Reading and Remembering Gilda

The Scene: L.A.’s glitterary elite turned out en masse at the Westwood Playhouse on Thursday for the staged reading-cum-publication party for “Bunny Bunny,” writer Alan Zweibel’s memories of his 14-year friendship with the late comedian and original “Saturday Night Live” star Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer five years ago.

“It was a necessary kind of therapy for me,” Zweibel, one of the original SNL writers and a four-time Emmy winner, told the audience. “I wrote in dialogue because it’s more intimate that way, plus I’m not that good at grammar and punctuation.”

The staged reading of “Bunny Bunny” featured “Seinfeld” co-stars Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Zweibel and Radner.

Who Was There: The performance drew more than 400 people, with no shortage of industry heavies. In addition to Zweibel and the cast and hosts James L. Brooks, Bernie Brillstein and People Weekly President Ann Moore, the event drew Carl and Rob Reiner, SNL alumni Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Jon Lovitz, Billy Crystal and Mary Gross plus Garry Shandling, Teri Garr, Steve Guttenberg and erstwhile mega-gold-medalist Mark Spitz.

What They Wore: Despite the “casual dress” code, the turnout was heavy on suits and power ties for men and evening dresses for the ladies.

Chow: Following the reading, guests feasted on a prime rib, grilled swordfish, jicama salad and other haute cuisine goodies, and a dessert tray laden with fresh fruit and such baked treats as chocolate-bunny-topped caramel praline cakes.

Overheard: “What? You actually own ICM?” one schmoozer was heard to exclaim. “My god, you’re a real player. What’s your name?”

Tip for Strasberg Graduates: “I didn’t go about playing Gilda Radner,” said Louis-Dreyfus. “I went about playing this person named Gilda. I approached it like one would approach any character in a play. I don’t think if it as doing her even though we all know it’s her. I think of it as doing a piece of theater.”

Quoted: “I loved Gilda Radner and I knew her very well,” said actor-writer-comedian Carl Reiner, after the performance. “When she left five years ago, it was much too soon. And we miss her. And she was brought back to life again in a most marvelous way by two actors who understood her and Alan Zweibel who wrote this as a tribute to her. It was a totally honest piece of work.”

Money Matters: In total, $52,000 was raised for Gilda’s Club--a group of nonprofit, non-residential centers (scheduled to begin opening in cities nationwide next winter) that will provide psychological and social support communities for cancer patients and their families. All proceeds from sales of the book will go to Gilda’s Club as well.