‘BACHELORETTE PARTY’

Watching women get down and raunchy is as grueling as watching men do the same. It’s a no win-situation when Treasure Chest sex toys begin to take over the show. That’s part of the trouble with the premiere of Rosemary Alexander’s “Bachelorette Party” at Theater/Theater.

Of course, the playwright has more on her mind--namely, the painful human consequences of reckless partying. In this particular Hancock Park saga, the innocent but deadly joke leads to the near breakup of an engagement. That little drama (between performers Diane Lewis and Dennis Tufano) takes over the second half of the play. In truth, though, the women’s phallic dialogue and naughty gifts win out by default.

Sherry Landrum’s direction is wooden, and she allows her six actresses to shout and talk over one another. Well, the characters are drinking a lot, especially a loopy woman played with deceptive humor by Brenda Hillhouse. The actresses give this female stag night a sporting shot (especially sharp-tongued LaRue Stanley), but most of them don’t escape degrees of self-consciousness.

Hey, do women do these things? Of course. As a woman reminded me, “Women are real people, too.” Next time perhaps a play about unreal people.

Performances at 1713 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m., through May 22; (818) 985-6924.