By HAZEL FIEDLER/Oregon Coast TODAY
While the stage adaptation of the cult-favorite 1971 movie “Harold and Maude” is a comedy and love story at heart, the play explores the complicated aspects of life and death and highlights the importance of meaningful connection.
The play opens Thursday at Lincoln City’s Theater West and runs through Sept. 7, with performances at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and two Sunday matinées at 4 p.m. on Aug. 11 and Aug. 25.
Director Alice Luchau has been an actor since the eighth grade. Since then, she has competed in and coached speech teams and sent students to win national competitions. This is her first time directing a play and Luchau has thoroughly enjoyed her debut despite the challenges that have come with adapting the story to the stage.
“I chose ‘Harold and Maude’ because I love the story,” Luchau said. “Then I opened the script and thought to myself, ‘How am I going to do this?’ ”
Her directing experience has made Luchau realize how important a team is.
“My cast and crew have worked so incredibly hard for this production,” she said.
While the set design makes for an exciting viewing experience, the inner workings are complicated. Designing a set that allows for quick transformations and supports intricate technical maneuvers has been a major feat.
“Adapting this play to a small, simple stage has been a challenge but we’ve found effective ways to make it work,” Luchau said. “Every last piece of this performance is absolutely dependent on teamwork.”
Luchau understands the impact that live theater has not only on audience members but on the cast.
“The process of putting on a play is a beautiful and important one,” she said. “Everyone here supports one another and believes in each other.”
As a new director, Luchau appreciates the members of the cast who are appearing on stage for the first time.
“I’ve loved directing new actors and watching them grow and gain their confidence,” she said. “Every single one of them puts 100 percent effort into their character.” Luchau has assembled one of the largest casts in Theater West history, with a total of 14 performers.
Gavin Suckow plays Harold, a young man struggling to find his place in the world. He lives in a sterile environment starved of attention, yearning to be truly understood. With the help of Maude, he slowly comes out of his shell and finds himself. Suckow, who debuted at Theatre West in 2022 and has appeared in three plays since, pays attention to detail in his role. Every facial expression and intonation serve to further develop Harold’s peculiar personality.
“This role was kind of hand-picked for me,” Suckow said. “Alice came to me two years ago and asked if I would be interested in the part.”
Because of Luchau’s intuitive casting, Suckow has seamlessly come into his character.
“Stepping into my role as Harold has not been difficult,” Suckow said. “We share many of the same qualities — we both missed the same class on what is socially acceptable. The best word I can use to describe him is weird.”
Maude is a 79-year-old hipster who has taken every opportunity life has to offer. She rebels against social expectations, challenging the normalcy of everyday life. Bonnie Ross, a longtime Theatre West actor and director, plays a lively and colorful Maude. Her expression and energetic movements portray the character’s free spirit.
“Maude and I are very alike, so I didn’t have to work too hard to come into my role,” Ross said. “She’s an old hippie and so am I — it makes it easy.”
Ross takes Maude’s past into consideration as she brings her to life on stage.
Harold and Maude meet at a funeral, indicating their shared fascination with death. Despite Harold’s wariness, Maude quickly accepts him as a companion and Harold is drawn into the exciting abnormality that is Maude’s life. As their friendship grows so does Harold’s willingness to step outside his comfort zone. A boy who has lived on the outskirts of society for his entire life finally feels truly understood by someone.
“This is really a beautiful play,” Ross said. “You get to watch as the love story develops and Harold grows. Maude teaches us that life is what we make it.”
Despite its rather outlandish themes, audience members will be able to relate to many aspects of the story.
“While there are fun and lighthearted parts, I want people to also experience the complicated things the characters are going through.” Ross said.
“Harold and Maude” involves heavy topics and dark humor. It is best fit for a mature audience.
- The theater is located at 3536 S.E. Highway 101 in Lincoln City. For more information or to purchase tickets go to theatrewest.com or call 541-994-5663.
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