Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar, July 7, 2015 ... Council Corner: It’s the solstice; thoughts on freedom ... Smithsonian exhibit includes video about Rogue innovators ... Ashland Calendar, July 7, 2015 ... Council Corner: It’s the solstice; thoughts on freedom ... Smithsonian exhibit includes video about Rogue innovators ... CAMELOT THEATRE 'Words' works — most of the time Premiere staging offers romantic comedy laced with intellectual musings Comment By Roberta Kent For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Roberta Kent For the Tidings Posted Feb. 8, 2015 at 2:53 PM By Roberta Kent For the Tidings Posted Feb. 8, 2015 at 2:53 PM » Social News You could say it is a win-win situation. Camelot Theatre snared the world premiere of Richard Manley’s perky new romantic comedy “A Question of Words.” Playwright Manley got a professional and thoroughly entertaining production of his sweet valentine of a play.  This is the first full production of “A Question of Words” following a reading at the 2013 Ashland New Plays Festival. It is also the first time Camelot has staged a new work.  “A Question of Words” is classic romantic comedy plotting. Boy meets girl. They are an unlikely couple, reluctantly attracted to one another. Will they finally see that they are meant for each other? Well, yes, of course they do — with a little help from their friends.  Curmudgeon poet Derby Wright (Roy Von Rains, Jr.) is apartment sitting for a friend in Manhattan after seven years of self-exile in France following his wife’s tragic death. He has shut down emotionally and quit writing. Derby is not ready for the clamor of chic Manhattan and definitely not ready for the persistent attentions of Mary (Barbara Henson), his witty and chatty female neighbor.  Mary writes successful, glib advertising copy. Intrigued with Derby’s prickly persona, she purchases his one published volume of poetry and is transfixed. She loves his way with the written word. His sarcasm in real life — not so much.  Her mother Lucille (Pam Ward) is equally persistent in her pursuit of Derby. She is the publisher of a prestigious literary journal. It is not clear what she wants more — to fix her daughter up with Derby or get him to resume writing.  Derby’s other neighbors, Ernie (Aaron J. Falk), a yuppie, not-too-bright lawyer, and Christine (Rose Passione) his social-climbing, intellectually pretentious wife, provide the play’s conflict. They plot to throw Derby out of the building after his gleefully erudite word play makes them look ridiculous. Our hero is saved when Ernie’s Uncle Max (Buzz London) discovers that Derby mentored his daughter at Wellesley.  Both Derby and Mary use words to conjure images for the reader to see the familiar in unfamiliar ways. Mary creates fanciful packaging for mundane products. Derby fashions unexpected metaphors and piercing allegories for emotional pain. Or, as playwright Manley repeats throughout the play, words can be uplifting or crass. Words can communicate or alienate — often at the same time.  Occasionally, playwright Manley’s dialogue misses his own joke. When Lucille rhapsodizes about the transcendental power of verbal imagery or Uncle Max turns himself inside out over his deficiencies as a parent, “A Question of Words” loses its airy confection and momentarily deflates with a thud.  Luckily, director Livia Genise’s adept staging usually keeps things moving briskly. She has previously worked with all her actors and the onstage chemistry, especially between Rains and Henson, is apparent. Ward matches quip for quip with Rains and Henson with charming aplomb. Falk and Passione make the most of their roles as the out-classed outsiders and London does a fine job as the exasperated uncle.  On the technical side, James Leyson’s clever set — placing mirror images of the living rooms of the two apartments on either side of the stage — contrasts Derby’s rather stuffy book-filled world with Mary’s more glib décor. Henson did double duty as costume designer, nicely catching New York’s clothing nuances. Brian O’Connor provided the amusing occasional musical commentary.  If Manley crafted “A Question of Words” to be about the power of language to transform people, he probably shouldn’t have chosen a romantic comedy as his vehicle. His play succeeds beautifully as a sweet, fluffy bonbon. He’ll have to try again to convey the transformative experience. Roberta Kent is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach her at [email protected].           By Roberta Kent For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Roberta Kent For the Tidings Posted Feb. 8, 2015 at 2:53 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501