Review: 'I Do! I Do!' at TheatreWorks New Milford

Pictured: Carey Van Hollen and Jonanthan Jacobson in 'I Do! I Do!' Photo by Ghostlight Photography

“Fitting...that my fifty-year infatuation with a show that chronicles fifty years of marriage should grace the TheatreWorks stage for its fiftieth anniversary season.” - ‘I Do, I Do’ director Bradford Blake

New Milford, CT - ‘I Do! I Do!’ is a musical with a book and lyrics by Tom Jones (‘The Fantasticks’) and music by Harvey Schmidt. It was based on the Jan de Hartog play entitled ‘The Fourposter’ and in fact a large four poster marital bed dominates the vast majority of the scenes. The original Broadway production that opened in December of 1966 earned seven Tony Award nominations and Robert Preston won for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his performance as “He” in this two character piece. The first Broadway show of this writing team was ‘110 in the Shade’ and ‘Mirette,’ their musical based on the award-winning children’s book, premiered at CT’s Goodspeed Opera House. The Theatreworks production of ‘I Do, I Do’ running through Oct. 28 in New Milford was directed by Bradford Blake with musical direction by Charles Smith.

The show begins in 1895 with Michael (“He” is played by Jonathan Jacobson) and Agnes (‘She” is played by Carey Van Hollen) in their new bedroom at the end of their wedding day. The audience sees them go through their wedding night jitters, begin to raise a family and then negotiate midlife crises. “He” eventually admits to his infidelity, “She” forgives him, and the couple reconciles when they rediscover how much they really need each other. The second act ends with an onstage transformation of the couple after 50 years of marriage as they prepare to leave their house to the next pair of newlyweds.

So the set with the four poster is behind the hint of a wedding church set and rotates into place to complete the couple’s bedroom. His and hers dressing tables are on the sides of the room with pieces of furniture to mostly hold props and costume pieces; Michael changes costumes onstage more than once, but Agnes changes offstage. The two actors do not get much time offstage, with only five solos in the score. The pile of props brought onstage when the babies come into the marriage greatly (albeit temporarily) changed the vibe of the master bedroom. I found it interesting that when the birth of their daughter is announced in “Love Isn’t Everything,” she shared my April birthday.

Mr. Blake was the Founding Artistic Director of Musicals at Richter and has directed several big shows at WCSU; he is also an accomplished composer and lyricist. He obviously knows this show well and ensures that the cast support each other; he also served the two dancers as choreographer. Some may argue that the musical is a bit dated or cliched, but the director calls it “as timeless now as when it opened” on Broadway and even in its earlier incarnation as da Hartog’s play. In his bio, Mr. Blake writes that he always says that his “greatest talent is his ability to surround himself with talented, hard-working and nice people” and the ‘I Do! I Do!’ cast and crew are “a dazzling example of this.”

Carey Van Hollen of Southbury is perfect for the role of the wife Agnes. She recently slayed the role of another wife, that of the Baker, in Musicals at Richter’s production of ‘Into the Woods.’ She has a flawless singing voice and luminous stage presence. Ms. Van Hollen will appear in the upcoming revival of Bradford Blake’s most recent work ‘Wreck the Halls’ during the holiday season at the Ridgefield Theatre Barn.

Jonathan Jacobson of Litchfield played Elyot Chase in last season’s production of ‘Private Lives.’ Here he is the husband that is an adoring bridegroom who becomes pompous during his midlife crisis and mellows into old age. This very talented actor is a triple threat that moves gracefully through all of the phases of his character’s life.

Click here to listen to the podcast of Johnny O's interview with the two stars of 'I Do! I Do!'

The bridal bouquet was thrown into the audience, as were cigars for the birth of the children. Dual pianists were the music director Mr. Smith and Anna DeMasi. The two perform the “authentic duo-piano arrangement” of ‘I Do! I Do!'” that is difficult to describe, but sounds very rich. Did you know that “My Cup Runneth Over” is a duet from this show? Lauren Nicole Sherwood assembled the generations of period costumes and the director worked with James Hipp to design the rotating set. Leif Smith designed the fine lighting.

TheatreWorks New Milford has been recognized once again by Connecticut Magazine as the “Best Small Theatre in Connecticut 2017.”

'I Do! I Do!' At TheatreWorks New Milford

Book and lyrics by Tom Jones, Music by Harvey Schmidt
Directed by Bradford Blake
Musical direction by Charles Smith
Starring: Carey Van Hollen & Jonathan Jacobson

Remaining performances: SEPTEMBER 28,29,30, OCTOBER 1 6,7 13,14 21,22 2017

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues and she posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theater Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417