MIDLIFE DIVERSION (REVIEW)

A midlife crisis is not typically a pretty thing to behold, especially for those who pass through it. But in the play "Let Him Sleep 'Till It's Time for His Funeral," playwright Pat Kehret proves that a midlife crisis can be an amusing thing to sit and watch.

The play, presented by the River City Players and opening Friday at the River City Yacht Club, revolves around a middle-aged man, Harold Dollefson, who is convinced his life is over because he is about to celebrate his 50th birthday. With an ever-thickening waistline and an ever-balding head, Dollefson has consigned himself to living a life with an eye toward the grave.

"The years creep by and before you know it you can't have fun like you once did," he says as he plods on the stage for the first time.

In order to enliven his spirit's, Dollefson's wife, Edna, plans a unique birthday party -- a surprise funeral that will allow Harold Dollefson to see how loved and appreciated he is by his circle of friends. But, as is the case in plays like this, misunderstanding and confusion reign supreme when Dollefson comes to believe that his wife is planning to murder him and she to believe that he is deserting him to run off to Mexico with another woman.

Added to the confusion is their teen-age daughter, Elizabeth, who believes her father is dying of a mysterious illness and enters the Heart's Desire contest to pay for his expensive medical treatment.

Don't come to the play expecting the comedic brilliance of Shakespeare or the wit of George Bernard Shaw. Don't even expect the quick-paced barbs of Neil Simon. There are no real belly laughs here. In some ways, the script reads more like a 1960s TV situation comedy.

Still, the Ann Swanson-directed play is an enjoyable diversion that will bring a smile to the face.

The cast, made up of relative newcomers to the stage, acquits itself well with the script and the rather restricted stage on which it has to work.

Jake Martin is physically perfect for the role of Harold Dollefson and brings the right amount of genuineness to the role.

His wife, Edna, is played by Lori Prewitt. For a role that demands both sincerity and a degree of loving sneakiness, Prewitt is perfect. On stage she is half Donna Reed, half Lucille Ball.

But most of the plumb roles in the play, like the situation comedies it emulates, are the supporting roles. And the actors cast in the roles milk them for all they're worth.

Top among them is Joe Sherinski playing Russ Westmore, the neighbor of the Dollefsons and Harold's best friend. Sherinski, the former Mr. Good Garden of KFVS-TV, is a natural on stage and seems comfortable carrying much of the humor.

Amanda Koeller, who is cast as the teen-age daughter Elizabeth, bounces about stage with just the right degree of "fer-sure" attitude of a teen-age girl.

The most thankless role in the play is that of the neighbor Millie Westmore, Edna's best friend and the wife of Russ. Although playwright Kehret does not give the role much meat, Camille Ottesen does well with the role, playing Ethel Mertz to Prewitt's Lucy Ricardo.

But the actor who almost steals the show is Dale Pruett, whose bit part as Mr. Jansen is played with perfect aplomb and deadpan humor. Squint your eyes just right and you can almost see Buster Keaton in Pruett.

The play will be presented as a dinner theater offering by the River City Players in conjunction with the Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant's River City Yacht Club.

Evening shows will be on Feb. 12, 13, 19 and 20, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 and the curtain will rise at 8.

On Feb. 14, Valentine's Day, a special "Sweethearts" dessert buffet matinee will be presented, with doors opening at 1 p.m. and the play beginning at 2.

Ticket prices are $18.50 per person for the evening dinner shows and $10 per person for the dessert matinee.

A special $6 presentation of the play for those not wishing a buffet will be held on Feb. 16, with doors at 7 p.m. and a 7:30 curtain.

Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Port Cape Girardeau at 334-0954.