“It’s been a while since we had the Northwest premiere of a comedy on our stage. There’s a lot of competition out there for ‘funny’. Getting something both great and brand new is really tough.”
Edge of the World Theatre’s artistic director Michael Kelley smiled. “But every now and then, you win one.”
He is referring to the theatre’s production, opening tonight, of the play “Here on the Flight Path,” a new comedy from Canadian author Norm Foster.
“He’s really catching on,” Kelley continued. “His other shows like ‘The Love List’ and ‘The Foursome’ are being put on everywhere. The guy’s just really funny, audiences love him.”
The new show concerns John Cummings, a nice guy who desperately needs a new neighbor. He lives in a 4th floor apartment, directly under the flight path to the airport, and next door to an older couple who spend all their time shouting at each other. The city is noisy, his job at the newspaper is noisy, even the plumbing is noisy …
What John needs before he goes crazy (and completely deaf) is some peace and quiet. And since he is single, maybe a nice, quiet single woman to move in next door — someone he can chat with across their adjoining balconies on those quiet summer nights.
What he gets is something entirely different. The older couple moves out, and John is overjoyed to hear that a single woman is moving in. Until he meets Fay — a “consultant” (who turns out to be a hooker), she brings her “dates” home, which usually end in fist fights and nice-guy John leaping over to her balcony, BBQ spatula in hand, to defend her. Then Fay finally moves out — and Angel moves in.
Again, John’s hopes rise — till he discovers she’s only half his age, and an aspiring actress to boot. An actress in musical theatre who practices her singing at the strangest times. And talks poor John into becoming an unwilling acting partner — for scenes that seem to involve a lot of slapping.
When Angel at last moves out, an exhausted John is convinced his luck has to get better. The only new tenant that could be worse would have to be an hysterical woman divorcing a police homicide detective who carries two big guns. Which is, of course, exactly what happens next…
The show is not recommended for young children due to some adult humor.
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