Born Yesterday Delights

Although "Born Yesterday" has a slow start, I found that I was sucked into the story a little at a time and by the end of the show I understand Chmurynsky's observation that it's absolutely true that politics haven't changed since 1946 - except of course, that congressmen and women are bought most likely in less obvious ways. After the first part of the first act especially, the show sailed on by and was slick and well-directed. I enjoy shows where there isn't needless blocking created just to have movement on stage. There was obviously thought put into everything the characters do, and it's the little details that often make or break a play.

The gist of the show is that self-proclaimed "junk man" Harry Brock, played by Doak Bloss, wants to clean up on the iron and steel left over in Europe after WWII and doesn't want to deal with foreign policy and taxes cutting into his net profit. He "buys" a politician, in the sufficiently sleazy form of Jayke Pell, for around the sum of $80,000 - but his Jersey girlfriend doesn't exactly fit into Washington DC society and he hires a young man, Paul Verall, to educate her so she doesn't embarrass him.

Unfortunately Doak Bloss was terribly miscast in this role; the young man cast to 'educate' Billie Jean is played by Joseph Baumann, and he's quite a tall young man. Mr. Bloss just didn't have the physique nor the bluster to carry off the role of such a tyrannical business man. In fact, he was rather too reminiscent of Archie Bunker and not believable at all as someone who should demand respect. The first act felt slow in part because Mr. Bloss carried a great deal of the dialogue and he was incredibly difficult to understand. I give credit to Mr. Bloss for portraying Harry Brock as obnoxious - but he amounted to very little more than that.

As Mr. Baumann interacts with Billie Dawn, played by Emily Alaskon Himebaugh, the show really picks up and the fun starts. Both are newcomers to the Riverwalk stage and breathe energy and humor into the storyline. Mr. Baumann was able to mix the right amount of confusion into his relationship with Mrs. Alaskon Himebaugh on stage, and his condescending confidence towards the character of Harry Brock was amusing to watch.

Mrs. Alaskon Himebaugh as Billie Dawn, however, was the gem of the show. She commanded the stage in every scene and matured from being whiney and spoiled to becoming her own person. She made the transition believable; the dumb-woman-turned-intuitive-and-suddenly-intelligent has been done on stage and screen so many times so unrealistically...Mrs. Alaskon Himebaugh never allows her character to suddenly become something she isn't - she acknowledges her flaws, makes no apology for them, and her decisions become something believable rather than contrived.

There are several other treats that come in the show - Merrill Wyble and Marilyn Steegstra are on stage for only a very short time, but their appearance is something to look forward to. Philip Himebaugh appears on stage only twice, but he makes his stage time count.

Susan Chmurynksy has a delightful show, and though slow to start has a powerhouse ending. And by the way - this is one of the most elegant sets I've seen on Riverwalk's stage in some time - Craig Mitchell Smith's scenography is glorious. It's well-built and well-suited for the needs of the storyline. The costumes were lovely and the tech all-around was well done.

The show plays for one more weekend - call 482-5700 for reservations for visit www.riverwalktheatre.com