THEATER REVIEW : Playhouse Plows New Ground to Serve Up Fresh ‘Tomatoes’

The oldest active community theater in the San Gabriel Valley, the Sierra Madre Playhouse, has been drawing a consistent stream of primarily elderly theatergoers since its inaugural season 15 years ago.

From that first season, the playhouse learned what its audiences wanted to see. With some exceptions, that meant revivals such as “Dames at Sea,” “Dinner at Eight,” “Golden Boy” and “Mornings at Seven,” to mention just a sample.

As with most community theaters that steer away from producing anything original because it’s too big a gamble, the popular chestnuts have the advantage of triggering a reservoir of warm audience memory. Besides, a decent production of “Bell, Book and Candle” or “Arsenic and Old Lace” can be a lot of fun.

But occasionally Playhouse producer Charles Andrese comes up with a completely unfamiliar play. In this latest case, playwright John Patrick (“Hasty Heart”) set his new comedy with the very strange title of “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” in 1973 (a time amusingly signaled by the costumes).

Set in a country village full of tomato fields and hayseeds in rural Beaver Haven, the action centers on a middle-aged, fading actress named Myra Marlowe (the vivacious, comely Susan Michael) who moves to Beaver Haven in order to find the privacy to write her memoirs.

Her only troubles are prying, nosy neighbors--among the more offensive, the loud, chattering just-invite-yourself-in Reba and Cora (Judy Johns and Heidi Motzkus) and a mystical healer (Marlene Bush).

Directed by Steven Fiorillo, other characters include the actress’s love-smitten, big-city agent (Tom Pesce), adorned in hilarious ‘70s bell-bottoms, checkered pants and wide shirt lapels.

Although Michael’s privacy-obsessed protagonist catches just the right pitch and tone to be lovable instead of tiresome, it’s Mark Gates as an amusing, baggy-overalled handyman named Piney who unquestionably runs away with the production. He takes a cliche-loaded part and makes it look fresh.

As for the play itself, it seems as thin as a wafer, the kind of fluff a veteran playwright like Patrick might have tossed off in a weekend. What redeems it, after an uneventful first act, is the charm of Michael and the winsome style of Gates in the principal roles, the imaginative wardrobe from costume designer Shon Le Blanc, and a certain, shall we say, love for farmers and tomatoes.

* “A Bad Year for Tomatoes,” Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday; matinees at 2:30 p.m. Sunday , May 21 and June 4. Through June 10. $9. (818) 355-4318. Running time: 2 hours.