‘Marvin and Mel’ Tackles Ageism With Wit

The title characters of “Marvin and Mel” at Actors Alley in North Hollywood are two once-hot, middle-aged television writers who haven’t had a hit show, or even a pitch meeting, in a long time.

Network executives are looking for youth and this duo has everything but. Mel Weiner (Len Lesser) is a tireless funnyman whose gift of gag is somewhat undermined by his fragile ego. His 30-year partner Marvin Derbin (Greg Mullavey) is more reflective and sober, a recent widower who’s made a career of balancing Mel’s childish excess.

Shortly after getting dumped by their agent (Elliott Goldwag), the pair borrow a page from blacklisted screenwriters and begin working anonymously behind a front. In this case, the front takes the form of a young Latina, Marie Gomez (Karen Reed), who goes virtually overnight from delivering deli sandwiches to taking meetings at Disney.

George Tricker and Neil Rosen’s play offers a funny and remarkably unsentimental take on ageism in Hollywood, with some terrific jabs at industry egotism and betrayal. While the script is far from perfect--the middle section drags and Marie’s character seems under-drawn--it nevertheless sketches a convincing and highly sympathetic portrait of what is, for all purposes, a working marriage.

Director Jack Heller’s low-key production lets the nuanced performances shine. Mullavey is the very picture of wounded reserve as the stolid Marvin. But it’s Lesser’s Mel who steals the show, his mix of bouncy mirth and dark self-righteousness proving a potent blend.

* “Marvin and Mel,” Actors Alley at the El Portal, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends June 2. $16. (818) 508-4200. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.