This was fine- it certainly isnt a disaster by any means, but it seems stuck between outright parody and schmaltz. I have never seen the TV show, and I am guessing the creators were trapped trying to hew to those plotlines a bit, when more cutting was necessary for the stage. The four elder states-ppl of the town could easily be two; SO MANY ensemble big dance numbers, which get repetitive after a short while.
Because both shows contain ignorant townspeople, I found myself wishing that Amber Ruffin's bite and wit from Bigfoot had made its way over to this show- Schmigadoon is pleasantly humorous but it has no teeth, and its more fun than outright funny. The end gets there, with the appearance of the countess and Ana Gasteyer finally getting some time to shine. But I found myself on the precipice of laughter most of the night. The show mocks the old timey musical prudishness but is pretty prude itself. It mocks old timey judgmentalism but doesnt really tackle it head on until it panders to the audience at the end re liberal values (just as the Lost Boys does).
Brightman does well with the bewildered shtick, and Sara Chase is winning and adorable. Alot of talented people come and go, but few stick. I found myself thinking Mckenzie Kurtz could snag a Tony nom in Act 1 but then she disappears in Act 2, her storyline essentially replaced by the incredible Isabella MacCalla.
Still, some moments really land, and I admit that I found myself emotionally invested in the predictable touching moment towards the end. This is a high calorie, low nutrition snack.
Hard to see how Two Stangers doesnt take it.