‘Our Song’ musical romp for MCA crowd Audience leaves satisfied

“They’re Playing Our Song” proved a predictable but pleasant production Thursday night at the Maine Center for the Arts.

The Gateway/Candlewood International touring company production of the musical kept the audience of 875 laughing throughout the performance.

“They’re Playing Our Song” paired a book by Neil Simon with music by Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager. It tells the story of composer Vernon Gersch and lyricist Sonia Walsk, whose budding professional, then personal, relationships keep getting derailed by her inability to cut loose her boyfriend of five years, Leon. Each of the primary characters is aided by a singing and dancing Greek trio of alter egos, which isn’t nearly as confusing as it sounds.

The introverted Vernon and the manic Sonia get off to a shaky start, as she’s continually late for their meetings, largely because of Leon. Still the opposites attract, get together, then implode, only to reunite for the expected happy ending.

The work is lesser Simon, although the Hamlisch and Sager pop songs keep the dramatic action moving along. Unlike the last two MCA musicals, “Chicago” and “South Pacific,” there’s little color or flash, unless you count Sonia’s secondhand theater clothes.

Erin Moran injects Sonia with effervescence and pizazz, and James A. Walsh’s Vernon is properly befuddled but bedazzled. It’s clear to everyone but the lead characters that they’re crazy about each other. The unexpected appearances of the alter-ego trios help to open up the musical.

On the technical side, the set design by Larry Brown was versatile and gave the appropriate urban feel. Cheryl Andel’s costume design helped to define each of the leads. At times, the canned soundtrack was jarring, but that’s an inherent flaw with a touring production.

“They’re Playing Our Song” is a small romantic comedy of errors. It didn’t fill up the Hutchins Concert Hall stage, but then it wasn’t meant to. Its purpose was to keep the crowd entertained and leave patrons with a good feeling at the end, and that it accomplished.