By ELIZABETH BENNETT
'Pillow Talk,' despite it's semi-suggestive title, is not in the least scandalous. On the contrary, this squeaky-clean script is based entirely on the 1959 movie of the same name, starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson.
That pretty much says it all, doesn't it?
But for all you non-Doris Day fans out there, let me elaborate. Jan Morrow is an interior designer with one big problem - she shares a party line with a womanizing phone-aholic named Brad Allen, and he makes it completely impossible for her to get any calls in or out. She doesn't really know who this over-the-wire Casanova is, but she dislikes him quite passionately and he reciprocates in kind.
When he discovers - through a really lucky coincidence - that his old college chum is head-over-heels for the 'crank spinster' on the other end of the party line, he decides to use that knowledge to his advantage and teach her a little lesson.
The plot, albeit predictable and slightly dated, is goofy 1950s fun. There's a deception, a misunderstanding and (of course) a reconciliation -the end is slightly anti-climatic, but it's more a script problem than a director's choice.
Alexis Owen is very Doris-Day-esque in her portrayal of Jan Morrow as a strong but sweet and slightly na?ve career woman, and Mitch Hall's performance as Brad Allen complements her well. Elwon Bakly has a very funny turn as Brad's best friend Jonathon, the neurotic millionaire - but the real scene-stealer is Maureen Eastwood as Jan's eavesdropping maid Alma. She can hardly walk up the stairs without eliciting a laugh.
The cast also does a good job of maximizing the itty-bitty space they're working in. The cleverly designed set evokes exactly the right mood and era, and the cast moves through it with surprising ease.
'Pillow Talk' is family (and BYU student) friendly. Good casting and light fun, it's ... well ... it's a Doris Day comedy (and if you don't know if that's good, ask your girlfriend/sister/mother).
A word to the wise: Hale Center Theater is small, old and in the round. Some seats have severely limited visibility, so if you're planning on going, get your tickets early.