THEATER REVIEW : Le Petit’s ‘Merci Maurice’: Charming but Tame Outing

Gustav Vintas’ song and spiel solo “Merci Maurice” at Le Petit Theatre conveys some of the charm of, and the lore surrounding, the legendary entertainer Maurice Chevalier. But c’est not quite magnifique.

Accompanied by musical director Judy Balsam, the semi-chilly Vintas takes us through a string of 25 decently sung Chevalier tunes in both French and English, splicing the story of the singer’s life in-between the numbers. The narrative is utterly straightforward--of the he-did-this, he-did-that variety--but that’s only a minor loss, especially since the troubled Parisian’s life was so colorful that it doesn’t need embellishment.

Vintas is mostly in character as Chevalier when he’s singing, and mostly out of the Chevalier character when he’s telling the performer’s life story. Yet there’s little difference between the Chevalier and the narrator personas. More contrast between the guises would not only better illustrate Chevalier’s genius, it would also help showcase Vintas’ performing skills.

Vintas wisely underplays his hand with this material. Although the temptation would be to indulge in one of those drippingly saccharine Chevalier imitations often sighted at post-baby boomer New Year’s soirees, Vintas chooses instead to merely suggest the outlines of the singer’s style. He also keeps the Chevalier biography sketchy enough that we’re left curious about the rest.

Still, the overall format is so pat and uninventive and the treatment so tame that “Merci Maurice,” stiffly directed by Mark Madama, often feels like a lesson. It’s just missing that certain je ne sais quoi .

* “Merci Maurice,” Le Petit Theatre, Hotel Sofitel, 8555 Beverly Blvd., Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Runs indefinitely. $15. (310) 278-5444, ext. 7777. Running time: 1 hour, 20 minutes.