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| Paul Kreppel, Jane Curtin, Munson Hicks, Sam Jory. |
THE PROPOSITION [Revue/Improvisational] CN/D: Allan Albert; DS: Allan Albert, Ron Ginsberg, Clint Helvey; C: Arthur McGee. P: Manon Enterprises, Ltd.; T: Gramercy Arts Theatre (OB): 3/24/71-4/14/74 (1,109)
A highly talented group of half-a-dozen young actors and two
musicians in a comedy revue with music, previously seen in Boston to popular
approval. Many of the scenes were developed from audience suggestions, although
Edith Oliver, for one, found that the routines often lacked true spontaneity and
seemed “set.”
The critics were mildly pleased, but not bowled over,
especially as they detected a general unevenness in the overall quality of the
program, and would have desired more risky situations than the relatively
conventional ones on display. Many sketches drew upon the familiar show biz
source of film, TV, and Broadway musicals.
Clive Barnes, admiring the players, summed up with “there are some things that should remain in Boston.” Those players were Jane Curtin, Paul Kreppel, Josh Mostel, Munson Hicks, Judy Kahan, and Karen Welles. Nevertheless, the show proved amazingly durable and, in two editions, with various cast replacements, kept drawing crowds for several years.
It moved to the
Mercer-Shaw Arena on 4/29/71, where a “second edition,” with an expanded
company, opened on 9/16/72. The new company added David Brezniak, Shelly
Burns, Gerri Librandi, Judith Cohen, Sam Jory, Sam Freed, Ray Baker, John
Monteith, and Jane Ranallo, among others.
