Someone should be applauded — Steve Martin, I imagine, and
originating playwright Carl Sternheim — for the silky red bloomers, talk of
young married women taking lovers, virile poets and sexual innuendo.
The hilarious theatrical play entitled, “Underpants,” was
put on by LBCC’s theater department and was directed by Dan Stone.
The wide range of acting done by the cast, and spectacular
stage design was enough to enjoy the show and constantly want more.
"The Underpants" is Martin's adaptation of
Sternheim's 1910 farce "Die Hose" and is about what happens after
something as seemingly simple as someone's bloomers falling down can cause such
a scandal.
It's what happens to Louise Maske (Asia Lederer) as
she's watching a parade for the king, much to the dismay of her no-nonsense,
bookkeeper husband, Theo (Joe Hill), who thinks the scandal might cause him to
lose his government job.
Instead, what the incident does do is
attract two renters to the Maske home — poet Frank Versati (Abe Cusick) and
barber Benjamin Cohen (T.J. Hagey). Of course, the two don't just want to rent
a room.
What they really want to do is woo Louise.
Apparently, her losing her bloomers has ignited an unquenchable passion in them
for Louise, who is not yet pregnant after a year of marriage. Her sensible,
not-so-passionate husband says they do not have enough money to have a child.
The Maskes' nosy neighbor, Gertrude (Kim Willaman), who is
living vicariously through Louise, suggests Louise should take a lover and will
help her do whatever it takes to achieve it.
Then
there's Klinglehoff (Wolf Krebs), a scientist who wants nothing to do with
bloomers, who also shows up during the comedy to rent a room. Heck, even the
king (Craig Currier) decides to stop by in the end.
Asia Lederer, who plays Louise, is a jewel
of a find. She's very animated, throwing facial gestures here and there and
really overplaying her stage motions — perfect for a farce like this.
Joe Hill as Theo, paints a perfect picture
of the attitude and thought process of what his character should have. The
character of Theo is someone who thinks it's a man's job to take care of
someone and to have a retirement account. Hill is confident on stage and excels
in his timing.
Abe Cusick and T.J. Hagey make for some
overly ardent, smarmy lovers, though both the characters do come off a little
too much like caricatures.
Kim Willaman’s portrayal of the character,
Gertrude is absolutely dead-on with high-energy as the nosy neighbor.
Her character is always welcomed to the stage waiting to see how she’ll
encourage Louise to be a bit more naughty.
There is a lot to like about "The
Underpants," thanks to not only some funny characters but some funny
lines, too, like when Theo says to old maid Gertrude during a moment of
passion, "Rivers still flow from rusty pipes!" That's when she
replies, "That is the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me!"
“The Underpants,” is still showing at the Russell Tripp
Center at LBCC. Performance dates are May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 at 7:30
p.m., and May 11 at 2 p.m. (ASL performance).
Ticket
prices are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, $5 for under 18 when
accompanied by an adult.
Purchase
online for no fee at www.linnbenton.edu/russelltripptheater,
by phone at 541-917-4531, or at the theater box office the week prior to the
performance.
I highly
encourage everyone to go. It is a delightful production that has clever wit,
some great theaterical acting, and innuendos for days to come.
At a glance:
Cast:
Director: Dan Stone
Louise: Asia Lederer
Theo: Joe Hill
Cohen: T.J. Hagey
Versati: Abe Cusick
Gertrude: Kim Willaman
Klinglehoff: Wolf Krebs
The King: Craig Currier
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