Jay Hash, the director of the Nutz-n-Boltz Theater Company’s (NNB) March
production of “Fuddy Mears,” has a long history with the show, which he first
encountered during his high school years. At that time, he competed in
speech and debate and even went to the state tournament, and every step
along the way a competitor would recite a ten-minute abridged version of the
play for the “humorous interpretation” competition.

“This play has been haunting me forever,” Hash said.

Hash went on to direct a smaller version of the show in a class, then finally
saw a full production of it during a visit to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Now, Hash, a 2006 graduate from the University of Oregon, has taken the
helm to offer the story of Claire, a woman who wakes each morning with no
memory of the previous day and who relies on her husband and son to remind
her. But Claire’s world is shaken when a mysterious man who claims to be her
husband arrives and has murder on his mind.

“I think it’s a very powerful story, a very well-crafted and thought-out story,”
Hash said, noting that the production has taken some inspiration from the
work of David Lynch, particularly his television show “Twin Peaks.” “It lends
itself really well (to that interpretation).”

Hash added that he and his cast are putting a focus on keeping the characters
as realistic as possible, as he sees overdramatizing them as a potential pitfall
to diminish the play’s message. He also noted the comedy does touch on
some tricky subject matters, but that he hopes people will be able to laugh
and learn at the same time.

“If people come in with an open mind I think they’ll be thoroughly entertained
as well as enlightened,” Hash said.

In addition to following Hash for most of his life, this production of the show
has taken its twists and turns. Initially offered to Hash at NNB four years ago,
the show was pushed out when Mount Hood Community College scheduled it,
then again when Sandy Actors Theater produced it and finally delayed again
due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I’ve been waiting for so long to be able to put this thing on,” Hash said.
NNB presents “Fuddy Meers,” by David Lindsay-Abaire, from March 4-20, at
the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. Show times are 7:30 p.m.
on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults
and $12 for children and seniors, and $10 for law enforcement. For more
information, or to make reservations, call 503-593-1295 or visit
nnbtheater.com.

Auditions for May show
NNB will also hold auditions for the spring production of “The Dining Room,”
by A. R. Gurney, from 7-9 p.m. Monday, March 7 and Tuesday, March 8, at
the Boring Grange, 27861 Grange Street in Boring. The cast includes three
men and three women and auditions will consist of cold readings from the
script.

Performers need to be COVID vaccinated before auditioning.
Headshots/resumes encouraged but not required. For more information call
503-593-1295 or visit nnbtheater.com.

Comedy continues in Sandy
The Sandy Actors Theatre continues its production of “Things My Mother
Taught Me,” by Katherine DiSavino, through Sunday, March 20, at 17433 SE
Meinig Avenue in Sandy (behind Ace Hardware). The comedy offers the story
of Olivia and Game, who move into an apartment together but complications
arise when both sets of parents show up. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on
Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays. For more information or to
make reservations call 503-936-4378 or visit sandyactorstheatre.org.

College production in March
Clackamas Community College’s (CCC) theater department offers a production
of “Red Herring,” by Michael Hollinger, the story of Boston gumshoe Maggie
Pelletier, who has to nose around the “red herrings” of who dumped a body in
the harbor in this tribute to the classic noir detective story.

Show times for “Red Herring” are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3 through
Saturday, March 5, and a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 6, at the
Niemeyer Osterman Theatre, 19600 Molalla Ave. in Oregon City. There will
also be a 10 a.m. matinee Friday, March 4.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (62+) and $6 for students (free for
CCC students). Tickets are discounted $1 if purchased online. Visit
www.clackamas.edu/theatre or call 503-594-3153 for reservations. Seating is
limited and masks are required.