The person manning the speech table in 1977 was nowhere in sight when high school sophomore Debra Dreiling wanted to sign up for an elective, so she turned to the theater table instead, a serendipitous beginning to her lifelong passion for performing. In true sink-or-swim fashion, the shy Debbie’s first class was improv, and thanks to her instructor, Duane Benedict, she thrived. Fast forward to the present day, Debbie found octogenarian Duane and his wife in Saint Helens, and they thoroughly enjoyed her performance as Mrs. Kirby in Mask & Mirror’s recent production of “You Can’t Take It With You.”
With only a slight blip in her college course of study, Debbie largely majored in theater, where her crowning achievement was being cast – after three grueling callbacks – in the leading role of Rosemary in “Excursion Fare,” an original drama by grad student Dennis Smith, which was named “Best Original Play” in the 17th annual ACTF competition for the region including Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Thereafter, as one of 10 plays being considered, it won the prestigious National Student Playwriting Award for “Best in Nation,” was showcased in three performances to full houses in the Kennedy Center’s smallest venue (capacity 550), and was published by Samuel French with Debbie’s name on one of the front pages as part of the original Kennedy Center cast. At curtain call, Debbie was presented with a medal engraved with the Kennedy Center Emblem on one side and her name on the other – quite a plum for someone who, because the high school speech table was unattended, chose another fork in the road.
Now Debbie Blake, she at one time intended to move to New York to act professionally, but reality compelled her to work boring day jobs to fund her passion. New York’s loss was a boon for Vancouver and Portland theaters where Debbie performed for over 40 years. Now retired, she can pursue her passion as much as she wants, and she will be starring as Martha Brewster, one of the murderous elderly sisters in Mask & Mirror’s upcoming production of the classic “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
Robin Michaels was destined to play a classic role like the murderous Abby Brewster, as she was born into a theatrical family and first performed the role in a high school production directed by her mother. Fast-forward to a few years ago, she portrayed Abby’s sister Martha Brewster for HART Theatre, and now Mask & Mirror patrons will get to experience her reprisal of Abby Brewster in the upcoming production of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” opening November 20.
Robin concentrated on music and vocal performance in college, and has dabbled in piano – remarkably badly, she says – since childhood. For a short while she performed a few leading roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, but medical school, pediatric residency, marriage, multi-state moves, family, 2 children, teaching, and other life events kept her from the stage until 2000 when, as a mother ferrying her daughter Amelia to “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” rehearsals, her passion was reignited. Over the past quarter century, she has performed such leading roles as Veta, Golde, Mother Superior, Mrs. VanDamm, Penny, Aunt March, Clairee, Aunt Eller, and Miss Prism; M&M patrons last saw her as the Guardian Angel in “Spirit Level.” As if such involvement in theater weren’t enough, she also sings with the Chehalem Chorus.
Retirement and a move to Oregon in 2012 serendipitously reunited her with Chuck Weed, an old friend and fellow thespian, with whom she is happily partnered and living in Newberg.
The public can enjoy these two accomplished women in Mask & Mirror’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace,” running November 20 – December 6 on The Main Stage at Rise Church, 10445 Canterbury Lane, Tigard, Oregon. Friday and Saturday night performances are at 7:30 pm, and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 pm.
Mask & Mirror Community Theatre is a 501(c) nonprofit performing company, so your support is greatly appreciated. Additional information and tickets can be obtained by visiting www.maskandmirror.com.
