First there was The Fourposter, then along came I Do! I Do!, and now it's I Did! I Did! In the last year the singing/acting couple, Cheryl and Sam Warner, have performed the last two shows -- earlier, the always-popular I Do! I Do! at Patio Playhouse and currently, I Did! I Did! at Theatrx.
sWriter/Composer Stephen Storc parallels the original with his own special twists and turns, including moments out of his life experiences. This contemporized version deals with the vagaries of life: marriages, deaths, marriage traumas, and an enduring relationship of over 50 years. Real-life husband and wife, the Warners bring a very special realism to their roles. There are the trials of a novelist, Edwin Chandler, constantly traveling, and a wife, Claire Chandler, at home raising six children. We watch as they grow old together, go through self-doubts, the tragic death of one of their children, and the constancy of change.
Cheryl and Sam Warner, who were married on this very stage last year, grow old convincingly and travel through the Chandlers' life with ease. From the opening numbers, "Forever True" and "I Did! I Did!" to the closing "Where'd You Go?," Storc's music carries the varying moods delightfully. Sam's solo, "Don't Ya Think," has this amusing line, "Aged like fine boxed wine." Hm! An inside joke giving all Theatrx patrons a laugh.
This is one of Storc's best works, combining excellent storytelling, as he traces the ups and downs of a marriage, with composing expertise, displaying the emotional rollercoaster ride of love, tension, tragedy, and growing old together. The Warners handle complex duets quite well, while their solos are a pleasure to the ear. I Did! I Did! is a special delight.
