Presented by: Therry Theatre
Reviewed: 31 October, 2025
In his play, I Do, I Do, I Do,Robin Hawdon proposes a fairly simple plot line. I use the word ‘proposes’ on purpose as the storyline involves two proposals of marriage to a bride-to-be on the same day. After living together for 4 years, architect Jamie and Diana are about to tie the knot in 4 weeks time. At a family get together, Jamie’s best friend and Best Man Geoff, declares his undying love to Diana and proposes to her (after all they did spend a couple of nights together in Yorkshire 2 years ago). Meanwhile, Jamie’s sister Holly shows up with her proposed boyfriend, Tom. You guessed it, there’s an instant spark between him and Diana! Who will she pick? Not telling – you need to see the show and find out for yourself.
Although it may sound it, I Do, I Do, I Do is not a farce but more of a Drawing Room comedy (of Manners). Its main theme is what is True Love and can people fall in love at first sight or are the concepts pure myth. It is not one of Hawdon’s best, tending to start rather slow and wordy, introducing the characters slightly muddily. Once it gets going though there’s glimmers of a good play about to shine. Act Two scene 1 is an absolute delight though and well worth seeing for its sheer comedic factor alone.
Don’t get this reviewer wrong though, while the script is alright, Therry’s production is excellent. Director Sue Wylie manages to give the production class, especially in her and Don Oswald’s magnificent Art Deco influenced set (there is a fantastic staircase that goes so high that it’s a wonder the actors don’t need oxygen bottles), with fine art work from Mark Rogers. Class is also provided in the costumes from Gilian Cordell and Sandy Faithful (although Geoff wearing two waistcoats at the same time in Act Two did perplex this reviewer – but they were nice waistcoats) and the sophisticated ladies’ hair designs by Anne-Louise Smith.
I mentioned before that the play is wordy and under the direction of some this would make for a boring show to watch – but not so with Wylie’s direction! She makes every move that the actors make count and more importantly, make sense. No one moves for the sake of just moving – each move has been carefully thought out and matched to the characters feelings and emotions.
The cast positively shine. Most of the characters could so easily come across as unsympathetic to an audience, but not in this case. Whilst all roles here are difficult to garner sympathy, one of the more difficult would have to be the bride-to-be, Diana. Reminiscent of Tracey Lord in High Society, one could so easily think “For crying out loud, make up your mind!” But the way Jessica Corrie plays the role, this is not the case. Corrie takes a difficult role and runs with it, gathering the audience’s sympathy along the way. Due to illness, Laura Lines stepped into the role of Holly with less than two weeks before opening, having just finished playing a completely different style of character in Deadset Theatre’s Punk Rock – not at all an easy thing to do. We had absolutely no idea that Lines hadn’t been playing the role from the first rehearsal. Well Done!!
The three suitors all have individual characteristics and play them well. Paul Pacillo as architect Jamie and first groom-to-be plays the role straight as a dye, with authority and conciseness and delivers what are perhaps the funniest male lines in the show with alacrity and precision. As best friend and Best Man, Geoff, and suitor number two, Stephen Bills is the more laid back of the three and gives a delightful portrayal of a cad who isn’t so bad. Suitor number three, Tom, is played by Tom Tassone, who has the difficult task of making the audience believe that he has immediately been struck by Cupid from the first glance of Diana. He carries this off well and plays quietness with flair.
In what is really the main character of the play, the mother of the groom, Ann, Helen Geoffreys is sensational. It is her performance that not only makes the show but steals every moment she is on. Hers is a heightened performance of the first order, with every arm movement, facial expression, verbal outpour and perfectly timed pauses spot on. Geoffreys gives a master class in acting, especially when it comes to being highly strung, anxious and believably drunk. Movement is exaggerated but never overdone.
The cast did a fantastic job on the night reviewed, having to cope with a very small smattering of an audience. Kudos to them all! It is never easy to perform when audience numbers are low. This production of I Do, I Do, I Do deserves a lot more ‘bums on seats’. So, say I do, I do, I do and head on down to the Arts Theatre for maybe a wedding or not.
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Photo credit: supplied
Venue: The Arts Theatre
Season: Until 8 November 2025
Duration: 2hr 30 min including a 20 min interval
Tickets: $25 – $40
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1352086
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