Barter Theatre Brings I DO, I DO, I DO Comedy to Abingdon Tonight

When it comes to choosing a mate, there's a lot to consider. Luckily for Diana, she's already made that decision, and it's only a month before she says, "I do." But all the wedding preparations are thrown into limbo as the events of one crazy day leave her with three potential grooms! Who will she choose, and how? Find out in "I Do, I Do, I Do," starting tonight, February 27th at Barter Theatre's Main Stage.

In the spirit of fostering true love, Barter Theatre is offering a special Great Date Package. With two tickets to "I Do, I Do, I Do," dessert and coffee for two at the new dining experience Bob's at Barter, and a hand-crafted wooden rose from the Barter Gift Shop, it's a perfect date night.

Diana is faced with a choice between three upstanding gentlemen: Jamie, her steadfast long-time love; Geoff, a sexy, unpredictable old flame; and Tom, a mysterious stranger. Her three suitors do everything they can to win (and keep) Diana's heart, and no character is spared from the others' sharp wit as they size up Diana's options, resulting in a weekend of headaches for Ann and her household and 90 minutes of laughs for the audiences. Through it all, the question remains until the final curtain. Will Diana choose tried and tested devotion, the promise of adventure, and thrilling chemistry, or something else entirely? And will their offers still stand after the dust settles?

"I Do, I Do, I Do" is a comedy by British playwright Robin Hawdon, whose plays, including "Don't Dress For Dinner" and "The Mating Game," are amongst the most frequently produced around the world thanks to his unique comedic voice.

The play follows the unexpected events of one very surprising weekend, as friends and family gather at the modern British home of Diana's fiance, Jamie. Their upcoming wedding is all anyone can talk about. Jamie's mother, Ann (Tricia Matthews), was perfectly content with her role of wedding planner, but after her house guests start making a series of shocking revelations, she finds herself acting as confidant, therapist, negotiator, legal adviser, traffic controller and more. There's confusion and chaos for everyone involved, but none so much as Diana, who has to make one of the biggest decisions of her life... three times in the course of an afternoon.

"Our story is a carnival ride that takes us down a modern road and shows us just how far we've come and how many options and flavors of the week we have to deal with when making one of the most important and lasting decisions of our lives," said Eugene Wolf, director of "I Do, I Do, I Do" at Barter Theatre. "The nature of marriage and relationships has gotten so chaotic that sometimes the actual heart is left out of the argument. We're putting the heart back in."

"I Do, I Do, I Do" tackles the questions everyone has to ask themselves when it comes to relationships. "These things do happen!" said Wolf. "The things these people say and do and think, this situation, it's completely possible, particularly in this world today." Fortunately for most people, they don't usually happen in their living room in a span of hours, but the heightened stakes for Diana and her many romances are exactly what make this play so funny. Whether audience members can relate to her dilemma, Ann's bewilderment, or the revolving door of romantic interests and jilted lovers, it's a hilarious take on serious matters of the heart.

"I Do, I Do, I Do" features a cast of strong comic actors from Barter's Resident Acting Company. Holly Williams whose previous comedic turns at Barter include "A Visit From Scarface" and "Southern Fried Funeral," plays Diana. Tricia Williams, who has made Barter audiences laugh in "9 to 5" and "A Christmas Story," plays Ann. The cast also includes Andrew Hampton Livingston (Jamie), Justin Tyler Lewis (Geoff), and Sean Campos (Tom) as the eligible bachelors, and Abbey C. Elliot (Holly) as Jamie's sister. It is directed by Eugene Wolf, who most recently directed "Southern Fried Funeral" and "Another Night Before Christmas."

"I Do, I Do, I Do" begins tonight, February 27, 2014 at Barter's Main Stage. For show details, dates, and information about the rest of Barter Theatre's spring lineup, visit BarterTheatre.com or call the box office at (276) 628-3991.

Pictured: Sean Campos, Andrew Hampton Livingston, Holly Williams and Justin Tyler Lewis in Barter's British comedy, "I Do, I Do, I Do."

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