‘Hunting’ Shows Unlikely Reunion

Eventually we become accustomed to the constant barrage of inconsequential noise in our daily lives, yet this white noise still causes mental stress. Richard Thompson’s “Hunting Humans” is just that--an annoying, mechanical whine that gives relief only when turned off. This West Coast Ensemble production begins with a tense boisterousness of boys verbally sparring and builds to more shouting and more boy-to-boy vociferousness until we are finally all too thankful for the silence.

Thompson’s drama has four old friends reunited in an Atlantic City casino at the invitation of the legendary Gin Rickey, who has recently died. They are paranoid druggie doctor Rev (Frankie Como); the financial advisor who has gambled away his clients’ money, Jay-Mac (Robert Gantzos); the chubby aspiring actor who was briefly famous as a curiosity, Lump (Jerry Kernion); and the mob hit man, Fick (Michael Cole Dinelli). Are all doomed losers remembering a better time and fearful of the present.

With the exception of Fick, the characters are played for laughs and with a complete disregard for logic. Rev and Jay-Mac, both white-collar professionals, sound completely uneducated. Would these ambitious men have given Lump the time of day in the hierarchical high school world, let alone in post-undergrad days? Unlikely.

Claudia Jaffee directs this piece with a straightforward bulldozer mentality. Fitting, but not worth the effort.

* “Hunting Humans,” West Coast Ensemble, 522 N. La Brea, Los Angeles. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends March 29. $18. (213) 525-0022. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.