Art imitates life in Alpine Theatre Project’s season opener
Published: June 9, 2011
Alpine Theatre Project (ATP) launches its 2011 summer season of "Love! Romance! Murder!" with a heartfelt look at 50 years of marriage portrayed by real-life married couple, Betsi Morrison and Luke Walrath.
The musical, “I Do! I Do!,” written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, who also wrote “The Fantasticks,” is on stage June 10-19 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. ATP co-founder David Ackroyd directs the first play of the professional theatre's seventh season.
It just so happens that Morrison and Walrath are in their seventh year of marriage.
"Art is definitely imitating life on this production," says Morrison. "’I Do! I Do!’ follows one couple through every aspect of married life, so it's nice to have an instant rapport with my stage partner."
Walrath gives a different perspective. "Anyone who has ever been in any sort of long-term relationship will relate to this show," he said. "It's funny, touching, and hits the nail on the head."
Ackroyd, however, admits to difficulties with the scenario.
"Sometimes I can't tell if I'm directing the show or directing their lives," he says.
“I Do! I Do!” is based on Jan de Hartog's play, “The Fourposter.” It follows Agnes and Michael Snow from 1898 to 1945, from their wedding night to leaving the house for the last time. Along the way, they fight, make up, dream, laugh, cry, raise kids, and watch life march on.
The musical, written in 1966 and originally starring Mary Martin and Robert Preston, spawned the hit song, "My Cup Runneth Over."
Above all, “I Do! I Do!” is a celebration of life and love with a generous supply of laughs thrown in.
"It's perfect summer fare: fun, funny, tuneful, and romantic," says Morrison. "And it helps that that laughs are real, the fights are real, the love is real."
Show times are 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays, June 10-19. Tickets are $25-$37, and are available by calling the Alpine Theatre Project at 406-862-SHOW or online at www.alpinetheatreproject.org.
Interested patrons can save 20 percent on the ticket price by subscribing to the entire 2011 summer season, which includes “She Loves Me,” July 14-31, and “Cagney,” Aug. 11-21.
