"APRIL ANN," Hale Center Theater Orem, through Feb. 13 (801-226-8600); running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes (one intermission)
OREM — When Ruth and Nathan Hale wrote "April Ann" some 40 years ago, the material must have been seen by their audiences as slightly edgy — a little boy practicing his reading skills using lingerie ads in the Sears and Roebuck catalog, and the hillbilly mother suddenly deciding she needs an electric can opener, a dishwasher and a glass door for the outhouse.
Today, it's amusing, though dated, but thanks to the deft direction of Jayne Luke, surprisingly entertaining.
The dialogue of this double-cast show is quite funny, and the plotline — though predictable in the sense that Ruth Hale's plays tend to start out overly complicated and end up nicely resolved — is fun.
April Ann is a skilled hillbilly daughter who can fell a tree, bring down a grizzly bear and add rooms to the cabin, but she can't figure out how to catch a man.
Never mind that the two in this story are the first she's ever laid eyes on outside the family.
April Ann (Brittni Bills, double cast with Megan Jones) is fiesty, stubborn and determined. She ends up surprised by the direction her heart takes.
David Smith (Smith's real-life husband) plays Larry (double cast with Andy Thorne), the rich guy who happened to crash on the Pitchards' mountain.
He's quite taken aback at the way the family lives and takes it upon himself to "help," whether they like it or not. David Smith is funny and inventive. He takes many of his scenes and adds bits that enliven them, even if some are a little too modern for the time.
Art, played by Rhett Gagon (double cast with Brian Jensen), is actually the villain in this piece. He wants April Ann but discounts her virtues and gifts. Gagon is not as sinister as Jensen, who was actually booed by the audience Saturday.
Ma, played by Tanya Hale Radebaugh (one of Ruth Hale's daughters) is good in her part. She's laid-back, sardonic and always looking for a rest, despite the fact she does very little around the cabin.
She has some of the best lines and delivers them with a nice punch.
Pa (Jerry Elison), is a well-timed surprise.
The children have a great deal to do in this production.
Mark Jeffs , who plays Joey, is a small standout. He's quite endearing, with his skinny little arms and sweet delivery.
Mikayla Smith does a convincing job of playing the part of lovestruck Verda.
Brenna Jeffs and Mallory Madsen play the role of Maudie nicely, as well.
This is a tribute production to Nathan Hale, who would have been 100 this year. Hale created the part of Parley P. Pritchard and built many of the set pieces.
"April Ann" isn't meant to be a Broadway-type show, and thus it has a few slow spots — especially when the cast members drop lines and hesitate — but taken as a whole and as a classic, it's very pleasant.
It's worth seeing.
Beware though, some of the songs stick in your head.
e-mail: haddoc@desnews.com