Theater Review : Direction Murders ‘Musical Comedy’

The essence of good comedy, that is, classy comedy, is the dead serious reality with which it is performed.

*

John Bishop’s “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” at Saddleback College’s McKinney Theatre, is such a classy comedy. It was hilarious when first produced at Manhattan’s Circle Repertory, a production that soon moved to Broadway. Bishop’s sendup of all those murder-mystery comedies of the late ‘30s and early ‘40s is impeccably written, like a piece of music requiring fine timing and honest characterizations.

The plot is simple. Theatrical angel Elsa Von Grossenknueten is holding a backers’ audition in her home at Chappaqua, N.Y., for a new musical. Those she has gathered include people involved in a prior show, during which three chorus girls were murdered.

The audition is a sham, actually an attempt to lure the killer into the open. The action is fast and furious, and no one turns out to be who we think they are. Spies lurk with incognito cops and, of course, the actual killer. Theatrical inside jokes abound, including slams at the locale, where in real life playwright Bishop lives.

It all goes way over the head of director Patrick J. Fennell, from the style of the genre to the sense of reality required to a recognition of where the laughs are. Fennell has a gorgeously spooky period set, designed by Walter B. Huntoon, excellent lighting and sound design by Kevin A. Cook and fairly appropriate costumes by Charles M. Castagno. But that’s all he has.

Some of the cast might look better under other direction. A few look and act as though they’re human and have some sense: Mike Jensen, as a New York City cop who is in on the sham; Gary Halbert, as an Irish actor; Anne Jensen as an ambitious chorine; Stephen Flores as a struggling comic; Ana Santos as the hostess, and substitute James Gilson as the German maid.

The rest of the cast is a mess. They overact outrageously, have no restraint and have a juvenile sense of what comedy should be. Thomas Baba gives a particularly offensive impression of a mincing homosexual as one half of the writing team.

There are only rare laughs in this production. At Sunday’s matinee, a voice from behind noted one couple leaving during the first act. “Well, there go the first two.” About one-third of the remaining audience walked sullenly to its cars during intermission.

* “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. Tonight and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. Ends Sunday. $8. (714) 582-4656. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes. Ana Santos: Elsa Von Grossenknueten

Mike Jensen: Michael Kelly

Gary Halbert: Patrick O’Reilly

Mark Gavranovic: Ken De La Maize

Anne Jensen: Nikki Crandall

Stephen Flores: Eddie McCuen

JoAnn Zettel: Marjorie Baverstock

Thomas Baba: Roger Hopewell

Debbie Zavicor: Bernice Roth

James Gilson: Dieter Wenzel

Angela Fair: Helsa Wenzel

A Saddleback College Department of Theatre Arts production of John Bishop’s comedy. Directed by Patrick J. Fennell. Scenic design: Walter B. Huntoon. Lighting/sound design: Kevin A. Cook. Costume design: Charles M. Castagno. Stage manager: Theresa Pantoja.