Lesbian Acts of Love and Bad Romance

Sometimes one has to stick it out through mostly boring but mildly amusing conversations before getting to have some fun. Celebration Theatre’s evening of two one-acts, the first production of the Lesbian Theatre Initiative, is like that.

The first one-act, Patti R. Miller’s “Conversations With Lola,” has some funny bits but is predictable in its rather illogical conclusion. Two lesbian friends--Lola (Sabrina Artel), an actress who plays a nurse on a soap opera, and her older, script-writing friend Maude (Marian Jones)--try to decide whether to preserve their friendship or become lovers.

Although we are told of their mutual desire, the chemistry is remedial romance novel. Instead of the good-girl meets bad-boy, it’s good-girl meets bad-girl. Lesbian slut desires reliable, conservative good-girl so good-girl can convert slut to good-girl. Nice fairy tale, but director Gillian Brashear does nothing to make us believe it should fly.

Better is the matching of wits in Pamela Forrest’s “Valsetz,” as the no-nonsense, homespun widow Mrs. Underwood (Patricia Place) temporarily shelters a successful film producer Caroline (Joanna Daniels). Taking a shortcut, Caroline finds her car stuck in the mud in Valsetz, Ore., a town so small AAA can’t find it on a map. As director, Forrest strikes the right balance between the self-important but ever-so-closeted Caroline and the deadpan delivery of Mrs. Underwood, who understands much more than Caroline realizes.

Daniels is fun as the panicked Angeleno trapped in a cabin without a phone or TV, and Place shines as the good-natured widow who beams with affection when speaking of her deceased husband.

BE THERE

“Conversations With Lola” and “Valsetz,” Celebration Theatre, 7051 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Saturdays, Mondays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 5 and 8 p.m. Ends Dec. 22. $15-$20. (213) 857-8085. Running time: 2 hours.