Sam Bobrick, best known for writing the 1970 Broadway farce Norman, Is That You? and many episodes of various television series, specializes in lighthearted comedy. His new play, set at the funeral of an amoral, womanizing criminal, is sprinkled with dicey jokes and mildly sardonic intimations of rancor and revenge, but it evokes scant substance. It's a formulaic sitcom, laced with elements of sketch and standup comedy. Stretching material this thin out to 90 minutes is courageous, if ill-advised. Thankfully, director Ronnie Marmo and a spirited cast derive as much fun as possible from the hit-and-miss material.
Upon entering the theatre building, one quickly realizes there's something odd about some of the people in the lobby. Once the auditorium is opened, these motley individuals (actors in the play) take their places in the front row of the theatre, while some sit on chairs onstage, looking at a closed casket. A nervous reverend (Ryan Paul James) greets the crowd and briefly eulogizes about the deceased lout, Leonard Chester Kling, then invites attendees to speak. Kling's mousy current wife, Mildred (Michele Tannen), can't get beyond one phrase without bursting into tears; his pregnant daughter (the hilarious Kirsten Berman) has plenty to say -- still seeking the $25,000 dowry that abusive daddy dearest has promised to her shady fiancé. Among other goofy characters are a shyster lawyer (Michael B. Levin); the out-of-wedlock gay son (played to wry perfection by Levi Damione) of Kling's alcoholic second wife (Katy Jacoby); Kling's transvestite-turned-transsexual lover Bernie/Beatrice (Cutter Garcia); a shady police chief (Thomas F. Evans) who is investigating Leonard's presumed homicide; and -- getting the juiciest lines -- a ball-busting Japanese dominatrix. As this enthusiastic S&M princess, Kumiko Kashii delivers her bawdy zingers with a deadpan dexterity that's irresistible. Tommy Colavito amusingly plays Leonard's slimy brother and appears as Leonard in an unnecessary and unfunny corpse-comes-to-life monologue. Competing the impressive ensemble are James Jaeger, Bette Smith, Bruce Barker, Bill Steele, and DJ Rabiola. Though not quite spinning gold out of cotton candy, Marmo's felicitous farceurs provide flashes of high-flying hilarity.
Presented by 68 Cent Crew Theatre Company at Theatre 68,
5419 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood.
Wed.-Thu. 8 p.m. Aug. 29-Oct. 4.
(323) 960-7827. www.68centcrew.com.