STAGE REVIEWS : ACTORS BRIGHTEN ‘BRIGHTON’

“Brighton Beach Memoirs,” at the Harlequin Dinner Playhouse, is vintage Neil Simon. This means his fans may find a perceptive and engaging gaze into the human character and his detractors may find a cast of stereotypes roaming through cliched situations.

The play revolves around the Jerome family as it copes with a batch of problems ranging from older brother Stanley’s (Christopher Lee Michaels) in deciding whether he’ll compromise his principles or quit his job to winsome cousin Nora’s (Ruth Zakarian) as she considers an acting career in wicked New York.

At the center, though, is Eugene Jerome (played by Thom Babbes), the puberty-plagued kid modeled after the author’s own bout with adolescence. “Memoirs” was written, after all, from Eugene’s perspective. His reactions to the other family members and their miniature crises--and his asides to the audience--set the play’s tone and help reveal the issues.

Eugene’s uncomplicated world--striking out the side in an imaginary World Series game seems his only worry as the play opens--quickly becomes very complicated as his libido takes charge. He daydreams of Nora with a mixture of unresolved passion and comic shame.

If anything can be said of Babbes’ performance, it’s that he understands the dramatic burden he must carry. And Babbes, far from being cowed, steps boldly into the role. It’s not always a graceful performance--it’s often overdrawn--but it is dynamic. To watch Babbes’ Jerome wail about his turmoil is like hiding in a church confessional--it’s funny but also achingly endearing.

The rest of the cast must be talented to hold its own against Babbes, and this group is. This production is marked by technically adept and affecting acting across-the-board. Joseph Cardinale and Judith Jordan create especially lifelike personalities as the parents who anchor this close family. Cardinale portrays the father as a weary, worldly man who, despite his own problems, is sympathetic to his children’s troubles. Jordan also presents a potent character; she nags a lot (mostly at Eugene) but also offers undiluted love and support.

“Brighton Beach Memoirs” runs through Nov. 16 at the Harlequin Dinner Playhouse, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. For information, call (714) 957-5511.