NEVER TOO LATE
Theatre Reviewer: Ron Milovac
(September 18, 2009)
The Poquoson Island Players opened their 25th anniversary season by moving out of Poquoson and into the Mary T. Christian Auditorium at Thomas Nelson Community College. Their previous location at the Poquoson Middle School was plagued by uncomfortable seats, insufficient parking for customers and inadequate dressing rooms for the actors. The new location takes care of all those problems and more.
The show they chose is an old chestnut, “Never Too Late” by Arthur Sumner Long. Though rarely performed, it was a substantial hit on Broadway when it ran for more than two years in the early 60’s. A movie followed with Paul Ford and Maureen O’Sullivan recreating their stage roles.
The plot revolves around a late in life pregnancy of a couple comfortably set in their middle-aged ways. It’s easy to see why this show was a hit in its original run. A story about a woman in her 40’s expecting a baby was probably groundbreaking at the time. Since then we’ve lived through Maude’s pregnancy and her controversial decision. When Murphy Brown had a baby, it became a political issue. Thanks to fertility drugs, the invitro method and a desire to start a career, women over 40 today have babies and no one bats an eye.
Therefore, when going into “Never Too Late”, you have to take yourself back to a simpler time. Imagine it’s a black and white sitcom like “Father Knows Best” or “Leave It to Beaver” with a pregnant Margaret or June. Otherwise, this show will seem hopelessly dated. After all, a large part of the show deals with the husband’s embarrassment that everybody knows he is still sexually active. Yeah, like that would happen today.
Director Eileen Engel does a good job moving her actors around the stage and keeps things from getting static. No one stays still for long.
Ben Jenkins plays Harry, the husband who is not too happy about the impending arrival. He rants about the situation and the changes his wife wants to make around the house. Kathy Dean is Edith, the expectant mother. She has the audacity to decide that she wants her own checkbook. Did June Cleaver even have her own checkbook? Both actors play well off each other and look like they’re having fun.
Kate Parkinson plays their live-in daughter who suddenly has to do all the housework. She also complains a lot about what’s become her lot in life, but we don’t really feel sorry for her. What did she do before her mother became pregnant? Sit around and eat bonbons all day? Her husband Charlie, played by Bob Springstead, is consequently neglected. Springstead doesn’t have much to do in the first act, but in Act 2, he spends most of it in an inebriated state and gets a lot of laughs. They also have a funny scene when Kate decides that she should get pregnant and attacks Charlie on the living room sofa.
Solid support appears in Bonnie Carlson as their wisecracking neighbor Grace and her husband played by PIPs regular Mike White. Ray Vernall brings lots energy on stage as another neighbor, who happens to be the Mayor. Mr. Vernall is one of the founding fathers of PIPs and hasn’t been on stage in a while. It’s good to see him back.
The living room set including a staircase to the bedrooms is attractive, though some of the artwork on the wall is a little distracting. Costumes are well done for the period, including a pink suit and pillbox hat for Edith.
“Never Too Late” may not be the best show with which PIPs could have used as a season opener, (their next show, “Over the River and Through the Woods” should be much funnier) but it’s a pleasant diversion and, at least, it’s something that hasn’t been done around here lately.
Never Too Late runs at Thomas Nelson Community College: September 18,19,25,26 8:00 PM
September 20, 27 2:30 PM click here for ticket information: http://www.pipstheatre.com/Contact2.html