STAGE REVIEW : ‘Blue Leaves’ Leaves Little Time for Character Study

John Guare’s “The House of Blue Leaves” thrives on its trove of wacky characters. New York eccentrics one and all, they tweak us with their crazy takes on life and each other.

But Guare’s black comedy, first produced in 1971, has always strived to be more than a fast tap dance of gags and goofy people. Underneath the garish surface lies desperation, and the humor is meant to be anchored by the weight of their uneasiness.

The trick is in locating a balance between the play’s undeniable zaniness and its equally undeniably heavier core (Guare described “Blue Leaves” as a marriage of Strindberg and Feydeau). At the Westminster Community Theatre, director Michael Ross doesn’t find it, opting too often for the play’s hysterics and riding a pace that leaves little room for us to reflect on just what Guare’s characters are all about.

The setting for “Blue Leaves” is 1965, at the time of Pope Paul VI’s visit to New York. While the city prepares to pay its respects, three oddballs living in Queens face his arrival in their own way.

There’s Artie (Bob Goff), a frustrated songwriter who dreams of creating musicals. He doesn’t really have faith in religion or the Pope but isn’t against having his sheet music blessed. Even divine intervention won’t help, though; his songs are really bad.

His one fan is Bunny (Sheri DeMieri), an unflappable and loud upstairs neighbor who shares not only his bed, but his status as an outsider, a loser. She wants to go with him to Hollywood and set up house. Delusional, Bunny thinks Artie can make it composing movie scores.

But what to do about Bananas (Laura Susan Black), Artie’s insane wife? She likes to act like a dog and can’t even dress herself. Bananas is hilarious, but also sad, even tragic. Just see what happens to her in the play’s shocking finale.

Despite the production’s frenetic sway, both Goff and Black are able to tap into some of what Artie and Bananas are about. Goff shows a hint of Artie’s lifelong frustration with himself that verges on self-loathing, and Black lets us see Bananas’ pain and obvious dignity, despite her cracked veneer.

DeMieri, however, keeps the pitch too high. Bunny is supposed to be clamorous, and DeMieri certainly makes her that. But there’s no respite that allows us to feel anything for her beyond amusement.

Continues Fridays and Saturdays through Feb. 9 at 8:30 p.m., with a performance at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 3, at 7272 Maple St., Westminster. Tickets: $5 to $7. (714) 527-8463.

‘THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES’

A Westminster Community Theatre production of John Guare’s play. Directed by Michael Ross. With Bob Goff, Mark Bommarito, Sheri DeMieri, Laura Susan Black, Margie Leggett, Judy Johnson, Jaye Wilson, Tracy J. Craig, Corjean Morrisette, Tony Swagler and Max Goldberg. Lighting by Chuck Benton. Set by Bronson. Costumes by Sharon Lingo. Plays Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. performance Feb. 3 through Feb. 9 at 7272 Maple St., Westminster. Tickets: $5 to $7. (714) 527-8463.