THE CURSE OF ‘BIGNESS’ IS ITS FONDNESS FOR BANALITY

Benny and Betty leave their boring East Coast lives to seek adventure in the Wild West . . . but find more than they bargained for!

After reading Paul Lacques’ “The Curse of Bigness” three times, and seeing it once at the Wallenboyd Theater, I still don’t get it.

Benny and Betty are dullards--that’s clear. And they have run-ins with various dream figures along the highway, including a recurring giant named Louie.

But the result of these adventures is hard to figure out. Is this a mirage or a morality play? Do Benny and Betty learn anything? How do they relate to their avatars, Wild Bill and Calamity Jane? Is Louie (a.k.a. Buffalo Bill) a bad guy or a good guy?

Maybe “The Curse of Bigness” is a dumb-on-purpose cartoon. Lacques has a fondness for banality, as when Benny and Betty review various milestones in their relationship:

“What’d we do for your birthday two years ago?”

“Rented ‘An Officer and a Gentleman.’ ”

“What did we eat on our first date?”

“Sizzler.”

That’s so duh that you’ve got to smile. But it takes enormous theatrical skill to sustain two hours of drift on the stage, and the skill rate here isn’t that high. Even the good actors in this play (Robin Ginsburg, Lee Kissman, Wayne Grace) don’t show up well.

R. S. Hoyes’ lighting scheme and the uncredited projections provide some interest. “The Curse of Bigness” plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. through June 27, Wall and Boyd streets, (213) 629-2205.