A show full of laughter, warmth, and impeccable timing — the kind that leaves you smiling all the way home.
Therry Theatre’s latest offering, I Do, I Do, I Do, is a fun romantic comedy with lots of laughs and rather than a “love triangle” we are watching a “love square”. The playwright Robin Hawdon best known for light British comedies and farces such as The Mating Game and Don’t Dress for Dinner, brings plenty of comic twists and tangled affections to the story. Sue Wylie (Director) and her team have the audience thoroughly engaged from the opening bars of “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic.”. It’s a polished and joyful production, beautifully staged and performed with warmth and precision by a cohesive ensemble. This is very much an ensemble piece, and one of the production’s strengths lies in the believability of the relationships on stage. Helen Geoffreys, as Ann, the mother trying valiantly to maintain calm amid romantic chaos, gives a delightful performance. Her expressive gestures and physical choices are a joy — she truly inhabits Ann’s eccentric attempts at “Zen” composure, grounding the farce with warmth and comic precision. The three distinct suitors — Jamie (Paul Pacillo), Geoff (Stephen Bills) and Tom (Tom Tassone) — are all well-realized and clearly differentiated. Pacillo’s Jamie represents the choice for comfort: he knows his fiancée well after four years together, and that familiarity feels genuine. Bills brings a sense of long-simmering affection to Geoff, offering Diana a rollercoaster relationship full of surprises, his late declaration of love handled with sincerity and warmth. Tassone, as Tom, delivers the chemistry — the “it” factor of love at first sight. He captures both the impulsive passion and the quiet confidence of a man willing to stand his ground with “the family.” Jess Corrie, as Diana, makes her indecision believable and engaging. Her portrayal of a young woman torn between love, security, and excitement feels grounded and relatable rather than contrived. You could feel the chemistry between Diana and Tom from the audience — that spark of attraction was immediate and electric. The flutter of new love, the sense of “this could really happen” — it was all there, beautifully conveyed by both actors. Laura Lines (Holly) brings a sense of calm pragmatism to the piece — a confidante to both Geoff and Diana. Joining the production less than two weeks before opening, she fits seamlessly into the ensemble; you’d never have guessed she was a late addition. The set designed by Don Oswald is both practical and beautiful — a realistic domestic space that allows for movement and multiple points of comic action without clutter. The construction, managed by Brian Voigt and Don Oswald and realized by a nine-person team, is solid and polished, allowing Wylie’s direction to flow naturally, with action moving fluidly throughout the space. Lighting and sound were faultless, smoothly shifting from day to evening and supporting the comic rhythm. Musical choices were witty and well-judged — “True Love” by Bing Crosby closing Act 1, “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” returning at the top of Act 2 and “Diana” during the bows, all earning gentle chuckles of recognition. Costumes by Gillian Cordell and Sandy Faithfull neatly marked the changing moods — from casual daywear to elegant dinner outfits and finally the wedding attire. While Robin Hawdon’s script brings plenty of comic twists and tangled affections, it also ends rather suddenly — the resolution arriving almost before we’re ready for it. But that’s a quirk of the writing rather than the production itself. I Do, I Do, I Do is a joyful slice of theatre — a polished, funny, and thoroughly entertaining farce that captures both the chaos and the charm of love gone slightly haywire. With Wylie’s crisp direction, a talented cast working in harmony, and high production values across every department, Therry Theatre once again proves why it remains one of Adelaide’s most dependable and delightful companies. |
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