THEATER REVIEWS : A Powerful Attraction : One of the strengths of ‘Prelude to a Kiss’ at Rancho Santiago College is the perfect balance achieved by the young lovers.

Craig Lucas’ “Prelude to a Kiss” is a story play rather than a play based on character. Actually it’s a sort of modern fairy tale, simple in its structure and in its approach to its subject of one personality accidentally switching bodies with another and their struggle to effect a return trip.

The play’s value depends on how much depth and color the actors in the central roles add to the sketchy forms Lucas has given them. In her production at Rancho Santiago College, director Sheryl Donchey solves that problem in her casting of the three leads.

If some members of the ensemble are too young for the small roles they double in, if Chuck Ketter’s setting looks as though it were tossed together from several other productions, Donchey’s staging is crisp and fluid, with the tightness of rapidly shifting rhythms that comedy requires, and a worthy attention to the inner lives of the protagonists.

Peter (Damon Carr) and Rita (Ryan Larson), typical Manhattan denizens of Lucas’ ‘80s wanna-be yuppie world meet and fall in love at first sight. He’s manager of a microfiche publishing company, she’s a bartender with dreams of being a graphic artist. The attraction is powerful, and within weeks Peter has met her folks in New Jersey. They plan to marry.

It’s at the wedding that the switch takes place. An elderly stranger asks to kiss the bride, a heavenly light enfolds them, and-- POW!-- Rita is in the old man’s body and he’s in hers. The expected misinterpretations and often triple- entendre gags proliferate until the equally expected happy-ever-after resolution.

The charm of this staging is in part in the warm, almost cuddly performance of Ralph Richmond as Becker, the Old Man, while Rita resides behind his whiskers in his terminally ill body. Richmond as Rita is totally honest and makes the improbable believable.

Larson accomplishes the same feat as Rita housing the old gent’s somewhat crusty insistence on staying right where he is.

But the strength here lies primarily in the perfect balance achieved by Larson and Carr as the young lovers before the switch and Carr’s reactions when he realizes that Rita is not, well, Rita.

There is no doubt whatsoever that this Peter and Rita are totally enraptured with each other, particularly in their early courtship scenes, when the electricity sparkles almost as much as their timing.

Michael Dennick gives a fine light touch to the role of Taylor, Peter’s co-worker, best friend and best man. Lisa Beil and James Rice are also strong as Rita’s parents. All three have a good handle on the style of Lucas’ writing.

* “Prelude to a Kiss,” Phillips Hall Little Theatre West, Rancho Santiago College, 1530 W. 17th St., Santa Ana. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Ends Sunday. $6 to $8. (714) 564-5661. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.

Damon Carr: Peter

Ryan Larson: Rita

Ralph Richmond: Old Man

James Rice: Dr. Boyle

Lisa Beil: Mrs. Boyle

Michael Dennick: Taylor

A Rancho Santiago College production of Craig Lucas’ comedy. Directed by Sheryl Donchey. Scenic design: Chuck Ketter. Costume design: Laura Deremer Bonsall. Lighting design: D. Silvio Volonte. Sound design: Justus Matthews. Makeup design: Barbara Matthews. Production stage manager: Alex Saltzman.