Donna/Madonna

Writer-performer John Paul Karliak centers his one-man show on the two women who most influenced his life. He grew up with his adoptive mother, Mary Lou, whom he regarded as his "real" mother, and compares her to Donna Reed as the quintessential TV mom. Much later in his life, he tracked down his birth mother, Rose Ellen, who was a glamorous and exciting free spirit: the Madonna in his life.

Intertwined with Karliak's affectionate portraits of his two mothers is his account of growing up gay. As he tells it, he was a musical comedy queen at age 7, disconcerting his parents by performing a Carol Channing impersonation in drag-and he has the Channing voice down pat. It was suddenly clear to him that this was not acceptable behavior for a boy. For a time he strove to be the normal boy-next-door he thought his elders wanted him to be, but his interest in other males was not to be gainsaid. He came out to his parents and belabored the issue until he realized this was futile and unfair. He began to be curious about his birth mother, but was afraid to mention this to Mary Lou, until she brought the subject up. She insisted that she understood his curiosity, and she wished him success-but her fears of abandonment drove her to dip into the chardonnay.

Karliak is a deft performer who neatly balances the comedy with more-serious moments-and he has a startling skill for changing on a dime from flamboyant, extroverted, and stylized performance artist to a direct and sincere man. He characterizes the two women by simple means-a few strokes of body language and vocal mannerisms-but they emerge as vivid and recognizable figures. And he acknowledges his profound debt to both moms: the timid but strong housewife with a passion for baking and the bold, confident, adventurous career woman. In the end, he accepts the truth of Mary Lou's constant mantra: "Of course I understand. I'm your mother. I know what you're thinking before you do."

Co-directors Tiger Reel and Matt Craig give the piece style, pace, and unity, and Billy Thompson and DJ Chocklixxx supply apt and lively music direction.

Presented by Rizzo 39 Productions at the Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. July 6–Aug. 10. Tue.–Wed., 8 p.m. (323) 960-4420. www.plays411.com/donnamadonna.