Hits and Misses in ‘Maile Flanagan’s’

“Maile Flanagan’s One-Woman Sound of Music” at the St. Genesius is nothing less than what it seems--and unfortunately nothing more.

Flanagan, one of the talented cast in Theater 911’s “Bad Seed,” races through all the roles and vents her spleen at the sappiness in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical, which lord knows is certainly a ripe target for satire.

She achieves some inspired moments with the most squalid characters--the drunken, lecherous Captain von Trapp and his brood of insufferably perky offspring (the youngest, a pre-verbal grunting piglet, is a gem). She’s also adept with the nuns, hunching into a makeshift habit formed out of her denim shirt.

It’s easy enough to throw mud on lace curtains, but one of the keys to successful satire is that the performer demonstrates talents equal to those of the target. When “Forbidden Broadway/Hollywood” tackles Julie Andrews, you can bet the singer will be just as good a vocalist. Flanagan isn’t in that league, and the one-note joke is too often undermined by an aftertaste of sour grapes.

* “Maile Flanagan’s One-Woman Sound of Music,” St. Genesius Theatre, 1049 N. Havenhurst, West Hollywood. Thursdays-Sundays, 8 p.m. Ends Feb. 25. $12. (213) 660-8587. Running time: 55 minutes.