Thursday, August 4, 1977 The Tar Heel 17
Coco
Domovmm add spice to Never Too Late
999
By WALTER SPEARMAN
Staff Writer
If the success of Bill Hartigan's new policy
of bringing big name stars to his Village
Dinner Theater needs proving, the laugh fest
accompanying his "Never Too Late" with
Imogene Coca and King Donovan proves it.
And for that happy, versatile pair of old
pros. Coca and Donovan, it was indeed
"never too late" for them to triumphantly
capture their audience, getting a standing
ovation and provide a hilarious evening in
the theater.
The wave of success started by Margaret
O'Brien and Martha Raye crests with Coca
and Donovan, a husband and wife acting
team who have appeared together in such
shows as "Once Upon a Mattress," "A
1 Thurber Carnival," and "The Prisoner of
Second Avenue." They have given over 500
performances of their own production of
"The Fourposter."
It's a joy to see Coca and Donovan acting
together. Their ensemble acting, their split
second timing, their double takes, their silent
pantomime responses, all combine tc lift
"Never Too Late" to rare comedy.
"Never Too Late" records what happens
when a middle-aged couple suddenly
discovers they are about to become parents
again, much to the consternation of their
spoiled daughter, their sponging son-in-law
and their surprised friends. Edith Lampert
(Imogene Coca) goes out to get a new hair
do and a manicure in celebration and her
manicurist says: "Sister, there may be life in
the old man yet!" And there is but Harry
Lambert (King Donovan) is appalled when
the workers at his furniture plant wheel in a
new baby carriage containing a two-by-four
wrapped in a blanket.
A comedy highlight of the evening comes
when Edith drops her pregnant bomb. Her
husband Harry is in the midst of an animated
argument with his daughter and son-in-law,
the overgrown children who refuse to
assume responsibility. When they finally
realize what has happened, Harry rushes to
his wife and sends Kate into the kitchen
(evidently for the first time in her sheltered
life). All Edith needs to do is sigh: "I feel
faint" for the whole family to capitulate.
Unwilling daughter Kate decides her only
recourse is to get pregnant, too so she
looks appraisingly at her husband Charlie
and announces: "I'm making the roast rare!"
So is the comedy. Imogene Coca, veteran
of that beloved old TV "Your Show of
Shows" with Sid Caesar, can do no wrong on
stage. Her worn, lined face is blessedly
beautiful, her every movement has a lilt, and
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her voice is warmly human. A mere lift of the
hand, a catch in the voice, a tentative smile,
conveys her meaning. King. Donovan as the
surprised father-to-be works with her
beautifully, ranting and raving, gruff and
tender, but his hard work sometimes shows
through; and his interpretation would be
more appealing if he would occasionally
lower the boom of his performance.
hell. And son-in-law Charlie ( Richard Blair),
amusing in his very ineptness, rises to heights
of humor in his drunken scene with Harry,
which brought a hand from the house for the
two of them.
Producer Bill Hartigan, beaming over the
full house for "Never Too Late," announced
that next month's show would be" Wake Up,
Darling," with Robert Reed of "The Brady
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King Donovan appears in "Never Too Late" at the Village Dinner Theatre
Rita Rudner as daughter Kate, more eager
to be waited on than to work, seems
bumptiously flighty at first but does a
splendid job in her telephone scene with
Charlie when she finally tells him to go to
Bunch" as guest star. This will be followed by
a return engagement of "South Pacific" in
September and the appearance of award
winning actor Broderick Crawford in
October.
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