‘Mountains’: Light Approach to Life, Death

“The truth is a concept made by people who couldn’t lie so well,” proclaims Alan Wilson (Chris Thomas) in “Mountains,” at the Colony Studio Theatre. In theory, this comedy-drama attempts to explore the gray areas of love and life, and the audience, as the jury, is supposed to dig for the truth. Yet for all the amusing and slick dialogue and intricate but smoothly handled flashback scenes, Rick Garman’s new play is more comedy than drama, light food for little thought in this handsome production.

Alan has admitted helping his AIDS-afflicted lover, best-selling novelist Corey Daniels (Jack Armstrong), to commit suicide when Corey’s problems crossed the line of acceptability. The assistant D.A., the hissable Pritchett Monroe III (Tim O’Hare), hopes this high-profile murder case will give him a career boost, but his girlfriend and assistant, Amanda (Stacey Scotte), has nagging doubts that eventually extend to Pritchett himself. Complications involve Corey’s ex-wife Elaine (Susan Savage) and Elaine’s former therapist and Alan’s best friend, radio psychologist Alison McCray (Ursula Martin).

Garman has scripted Pritchett to be so unredeemingly bombastic and the vulturous press so simplistic that while this piece may have a neat conclusion, it lacks dramatic tension and plausibility. If the lawyers draw conclusions based on court testimony, surely the unseen but insatiable reporters are not all operating on dim lights.

Director Scott Segall upholds the lightness; the cast handles both the light banter and the graver moments well, although Savage’s character seems to change--from a no-nonsense power-suit woman to a weak frump, in manner and appearance--at the whim of a plot device. Martin anchors the show with her rich portrayal of a professional woman whom everyone depends upon.

This play gets serious but never ugly. Perhaps this will make it more palatable, but isn’t the concept of “bowing out gracefully” about avoidance of the hideous torment of disease?

* “Mountains,” Colony Studio Theatre, 1944 Riverside Drive, Silver Lake. Mondays-Tuesdays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends July 22. $10. (213) 665-3011. Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes.