‘Lettice and Lovage’: Melody of Self-Determination

Peter Shaffer has never written a dull play in his life. Not only are they totally entertaining with something of import to say, they are also written like pieces of music. Shaffer readily admits to the musical analogy. If fact, he once wanted to be a composer.

That’s especially evident in 1987’s “Lettice and Lovage,” at the Long Beach Studio Theatre. It begins with a scene repeated, like a melodic theme restated, with slight variations. On each tour of Fustian House, in Wiltshire, England, the tour guide is Lettice Douffet (Amy Larson), daughter of a rather outlandish actress. She has inherited her mother’s uncontrollable theatrical sensibility and is, to top it off, an ultimate romancer.

Each tour becomes more daring, more inventive, more outrageous, until one tourist reveals she is Miss Charlotte Schoen (Jo Black-Jacob) of the Preservation Trust, which controls the Fustian property. She is far from pleased with Lettice’s style and her loose way with historical fact.

But it’s all a setup for the development of a rich and fulfilling friendship between Lettice and Charlotte, whose disparate personalities allow Shaffer to make his statements about the importance of being your true self. The play also inveighs a bit about the abysmal taste evidenced in late 20th century architecture.

Shaffer’s play leans toward being talky, but it’s absorbing and usually very funny talk in Darlene Hunter-Chaffee’s staging. Her tempos are crisp, and she has a nice feel for the musical rhythms Shaffer interweaves throughout the action.

The play’s effect rests solely in the hands of the actress playing Lettice, and Larson is capable of some interesting theatrical legerdemain as she romps through Shaffer’s paean to individuality. She’s brash, kinetic and understands how delicate Shaffer’s dialogue can be, even at its peaks.

*

Black-Jacob as Charlotte is a good match for Larson’s Lettice, starchy and uptight at first, then slowly allowing a buoyant sense of humor to play around her pursed lips, and finally almost matching Lettice’s high spirits.

Daria Balling is charming and amusing as Charlotte’s dumb, incapable secretary, and Greg Bernet couldn’t be better as the solicitor the court has appointed to defend Lettice for the attempted murder of Charlotte with a headsman’s ax. His comic presence is impressive, especially as counterpoint to Larson’s performance.

The attempted murder? Wouldn’t give that twist away for all the lovage (it’s an herbal potion) in the quaff Lettice uses to get Charlotte tipsy.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Lettice and Lovage

* “Lettice and Lovage,” Studio Theatre, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m. Ends Saturday. $10-$15. (562) 494-1616. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes.

Amy Larson: Miss Lettice Douffet

Jo Black-Jacob: Miss Charlotte Schoen

Daria Balling: Miss Framer

Greg Bernet: Mr. Bardolph/A Surly Man

A Long Beach Playhouse production of Peter Shaffer’s comedy. Directed by Darlene Hunter-Chaffee. Scenic design: Michael Keith Allen. Lighting design: Wallace M. Weatherspoon Jr. Costume design: Donna Fritsche. Sound design: Hunter-Chaffee, Bob Chaffee. Stage manager: Kathleen Rainey.