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Tuesday, July 28, 1998
Theater charms with 'Quimby'
By Carolyn Wardle
Review-Journal
Run, jump, skip, do anything you can to see Nevada Theatre Company's inaugural production, "Ramona Quimby." As Beezus Quimby tells the audience, there are no witches or princesses in this play, because it is a story about real life.
"Ramona Quimby" is a play about a real family with real problems and lots of fun thrown in for good measure. Adapted by Len Jenkin from Beverly Cleary's stories, the work presents the difficulties and joys of life in the third grade with understanding and youthful exuberance.
Director Deanna Duplechain builds on the inherent innocence of the work to create a production that sparkles with charm. The staging is simple, the plot is uncomplicated, yet Duplechain and her responsive cast find the true essence of "Ramona Quimby" and let it shine unencumbered.
Melissa Doyle plays the part of Ramona to perfection. She's impulsive, creative, sometimes selfish and always entertaining. Doyle is the energy around which the play revolves. Yet, she never overpowers the other characters, allowing the cast to develop a true ensemble effort.
Michele Gellar-Pool is Ramona's well-behaved older sister, Beezus. While her function is to provide the foil for Ramona's messiness, Gellar-Pool also reveals her character's flaws with equal persuasion.
William Cunningham is Ramona's best friend, Howie. The scene where Cunningham and Doyle try to reinforce the fact that they are friends, only in the platonic sense of the word, is completely delightful. With descriptive body language, the pair reveal the gamut of third-grade boy-girl relations.
Renee Brna, Tim Clark, Bill Johnson, Calvin Ramon, Andrea Sweet and Rosemary Willhide fill in the spaces with other people from Klickitat Street. Even though several play more than one role, the actors' excellent sense of timing and fine character development make each interesting and real.
And that is the charm of "Ramona Quimby." Ramona could live next door, or maybe she's even in your house.
Performances continue on Aug. 1 at the Clark County Library Jewel Box Theatre. Curtain is at 2 p.m. and admission is free.
REVIEW
What: "Ramona Quimby"
When: 2 p.m. Aug. 1
Where: Clark County Library Jewel Box Theatre
Rating: HHHH
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