THEATER REVIEW ‘COASTAL DISTURBANCES’ : Rough Sailing : The Santa Paula Theater Center production is no ‘Beach Blanket Bingo,’ but it is big on sand.

With its current production of Tina Howe’s “Coastal Disturbances,” the Santa Paula Theater Center offers something a bit off the commercial mainstream.

The author’s body of work is clearly experimental; her earlier “Museum” featured paintings that watch people, and the subject of the acclaimed “Painting Churches” was a family of Boston artists--the Churches. “Coastal Disturbances,” which debuted on Broadway during the 1986-87 season, deals with people of several generations who meet on a private Massachusetts beach while vacationing during the summer.

“Coastal Disturbances” takes on the theme of love in a gentle way--which turns out to be less than involving, no matter how nicely presented. The main conflict comes as a surprise well into the play, and sort of dribbles off into what many in the audience might find an unsatisfying resolution.

Alice Cunningham plays flighty young photographer Holly, attempting to recover from an unfulfilling relationship when she meets Leo (Jon Beauregard), a handsome lifeguard who’s also on the rebound. Other visitors to the beach include an older, long-married couple (Pat Gebhard and Ken Johnson), two former college roommates (Karen Collins and Jody Quinby Kasch) and their children (Erin Lires and Matt Plomell, respectively), and Andre (Jeff Garcia), whose role in these proceedings leads to the show’s big surprise.

Sloppily constructed, the play includes setups for two possible subplots--an earlier death on the beach and the fact that Kasch’s sardonic character is “just back from the funny farm”--that are never followed up.

“Beach Blanket Bingo” this isn’t, though there is the possibility of Holly and Leo creating some sparks under a blanket.

For better or worse, most of the play finds the kids acting like brats (always an invigorating theatrical experience, something you never get enough of at home) or various combinations of people sitting around talking. And when these women talk, it sounds more than a little like those commercials where a couple of old friends reminisce over a cup of artificially flavored instant coffee. Lifelike? Maybe. Insightful? To some, perhaps. Interesting? Well . . .

Director Joe De Guglielmo and his talented cast make what they can out of the proceedings, and the players are uniformly talented--even the lifeguard shows some dimension, which is no easy accomplishment. And one scene with Holly trying to hide under a blanket is exceptionally well done.

Willy Eck’s stage set features so much sand that you can imagine at least some of it becoming a permanent addition to the Santa Paula Theater Center stage--not to mention the actors’ hair, toenails, etc.

WHERE AND WHEN

“Coastal Disturbances” continues through May 3 at the Santa Paul Theater Center, 125 S. 7th St., Santa Paula. Performances are Thursday through Saturday nights at 8, with Sunday matinees at 2. Reserved-seat tickets are $12.50; $11 for seniors and students. For reservations or further information, call 525-4645.