THEATER REVIEW : Drawing on ‘Memory Tricks’ for Colorful Cast of Characters

Marga Gomez’s mother believed in perfume, high heels and all things French. But most of all, she believed in the mother-daughter connection.

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Gomez grew up to be a witty comic who makes fun of her mother’s fancy accouterments. But by the end of her “Memory Tricks,” at Highways, we see that the mother-daughter connection is, if anything, stronger than ever.

A larger Los Angeles audience got a taste of Gomez’s memories when she appeared in “Carpa Clash” with Culture Clash, at the Mark Taper Forum in December. In contrast to that show’s lavish production values, this one consists of Gomez, a park bench, and a few lighting and sound cues.

It couldn’t be simpler--or more accessible. Gomez eases into her reminiscence with the patter of a stand-up comic. Her mother’s ultra-feminine ways were ripe for comedy, and Gomez’s sharp timing extracts every laugh.

At times her mother, who was an exotic dancer on the Spanish-language stage in New York, begins to sound like a Charo-like stereotype.

Without preaching about it, Gomez paints a picture of a woman who was obsessed with her appearance, only to be stricken with Alzheimer’s at a relatively early age. This is where the laughs become grim, but it’s also where the strength of the mother-daughter bond becomes apparent.

However, it’s also clear that Gomez’s mother was strong on her own terms, as well. She made deals, rigorously discouraged crying and walked out on two husbands. She even chose to disappear for months in Paris, prompting the adult Gomez to go in search of her. We never find out what exactly happened over there. Gomez takes care not to reduce her mother’s story to a psychological case study.

Gomez also does cameos of her father, of a particularly memorable neighbor and of a number of assorted acquaintances and strangers. It’s a vital gallery of characters, but the emphasis on her mother makes it all cohere. We eagerly await more Gomez stories about the other people in her life.

Roberta Levitow directed, and David Ford shared Gomez’s “developed by” credit.

* “Memory Tricks,” Highways, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica. Wednesdays-Sundays, 8:30 p.m.; Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Ends April 17. $12-$15. (213) 660-8587. Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes.