‘Heavy Breathing’ Labors on Details

It’s no coincidence that the first half of “Heavy Breathing,” Scott Carter’s solo show at Theater at the Improv, is entitled “Remembrance of Things Porn.” A dapper and formidably articulate monologuist, Carter, executive producer of “Politically Incorrect,” displays a Proustian recollection for detail in his autobiographical reminiscences--sometimes to a fault.

Part 1 chronicles Carter’s early days in Los Angeles, writing for a pornographic publisher. Here, Carter comically juxtaposes his own almost prim intellectualism with his lurid outpourings as a “scum scribe.” In a more serious vein, “Miasma,” Part 2 of the piece, deals with Carter’s agonizing, sometimes life-threatening experiences as a severe asthmatic.

Under the direction of Jim Fyfe, who also helmed Carter’s companion monologue “Suspension Bridge,” now playing at the same theater, Carter satirically examines his past.

Carter’s emphasis on minutiae can dazzle: Near death in a hospital emergency room, Carter notices a distinctive tattoo on another patient. However, he also gets trapped in the specifics, especially in Part 2. His overly diligent recounting of four separate near-fatal attacks makes “Heavy Breathing” heavy going.

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* “Heavy Breathing,” Theater at the Improv, 8156 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. Fridays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 4 p.m. Ends Oct. 19. $15. (213) 651-2583, Ext. 176. Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes.