They’re Playing Our Song

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

Outstanding! To miss Neil Simon’s hysterical roller coaster comedy, They’re Playing Our Song now playing at Country Dinner Playhouse would be a criminal comedy act of the first degree.

Beth Malone stars as Sonia Walsk in the Country Dinner Playhouse production of They’re Playing Our Song.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the finest productions directed by Bill McHale and produced by Paul Dwyer to hit the boards at CDP.

The sterling combination of Beth Malone and Mark Devine had to be a Theatre Muse inspiration, a comedic marriage in stage Heaven.

The two of them, with their inner voices, blow fresh life into Simon’s carefully constructed funny barbed wire lines. Malone and Devine have climbed so snugly into the characters, the lines bounce off each other as though never before spoken.

Sonia (Malone) writes lyrics coming from a deep emotion that belies her hyper, diarrhea-of-the-mouth, scatterbrained can’t- hurt-anyone’s-feelings persona flashes to the world.

Vernon (Devine) writes music in a somewhat serous-minded manner with a splash of calm, quiet, organization. Vernon’s emotions find expression through his music. Verbally, he’s tongue-tied with feelings.

Both of them musically have reached a sound level of success.

When they meet to collaborate on a musical, their self-defined worlds unravel as they fall in love. The roller coaster not only takes leave of its senses, but leaves the tracks for a high-pitched ride on the open sea of comedy.

Still hung up over her ex boyfriend, Leon, because she doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. She not only becomes Leon’s caretaker, she carries him in her pocket. If he’s not a subject of Sonia’s conversations, he’s on the phone to her at the most inconvenient times. Vernon realizes if the relationship with Sonia is to continue, he’s going to have to adopt Leon.

Not only is Sonia hung up over Leon; she has her inner voices to pay attention to. Dressed in identical outfits as Sonia, her Voices played by Heather Fortin Rubald, Margie Lamb, and Mary McGroary tumble on the scene as icing on the comedic cake.

A straight man as Vernon is, he learns to listen to his Voices, deliciously played by Robert Hoppe, Randy St. Pierre, and Christopher Keener. The facial expressions of the Voices are as much fun to watch as their choreographed antics. Alann Worley’s choreography matches the rhythm and cadence of the comedic scenario.

McHale’s direction and use of the space envelops the entire theatre.

Rob Westan’s scenic design plays well with the theatre in the round adapting to the various scenes this comedy gallops through. The pieces add to the flavor and character of the places visited without blocking anyone’s view.

Marvin Hamish’s music and Carole Bayer Stager’s lyrics blend magnificently with Malone’s and Devine’s strong voices providing the humor, pathos, longing, and confusion on just the right note. With favorite songs such as “If He Really Knew Me,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” and “I Still Believe In Love,” this production is a class-A winner on all accounts. McHale not only knows and understands his CDP audience, he knows how to reach deep into the musical theatre loving community.

Simon’s legendary crisp, brittle battle with words surrounded by honest funny lines by characters who wouldn’t see themselves as being funny, are completely taken over and owned by this magnificent cast. In the upside down weird world we call home, funny is no longer a luxury. It is a requirement.

Call early for reservations. Tickets may be difficult to come by. And once isn’t going to be enough for this brightly designed and executed musical prize.