PROPOSALS, Neil Simon's 30th play, which runs at the Civic Theatre through April 14, stands out in several ways. First, it is the only one of his 32 plays that takes place outdoors. Second, it is one of his least autobiographical works.

The story is narrated by Clemma (Kathy Conely), the housekeeper of the Hines family. Her character begins the play as a ghost, recalling a summer some fifty years ago. She worked for TV retailer Bert Hines (Michael Young) and his 23-year-old daughter Josie (Shenoah White). Bert's wife Annie (Lois Watkins) left him years ago because his devotion to his work seemed stronger than that to his family. Annie remarried and moved to Paris, leaving daughter Josie to live with Bert in New York.

Josie is at the heart of the story, which deals with love, reconciliation, and forgiveness, in which everyone tries to get their lives straightened out in one end-of-summer weekend.

Bert, Josie, and Clemma are at the Hines' summer house in the Poconos in 1953. Josie has just broken off her engagement to Kenny (played with comic gawkishness by Michael Yoder) and is later visited by his best friend Ray (Brad Beauchamp). Ray and Josie had a brief fling the year before, and angry sexual tension between the two still abounds, although Ray is now dating a ditzy blond model named Sammii (with two i's), played by Lorie Seibt.

Josie's father Bert has a heart condition and sensing the worst, he invites his ex-wife, with whom he is still very much in love, to visit, hoping that she and Josie will mend their broken relationship.

The first act culminates when Vinnie (Jason Ehlerding), a gambler/gangster/jeweler Josie once danced with to spite her mother, pops up; Clemma's seven-years-absent husband Lewis (Dwight Wilson) returns; and both of Josie's exes invite themselves to dinner, leading to a very awkward (and hilarious) meal.

The second act explores the friction between the characters, in particular between Josie and her mother, ending with a very tender and moving finale.

Strong performances hold the play together, although some of the more comical scenes seem a bit slap-sticky. Kathy Conely does a beautiful job as the maid who mixes humor with anger, and Michael Young is endearing as the quiet, eavesdropping father whose hope outweighs his regrets. Lois Watkins is 180 degrees away from the 80-something professor she portrayed in last fall's "Wit," playing Annie as perky, vivacious, and flirtatious. Dwight Wilson also gives a solid performance, playing a role much older than himself, and not making too much of his character's physical disabilities.

Robert Sandmaier designed a gorgeous multi-dimensional set that gives the play a cozy, outdoorsy feel. Louis Heckaman's costumes are authentic without looking costume-y. Especially fine is Sammii's yellow dress and Kenny's conservative-yet-summer-casual shirt and sweater vest outfit. The lighting, designed by Jonathan Sandmaier, is also used very effectively throughout the play.

The play runs about 2 and a half hours, including a 15 minute intermission. There is some cigarette smoking in the production, so seating toward the back of the house is recommended for those with smoke sensitivity.

PROPOSALS expertly blends humor with pathos and the simplicity in its message of love and forgiveness is appealing now more than ever.