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Waymire Gets The Jump
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Waymire,Soelistyo
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Rob Stevens
Costa Mesa's South Coast Repertory is ending its 35th
season with the World Premiere of John Glore's On the Jump. This
lighthearted romantic romp makes a perfectly refreshing summer
treat. Glore has created some offbeat characters and put them in
situations where one little white lie leads to more complications
and humor.
It's a bad wedding night for Colleen (Kellie Waymire). While
getting ready in the bathroom she spills blood red nail polish on
her nightgown, then finds out her new husband has deserted her,
taking her life savings with him. After imbibing at a local bar,
she ends up on a bridge where she contemplates ending it all, but
instead, startles another would-be-jumper who accidentally does
fall in the water. Feeling remorse, she contacts the police, who,
not finding a body and smelling her breath, don't believe her.
From the jumper's coat she finds a cleaning receipt and
eventually tracks down the man's estranged grandparents. In
relating her tale, they get the notion she's their grandson's
bride and take in her to their luxurious life. Then the fun
really begins as Colleen begins to live alternate lives.
Glore continues to add complications to the plot, but it
never loses its base in reality, and eventually becomes a love
story. Director Mark Rucker's sure hand keeps the comedy gently
simmering. His casting choices are just that, choice.
Waymire has the perfect flair for this type of fare; her
slightly offbeat Everywoman persona wins over the audience even
as her lies continue to multiply. We know she means no real harm;
she's actually trying to make things better. Waymire's comic
timing is precise and her charms shine brightly. Patricia Fraser
and Alan Oppenheimer make a delightful couple as the elder
Wheatcrofts, rich, kind, caring, and just a tad off kilter.
Richard Doyle delivers a delicious performance as their butler
and caretaker, Forrester, who suspects Colleen is not all she
says. John Fleck turns in a sextette of quick-change characters
in the play's opening sequences and makes each a rich experience.
Melanie Chartoff has fun as a gold-digging landlady. Julyana
Soelistyo goes over the top as Colleen's way out roommate Dorie.
Joseph Fuqua as Albert, the jumper turned lovelorn seaman, is the
one performer not up to the material and the rest of the company.
He's not out of sync enough to throw the show off, but he does
cause it to become somewhat unbalanced. A stronger performance would
really sell the romantic angle of this fable.
As usual, SCR's technical brilliance is on display in Neil
Patel's evocative scenic design, Walker Hicklin's costumes, and
Scott Zielinski's lighting. On the Jump is worth taking the leap
to see and enjoy.
On the Jump, presented by South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center
Dr., Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555. Tue-Sat, 8; Sun, 7:30; Sat-Sun,
2:30. Closes June 27. Tickets: $28-43.
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