Review: Comedy comes a-courtin' with "20 Days to Find a Wife"

Photo by Scott Pakudaitis

In Door County, Wisconsin local legend tells of a lighthouse keeper named David Corbin who after nine years of solitarily manning his remote station on Rock Island was given an order by his supervisor to take a 20 day leave of absence from his isolated post for the explicit purpose of finding himself a wife. Despite being a 50-year-old bachelor with little experience dealing with the opposite sex, Corbin set forth on his mission of matrimony. Finding in Corbin’s quest an abundance of romantic-comedy potential, the collaborative team of playwright/lyricist Laurie Flanigan and composer Marya Hart set out to craft the very funny and frequently touching musical adaptation, 20 Days to Find a Wife, now running at the History Theatre.

While the overall storyline of 20 Days to Find a Wife is unlikely to surprise anyone familiar with the standard conventions of romantic-comedies, it is to Laurie Flanigan’s enormous credit that Corbin’s amorous adventure is invigorated with a charming script populated with quirky characters and consistently amusing plot twists. From the moment Corbin arrives in town (carrying a lengthy list of needed supplies that concludes brusquely with “wife”) to his eventual return to Rock Island, there’s little doubt as to which woman will eventually win his heart. The pleasure of the search, however, resides in the delightful mishaps Corbin finds along the way as he becomes the unwitting recipient of way too much affection. In a town starved of eligible bachelors, Corbin is hungrily eyed as the prized potential mate of not one, but two women, neither of whom seem entirely stable.

Playing the lead role of David Corbin, Alan Sorenson conveys his character’s predicament with palpable sentiments that start at annoyance (as he begins his journey in the spirit of “utter duress”), evolve through the unexpected thrill of courtship (memorably described in his journal as “quivers”) to the moving realization of his heart’s one true desire (highlighted by the gentle ballad “Come Spring”). Sorenson is a charismatic presence throughout, pushing through Corbin’s initially stoic exterior to slowly reveal the reluctant inner romantic.

Bringing out the best in Corbin is Katherine, the widowed proprietor of the town’s general goods store, portrayed by Molly Sue McDonald. Twelve years since the death of her sailor husband, Katherine holds no interest in romance, preferring instead to retain her affections exclusively for the memory of lost love. Tempering her performance with jaded skepticism, McDonald reveals Katherine inner longing with sparse but stirring moments underscored by her utterly gorgeous singing, especially on the solo piece, “Pretty Soon.”

Of course, no romantic comedy would be complete without the inclusion of some amusingly eccentric secondary characters. While 20 Days to Find a Wife does feature a veritable gallery of such figures, their portrayal is entrusted to the considerable talents of just two performers, Janet Hanson and Martin Ruben. Playing both of Corbin’s rival romances (a society woman named Hyacinth whose virtuous bearing hides a lifetime of repressed carnality against an aspiring poet named Violet whose every sentiment is expressed as a ridiculously overwrought proclamation), Hanson delights with a fevered display of amorous erraticism. Not to be outdone, Martin Ruben fleshes out his multiple roles (as the lighthouse inspector, Violet’s overbearing father, Sigvald, and Corbin’s unrefined fisherman friend, Mike) with a comedic deftness that nearly steals each of his scenes.

Backing it all is an enveloping spectrum of piano-based compositions by Marya Hart that superbly captures the mood of each number. Eschewing musical tendencies to impress with bombast, Hart courts emotion through a stripped-down approach that perfectly aligns with the setting and the characters. As brought to life by musical director Yvette Guillaume, the compositions propel the story and reinforce the prevailing moods. It’s a subtly rich arrangement that never calls attention to itself, yet remains largely responsible for bringing the story to life with an enormity of feeling and vibrancy.

Another highlight is a set design by Erica Zaffarano that manages to encompass the island, the town, and the distance in-between all on one unchanging stage. With Corbin’s lighthouse ever watchful in the background, the surrounding area can be seen as a microcosm of their entire world. Prop designer Maria J. Howes furthers the rich illusion with detailed scale models that are utilized by lighting designer Pamela Kildahl as focal points to modulate the visual warmth of the setting throughout the production.

Under Ron Peluso’s assured direction, 20 Days to Find a Wife transcends the entertaining diversion of standard romantic-comedies to present a story that finds joy in the common human need for love and companionship. As such, it’s an ideal Spring production, suitable for even the most stoic of lighthouse keepers amongst us.

20 Days to Find a Wife runs through May 31st.

For more info: History Theatre