Far From a Fine ‘Romance/Romance’

“Romance/Romance” at the International City Theatre is more likely to make you gag than swoon.

A double-header of namby-pamby musicals by Barry Harman and Keith Hermann, the two stories are linked only because they’re both about attractions. But these are both flings that should be flung. Far away.

Act 1, “The Little Comedy,” is based on an Arthur Schnitzler tale of two monied turn-of-the-century Vienners (Chuck Rosen, Susan Hoffmann) who go slumming in their best bohemian rags, on the lookout for love. They just happen to find each other while in disguise.

Act 2 is even more trite and contrived. It’s set in the Hamptons in the 1980s, where two yuppie couples (Rosen and Laura Akard; Hoffman and John Sovec) have taken a time-share condo on the beach.

Husband A wants Wife B, of course, and they spend the whole play yammering about it. But if this tedious--not to mention emotionally dishonest--riff doesn’t put the kibosh on any and all passions, it’s hard to say what would.

At least there’s a standout male lead, rich-voiced Rosen, who gets a few decent showcase numbers out of this whole sordid little affair. His pitch-perfect musical theater demeanor rises above the material, particularly in Act 1. But his fellow cast members aren’t so lucky. And director caryn morse has done little to fill in the gaps.

* “Romance/Romance,” International City Theatre, Long Beach City College, Clark and Harvey Way, Long Beach. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays 2 and 7 p.m. Ends Feb. 20. $16. (310) 420-4128 or (213) 480-3232. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.