St., Westerville. simultaneously endearing and hokey for later, for he was excited about stage banter. Since 1979, tl\is band, his new record Hie Family. Before Tickets cost $14-$16. Call 614-823- led by a Jimmy Martin protege, has 1109. deadline called, his young band had been one of the most influential acts ripped through most of it. A stand­ in the business. I.ast night, their out: Red Eyes on a Mad Dog.