Proving it’s ‘All in the Timing’

Tom Titus

Timing, as they say, is everything -- particularly if you’re doing

comedy. And timing is particularly crucial in the program of eight

one-act plays currently being mounted at Golden West College.

“All in the Timing,” this lineup of eight comic, often offbeat,

glimpses of life through the eyes of playwright David Ives offers

smiles, chuckles and some guffaws and howls -- and a few groans along

the way since Ives apparently never met a pun he didn’t admire.

Golden West College director Tom Amen, with the technical

assistance of set and lighting designer Sigrid Hammer Wolf, takes the

“timing” theme a step further, with a backdrop of clocks (including a

few well-placed cuckoos.) With a well-drilled cast of mostly familiar

actors, the production goes off like, well, clockwork.

Not that all of the playlets are certified knee-slappers. A few

“reach” for the easy gag and they don’t always achieve it.

Nevertheless, the Golden West production benefits from some comedic

creativity on the part of its cast and Amen’s directorial acumen.

“Sure Thing,” which leads off the program, involves a boy-girl

meeting in a cafe and sets the tone as to what the audience can

expect. Mark Bedard and Brenda Kenworthy engage in a verbal tennis

match of repeated come-ons and no-ways , controlled by a dinging

bell, until they finally achieve a sort of rapport. It’s a bit

heavy-handed, but fun nevertheless.

The second playlet, “Variations on the Death of Trotsky,” follows

this “do it again” formula with a new twist. The Russian

revolutionary Leon Trotsky already has been assassinated -- you can

observe the hatchet embedded in his skull -- but still tries to make

his mark on history. As Trotsky, Josh Mathesonn physically resembles

Marx -- Groucho, not Karl -- and Brenda L. Harris bluntly reads his

obituary in a history book while the assailant, Christian Navarro,

completes the goofy picture.

If Rod Serling had possessed more of a sense of humor, he could

have written “The Philadelphia,” a Twilight Zonish comedy bit in

which everything is logically upside down. Matt Santoro excels as a

cafe patron explaining the phenomenon to buddy Matheson, while

Charity Royanne swipes her scenes as a waitress.

In “Captive Audience,” the TV screen not only watches its viewers,

it intercedes in their lives beyond anything imagined by “The Outer

Limits.” It’s closer to “Pleasantville” as Bedard and Kenworthy find

themselves manipulated by screen images Harris and Navarro.

“Time Flies” has been seen before, at Orange Coast College

recently, but this version is a bit of an expansion. Bedard and

Royanne are mayflies, destined for only one fluttering day of life,

and Navarro is the ominous nature program narrator setting up the

situation. If you’re sensitive to puns and cliches, better bring some

insect repellent.

Ives is merely being cute in “Enigma Variations,” in which two

psychiatrists and their respective patients struggle through

egregious word play. Santoro, Kenworthy, Matheson and Harris are the

principals, with the unbilled Navarro making a surprise appearance.

“English Made Simple” resembles “Sure Enough” in its construction

as Jack (Santoro) and Jill (Royanne) attempt to find common ground in

an “if at first you don’t succeed” scenario. There’s a strain of

Jules Feiffer in Ives’ dialogue that’s ultimately and appealing.

The finale, also previously seen at OCC, is “Foreplay,” set on a

miniature golf course and involving three couples (the inference is

that the same guy is trying to seduce three different ladies with

similar approaches.) Dana Michelle Styer joins the party here,

opposite Santoro, as Bedard and Kenworthy open the proceedings, while

Matheson and Royanne wind things up.

“All in the Timing” is a valuable exercise for theater students,

and Amen has chosen the cream of the Golden West crop for this

summertime romp. The performances are worth the occasional groans.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.