STAGE REVIEW : ‘Engagements’ Gets Tangled in the Prosaic

The problem with the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse’s treatment of Bernard Slade’s “Return Engagements” is it never unravels itself.

The problem seems to be that so much energy is spent making this play more profound than it really is. For starters, there is nothing particularly compelling about the material. It consists of six vignettes spread over 23 years, in which a group of characters become entangled in stereotypical relationships; of course, the circle widens, and all come together at the end.

Director Pati Tambellini puts the focus on the same drab room, made over after each scene change. Though fraught with potential, this conceit suffers from misguided performances. Raymond MacKay (Brett Robinson), a bellhop at the inn, is too gawky even for a virgin. He is introduced to the audience on the morning after his one-night stand with aspiring actress Daisy Lawrence (Robin Dunne)--on the eve of her wedding. Although her character also is an actress, Dunne overplays her role as an overly ambitious bitch.

Guess what happens? Daisy achieves at least part of the fame she desires, Raymond comes to own the inn and they get married. Gee whiz.

Keith B. Lewis is too stage conscious in his role as Oliver Edwards, a pompous and arrogant writer. He comes to the inn to see a play with his soon-to-be-former-wife, Fern (Ellen Treanor). Guess what? Oliver and Fern’s affair-mates--Henry Metcalf (Richard Cabin) and Dawn Hammond (Marla K. White)--themselves have an affair and get married!

The play has the illusion of movement, of action: The characters age, at least physically, but the story does not move. Even the upbeat music, chosen to carry along the action, gets warbled at times.

It is clear what this play is meant to be: an inoffensive pastel comedy with a predictable ending. At its best, it would have been as briefly refreshing as a mountain breeze blowing through that drab room’s window. Instead, the play is about as entertaining as a postcard’s sappy platitudes.

‘RETURN ENGAGEMENTS’

A Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse Production of the Bernard Slade play. Directed by Pati Tambellini. With Robin Dunne, Brett Robinson, Julie Chavez, Steve Sturm, Keith B. Lewis, Ellen Treanor, Richard Cabin, Marla K. White. Producers: Gary Halbert and Eleanor Rey. Technical Director: Eric Person. Set Design: Eric Person. Sound Design: Dave Sharp. Lighting Design: Eric Person. Plays Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Through March 10. Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse, 661 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa. Tickets: $6 to $9. (714) 650-5269.