Date: Fri 15-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Yale-Cabaret-theatre-Intention

Full Text:

(rev "Bad Intentions" at Yale Summer Cabaret)

Theatre Review-

A Good Way To Close Up Shop

(with cut)

By June April

NEW HAVEN - There's a telling line in Bad Intentions , the final offering at

Yale's Summer Cabaret, that goes like this: "Loneliness is a difficult

emotion, especially when you can't share it with someone." It neatly sums up

the character of this original play by Wade McIntyre: poignant and witty.

A world premiere production in New Haven, Bad Intentions is a humorous and

insightful love triangle. It starts at the (potential) ending and in

flashbacks explains why the former boyfriend appears from underneath the

bride's gown at the wedding ceremony. The finale wrapped up the Cabaret's

season on August 9.

Staring as Emily, Vivian Keh gives a sensitive and well-timed performance as a

confused bride-to-be. Though she is engaged to a bright and loving young man,

Emily's affections for her former beau, her high school sweetheart, are not

totally cooled.

Malcolm is every conservative parents' nightmare for a prospective son-in-law.

He is irresponsible, sloppy, and a little strange. Played by Austin Jones,

Malcolm still hopes Emily will go off with him.

Playing a dual role as Emily's father, The Colonel, and the bridegroom, Doug,

Josh Grubb once again shows his stellar acting talents. When, as in Billy

Bishop Goes to War (the previous play at YSC), an actor changes the character

only by body language and vocal modifications and does this convincingly, then

that is acting .

Mr Grubb comes across as stiff, stern and somewhat sinister when regarding

Malcolm as The Colonel. When he is playing Doug his walk is completely

different. Josh portrays the groom-to-be as sweet, seemingly naive, and deeply

caring. It's truly a pleasure to watch him act.

Then there's the minister, played by none other than the irreverent director

of many past productions, Preston Lane. At a post-play question and answer

session, Ms Keh said Mr Lane always tried to get her to laugh, and since he's

a very funny guy, Ms Keh has to be a very strong actress to sublimate those

giggles.

The Cabaret was decorated to look like a wedding hall. It was impressive how

set designer Tad Feekes was able to take a small space and change it

drastically and effectively for each production. He is a remarkably talented

man. The latticed, flower-bedecked semi-circular "rooms" at one end of the

theatre turned to become apartments and a restaurant. There was fake food,

including a wedding cake that looked real, and it made one's mouth water to

look at the lavish spread.

The costumes by Sarah Iams were, as always, extremely well thought out. Sound

and lighting designers Catherine Mardis and Stephen Lars Klein were "right on"

every step of the way.

This was also a sad night, not only because the Cabaret is over for the

season, but because a few familiar faces will not be there next year. Managing

director Richard Whittington and cohort Preston Lane will be heading south to

Greensboro to begin their own theatre.