The world premier performance of the new musical “A Proper Place,” is currently underway at Village Theatre. Penned by Leslie Becker and Curtis Rhodea and based on the 1902 story, “The Admirable Crichton,” by J. M. Barrie (best known as the creator of Peter Pan), “A Proper Place” comes across as a mash-up of My Fair Lady and Gilligan’s Island … about as odd a pairing of shows as you can imagine. And, as you can also imagine, the progeny of this cross is neither pretty nor even attractive. It is, indeed, missing all of the slapstick humor from “Gilligan” and shows none of the sharp, witty, Alan J. Lerner lyrical touches that propelled “Lady.”
It should be noted that none of this is the fault of the actors, producers, stage designers, or even the producers. Village’s production is, indeed, superb: in particular, the stage settings for the tropical island portion of the tale are sumptuous in their simplicity, yet divine in their suggestion of sea, sand, and tropical forest. The orchestra shines. The actors, without exemption, portray their characters not just ably, but at times, winningly.
The problem being, there isn’t always sufficient character in the script for the actors to have enough to work with.
It is in the book of “A Proper Place” where the ship begins to flounder. I don’t recall whether or not this show was included in Village’s Beta series at any time; if not, it should have been. Reactions and comments from Beta audiences might have been helpful, because to my mind, the book just isn’t quite ready for prime time. It’s not a drama, yet it tries to be dramatic. It’s not a love story, yet it dabbles with forbidden love (no, not that kind; love crossing class lines in post-Victorian England). Suffice it to say, for the British peerage, the serving class is to be bedded but not wedded, and here we have both beddings and weddings. Interesting enough in concept and even compelling at times – except that, of the four characters on stage dabbling in the crosses, only one seemed even remotely real and sympathetic.
“Place” is definitely not a comedy. Its main comic relief, the Kitchen maid Tweeny (delightfully portrayed by Sophia Franzella) was just what the name implies … comic relief … and not enough to push the show over the line to comedy. Though, there were hints elsewhere that the authors desperately wanted it to be, at least partially, comedic.
In the end, for this observer, the show simply goes in too many directions and tries too much, to be a coherent whole. Kudos to all involved for the attempt; it should be said that, with some care and re-writing (or at the very least, polishing), the show has enough of a core to eventually be wonderful.
It’s just not there yet.
“A Proper Place,” a Village Theatre World Premier production. At the Frances J,Gaudette Theatre in Issaquah through April 23; moving to the Everett Performing Arts Center from April 28 through May 21.