‘Just Like Home’ a Look at Friendship

Zeitgeist Theatre Company, which recently took over and renovated the old Burbage Theatre in West Los Angeles, has comfortably settled in with John Benjamin Martin’s “Just Like Home,” a bittersweet, finely crafted rumination on friendship and love.

Writer-director-actor Martin delivers a creditable slice-of-life from a fictional Los Angeles tavern, where the barflies’ endless insults and sexual braggadocio mask their deeper needs for shelter and a sense of belonging. The facade is fine for bartender Tommy (the Jackie Gleason-esque Johnny (Roastbeef) Williams) or wisecracking cab driver Louie (Boyd Holister), but lovelorn librarian Jack (Martin) is past the point of pretending.

While the play stalls in spots and takes too long to get rolling, Martin’s grasp of character is assured and ultimately makes the piece irresistible. The ensemble succeeds in fleshing out these motley characters, from Kerry Stein’s milquetoast Chetly to Julia Rhoda’s tentative, philandering Debbie.

Sidney Wickersham’s set--which includes an impressive array of neon lights advertising various beers and liquors--looks so comfortably authentic you almost expect to run into a friend at the bar.

* “Just Like Home,” Zeitgeist Theatre Company, 2330 Sawtelle Blvd., West Los Angeles. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends June 3. $15. (310) 444-1867. Running time: 2 hours, 5 minutes.