‘Reality’ Shows Writer’s Promise

In the decade after their college graduation, four idealistic women find they have to scale back their dreams of world conquest to make room for “Reality and Other Nightmares.”

Hardly uncharted territory--there aren’t many surprises in this amiable but slight new play by Victoria Karess that owes more than a passing nod to Wendy Wasserstein’s generational chronicles.

Implicitly acknowledging its genre, the production at Theatre Geo features Wendie Jo Sperber (recently seen in Wasserstein’s “Isn’t It Romantic?” at the Pasadena Playhouse) at the top of her outrageous, caustic and neurotic form as the incurable flirt who forsakes her passion for publishing to become a lawyer.

Content with an episodic structure of four loosely interlocking stories that never really coalesce, the play deals predictably with familiar modern dilemmas (career choices, sexual orientation, parental domination, etc.).

But a willingness to poke fun at itself helps “Reality” sidestep the overly precious self-importance that often undermines Wasserstein’s introspective works.

Deborah LaVine’s lively, slapstick-filled direction steers her appealing cast through their turbulent crises with considerable charm. And Karess’ obvious flair for smart, hilarious dialogue holds great promise, although this embryonic effort hasn’t gotten beyond mistaking lifestyles for lives.

Then again, neither has our entire culture.

* “Reality and Other Nightmares,” Theatre Geo, 1229 N. Highland, Hollywood. Thursdays-Sundays, 8 p.m. Ends June 26. $15. (213) 466-1767. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.