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Pasadena Star-News Friday, April 20, 2000

Mimi's Guide
offers interesting intellectual fare
By Francis Baum Nicholson

Historians point to World War II as the defining moment for the generation that ruled the 20th century. Yet, as that genaration moves aside to make way for the baby boomers, the Vietnam War begins to define life.
Such is the background for Mimi'sGuide, by Doris Baizley, now premiering at the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena. Here, three people who did not fight in Vietnam but were nonetheless touched by it must wrestle with their demons.
The basic plot proves fairly straightforward. A popular American poet has been invited to a university in Louisiana to give seminars. His reputation rests heavily on a long series of poems he titled "Mimi's Guides." Each follows some endeavor of his longtime lover, Mimi, in her voice.
Now Mimi and the poet are somewhat estranged, in part because she finds it increasingly difficult to live life in the public spotlight. Yet, she has come to the university writer's residence to settle him in and help a new institution deal with hs rather quixotic nature. In the process she finds herself drawn to young Robert, the associate professor who convinced the school to invite the poet.
Two themes run through the piece, both of which prove fascinating. In one, the poet speaks of the constant need to create a new vocabulary to deal with a new situation. In the other comes the debate as to whether, being long over, the Vietnam War still has any relevance to the people who fought it, or fought against it. All this has startlingly strong relevance thanks to Virginia Morris'

taut directon and three imprssive performances. Lauren Letherer makes an attractively worldly-wise Mimi, carefully guarding the few private parts of her own history from scrutiny.
Michael Genovese vibrates with creative frustration as the poet, passionately trying to discover Mimi's past since her present is no longer his. Ping Wu makes a very attractive Robert, whose hero worship fades as he becomes more attracted to the poet's own inspiration.
Richard Scully's set design, by far the most elaborate ever seen at the Fremont Centre Theatre, instantly transports the audience into the characters' world. Brian Benison's original music, particularly when combined with the diverse collection of music from the period of the war, enhances the moods.
Indeed, the production proves polished and the play interesting. If there is one fault, it comes with the occasional introducton of Vietnamese mysticism. poetic though it may be, it seems to lead nowhere. Yet, that is only a minor disturbance.
Mimi'sGuide is satisfyingly intellectual fare. Yet, there is one warning. As the poet of the piece would point out, the play carries with it the vocabulary of the war. Do your homework before you go unless you are one of the generation who never forget.

Mimi'sGuide plays at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday through May 14. The Fremont Centre Theatre is at 1000 Fremont Ave. in South Pasadena. Tickets are $15. Call (626) 441-5977.