‘Godfather’ Makes an Interesting Offer

In “The Godfather Workout” at Theatre East, Seth Isler parlayed an actor’s obsession with the great performances in Francis Ford Coppola’s mob epic into an energetic and often amusing solo piece.

Re-creating selected scenes by playing all the parts, Isler is at his funniest vaulting over tables or leaping across the stage just to deliver a single line--or sometimes just a shrug.

Still, it’s a lot of work for a premise that wears thin pretty fast (mercifully, a self-indulgent “Making of . . .” video parody shown on the opening weekend has been dropped). Isler’s impersonations aren’t especially convincing either--his Marlon Brando and James Caan evoke only the rough outlines. Ironically, his best impression is the deadpan Robert Duvall.

Instead, Isler and director Ron Drewes sustain interest primarily by peppering the show with fine sight gags and inside jokes--like the don stroking his hand puppet cat or lapsing into dialogue from “On the Waterfront.”

Those who share Isler’s fascination with the movie--or simply like to see actors sweat--will relish the effort, though a parody more than 20 years after the original is hardly an urgent proposition.

* “The Godfather Workout,” Theatre East, 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends Nov. 17. $15. (310) 392-3837 or (818) 238-2068. Running time: 2 hours.