I Do ... I Think

Nearly 20 minutes into her one-woman show about the panics and perils of getting married, Amanda Thompson relates the shady history of the wedding veil. It’s a funny but pitiful accusation against ancient fathers who, while stuck with one plain daughter amid a brood of beauties, would switch the engaged girl for the ugly one, using the veil to disguise the deceit before the ceremony.

Thompson, who has split her show into two halves — one prior to the wedding, the other a year after — laces her time onstage with a series of anecdotes, most of them personal. With the sole exception of the history lesson mentioned above, they all avoid pathos and go straight for the chuckle. And most of the time she gets what she goes for.

Some stories fare better than others. Thompson has moments of keen observation, and her comparison of the rabid female customers at a discount bridal outlet to a variety of dogs is a virtual howl. But while she has an appealing way of telling a tale and looks fine in her wedding attire, Thompson rarely moves her subject beyond the petulant and superficial. And that is what saddened me most about this show: It really isn't about marriage at all, but a litany of one’s annoyances rather than relationships. It is a show about one person, not two.

Solo endeavors of this sort work best when the lone performer is willing to move beyond herself, either by impersonating a host of other characters, such as Sarah Jones’ Bridge and Tunnel, or by placing her focus and sympathies on the trials of another, as in the current Broadway show The Year of Magical Thinking, which features Vanessa Redgrave in a script by Joan Didion.

In Thompson’s piece, her husband is rarely referred to — his name is mentioned no more than once or twice — while an entire sitcom-style showdown with the mother in-law at a supermarket is related in knee-slapping detail. There were plenty in the audience who found this "High Noon at the Kroger corral" episode to be hilarious. But I felt that deeper and more humorous opportunities were missed — stories about discovering the real person that you have just united your life with, about how you change or decide not to, about how you start to build a present and a future together.

Publicity for I Do … I Think says Thompson was struck by the realization that newlyweds spend so much time, effort and money preparing for the wedding and then find themselves unprepared for the marriage. There is a lot in that statement, and not much — if any — of it is actually in the show. Of course, it’s her material, and she has the right to play it however she wants.

Still, I felt like one of those disappointed grooms who raise the veil only to find that the girl he wanted is gone. Grade: C+

— Nicholas Korn

Comments

[Jim]

Nick,

I think what you are missing would easily be covered in a sequel to this show. Clearly the relations between husband and wife post-marriage are so complex they need their own show.

I felt the second act of "I Do...I Think..." covered some of the "who am I" relations partners experience (the beginning of new traditions, changing of names on driver's licenses, dealing with in laws, etc). The introspective and serio-comic view of this would need it's own show, maybe three years later as told to a divorce attorney.

I enjoyed this show more than some of the other Fringe fare. This one was well-paced, and contained mostly laughs throughout. It was good enough at what it was that it's almost a waste of breath focusing on what it wasn't.

Of course, it's your review, and you have the right to write it however you want.

-js

[-am]

Wow, what a ridiculous review. I think that all stories were fantastic including the wedding planner/wedding coordinator, discount dress shopping, granny noticing the thong, bridal show craziness, "unveiling," 6am wake up by MIL, meatloaf night, christmas tree, DMV, need I go on? Nick you mentioned that it wasn't about marriage at all, are you serious? I would venture to say that most marriages have at least a few of the instances/stories that Mandi mentioned! Her title is I Do I Think, hence the questioning aspect, not the actual sacriment of marriage. You also mentioned that sole endeavors work best when the performer impersonates others, let me give you some examples: bridesmaids in the opening scene, brides at the discount dress shop, vendors at the expo, Helen at the DMV, Brian about the xmas tree, mother in law. I was there as well and thought most of the audience found the ENTIRE show to be hilarious! I also think the publicity for the show hit the head on the nail. The entire first half was based on spending time and money on the wedding with no time spent on what will happen during the marriage after the big wedding day. If she really wanted the show to be about the "true" meaning of marriage is would not likely be a comedy and chosen for the fringe festival. I think she did fantastic with the "superficial" material as did most of the people who attended, including the men. I personally think you spent too much time looking at how beautiful she was in her wedding gown and missed the entire show! Maybe you should go see it again! Everyone has their own opinion, and maybe yours is "professional" but I think you really missed this one.

[Deb]

I came to this show with mixed feelings, mainly because it was listed as a "women's issues" show, which to me implies femenistic rants. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a show that not only deals with a woman's point of view, but also explains some very complicated issues in an entertaining and light hearted way.
Watching a solo performer can get tiresome, but this woman kept me engaged. It moved at a nice speed and the multiple voices and impressions added to what could have been a stand up act.
Oh, and I liked the dresses too. The pretty wedding dress vs. the evil ugly bride's maid dress. Kudos to costumes.
Overall I give it a B+.
Maybe Nick needs to give comedy a chance and stop searching for in depth emotions in what, in essence, could be a sitcom.

[Meghan]

I haven't been able to see the play, but Mandi is my cousin, and I just wanted to post a message for her to let her know that I love you & miss you! I am very proud of you and all that you have accomplished! I hope one day that we will be able to see each other again!

xoxo
Meghan

[Aunt Jeannette]

I have not seen the play,but Mandi has always wanted to be an actress since she was a child.She has always had a very humerous side to anything that life brings her.I am very proud of you!So would Tanty and Mommo!
Love ya Aunt Jeannette