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It would take a person with a pretty stony heart to resist the charm exuded by Michael Countryman in Donald Margulies' theatrical seafaring adventure, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment – The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (As Told by Himself, which opened last night in a Primary Stages production at 59E59 Theaters.

Countryman, playing Rougemont, bursts with a sort of vivacity and innocence that's generally found only in children who have not yet reached puberty. His eyes twinkle and his smile simply beams as Rougemont recounts a tale reminiscent of any number of children's adventure stories. After quickly recounting the details of his sickly childhood with his mother (Donnetta Lavinia Grays) in mid-nineteenth century England, Louis gets down to meat of his story, describing the events that took place after he left home – at 17 or thereabouts – and joined the crew of a ship headed toward the Pacific on a pearl diving expedition.

Louis, whose mother used to read tales of the sea to him, can't believe his good fortune at actually getting to live out what he has heretofore only dreamt about, the kindness of the ship's captain (also played, and exceptionally well, by Grays), or his luck in making a best friend in Bruno (one of the many roles played by Jeremy Bobb), the ship's canine mascot of sorts. Similarly, once Louis has begun his seafaring tales, theatergoers may find themselves growing a bit incredulous. Details of this genial man's story – no matter how endearingly told – just don't add up or seem to bear any relationship to reality; unless of course it’s the sort of world that's found in reruns of television's "Gilligan's Island."

The disconnect that theatergoers might feel with the story – as curious events seem to become more frequent – is only enhanced by the story-theater manner in which the production, directed by Lisa Peterson, unfolds. Countryman and company perform on just a circular platform made of thick wooden planks that's surrounded by the musical instruments and other gadgets that make sound effects and serve as props. Scenic designer Neil Patel uses ladders up to the theater's architectural walkways to give a sense of breadth and Stephen Strawbridge's lighting design is, without a doubt, atmospheric. Such theatrical devices charm, but they also, at this stage, are overly familiar to theatergoers.

Thankfully, Margulies has a surprise or two stowed below deck, and just as "Shipwrecked" seems to have grounded itself hopelessly, the play takes on a sort of ingenious contemporary relevance, and one wonders if Louis wouldn't be a marvelous guest on today's talk show circuit, starting with an appearance on "Oprah."

The final third of "Shipwrecked" does indeed atone for languors that theatergoers may experience along Louis' journey, and regardless of the slow trade winds that may buffet the play, there's always Countryman's buoyant performance as the young man who endures all that life throws at him.

---- Andy Propst

Shipwrecked! plays at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances are Tuesday at 7pm; Wednesday through Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 2 and 8pm; and Sunday at 3pm (2/15) and Wednesday at 2pm (2/18). Tickets are $60.00 and can be purchased by calling 212-279-4200 or by visiting www.TicketCentral.com. Further information is available online at www.PrimaryStages.org.