Fuzzy Focus Dims Impact of ‘Sophistry’

Despite its pretentious title, “Sophistry” is not a pretentious play. It’s far too confused to put on airs.

Produced by Buffalo Nights Theatre Company at the Lost Studio, Jonathan Marc Sherman’s script can’t decide which it wants to be: a sober study of sexual harassment in academia, a la David Mamet’s “Oleanna,” or a zany slice of Gen X life, a la TV’s “Friends.” Unfortunately, its feints in either direction hold little promise.

Whitey McCoy (Ron Morasco) is a gay philosophy professor accused of sexually harassing Jack (Michael Goorjian), a troubled student. To demonstrate that two people can react to the same events in opposite ways, Sherman unfurls highly subjective flashbacks of the alleged crime (“Rashomon,” anyone?), along with the de rigueur legal war between Whitey and a hidebound administrator (Dani Thompson).

But as it wears on, the play grows increasingly distracted by the dorm antics of Whitey’s student defender, Xavier Reynolds (Marco Sanchez), his humorless girlfriend Robin (Lisa Rotondi) and his obnoxious pals Willy and Igor (Kevin Weisman and Jeff Maynard). While fitfully amusing, it’s all pointless in light of the harassment theme; Sherman strains for resolution at the final curtain but leaves more unanswered questions than one of Willy’s philosophy midterms.

Morasco is a terrific actor; cool yet passionate, as believable as the script permits. But neither he nor the other cast members in director Gibson Frazier’s halting production can compensate for the play’s lack of focus. The viewer leaves the play with no deeper insight into sexual harassment, college social life or what kind of parents would name their child Igor.

* “Sophistry,” Lost Studio, 130 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Dec. 9. $15. (213) 660-8587. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.