Review: I DO, I DO at Chestnut Fine Arts Center

"I Do, I Do" by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt is a "fly on the wall" journey through a fifty-year loving marriage. Our young couple, Michael and Agnes, overcome the many challenges that likely surface during any long-time relationship.

Our story begins at Agnes and Michaels' wedding in the final decade of the Victorian era, follows their relationship through the thrills and sorrows common to common to all marriages.

As our play begins, we are introduced to a very young Agnes and only slightly older Michael during and after their wedding ceremony. They are still dressed in their wedding clothes, and are obviously knee deep in love. The four opening numbers bring the audience up to date and acustom us us about the youth and inexperience of them both. The openers are "All the Dearly Beloved "(the wedding), "Together Forever" (their pledge to each other), the title song (I Do, I Do), and these two inexperienced partners fumbling as they prepare for their first night together.

The book and score by Schmidt and Jones is simple, lyrical, and more than anything else, gentle. Schmidt and Jones are best known as the authors of "110 In The Shade," and "The Fantasticks," the longest running musical of all time. Adroit audiences will hear echoes of the other shows in this score.

The best known musical numbers are "I Do, I Do," My Cup Runneth Over," "Flaming Agnes," and "the first act closer "The Honeymoon Is Over."

"I Do, I Do"was a breakthrough musical for its authors. Previous shows had been successful, but "I Do, I Do" originally attracted the top talent of the time in 1966. Agnes was Mary Martin and Michael was Robert Preston. There were followed in the roles by Carol Lawrence and Gordon McCrae. "I Do, I Do" initially ran 560 performances and is frequently shown at small theaters nationally.

The Chestnut Fine Arts production stars Robert Brand and Licia Watson. Direction and accompaniment is by the Chestnut's Brad Zimmerman. "I Do, I Do" is one of the little shows that shows best in in an intimate space like the Chestnut.

Brand possesses a deep, resonate baritone and Watson shares an appropriately sweet musical comedy soprano. Both handle the Schmidt and Jones score admirably and together display and easy closeness that their roles require. Both are mature and experienced actors who easily create the intimacy and relationship needed by their characters and projected to the small audience.

The gentle and loving story of Agnes and Michael continues at the Chestnut Fine Arts Center in Olathe now through October 23rd

Tickets for "I Do, I Do" are available on the Chestnut website http://www.chestnutfinearts.com/ or by telephone 913-764-2121.

Robert Brand and Licia Watson as Michael and Agnes in "I Do, I Do.

Photo by Chestnut Fine Arts Center

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