Flipside Comedy’s Skits Poke Fun at L.A., but Lack Timing, Polish

For their third sketch comedy show, the Flipside Players have turned their attentions toward their hometown and its showbiz-related dysfunctions.

“The Flipside of L.A.,” at the Lionstar Theatre through Dec. 27, is a 90-minute send-up of our city that cuts close to the bone. Los Angeles does often seem to be a city of aspirants: bartenders who want to be actors, losers who want to be screenwriters, average Joes who want fame, fortune, a moment of glory or an ounce of respect.

The show starts out shakily with “Over the Hill,” the most localized skit of all. In it, a married couple, played by Peter Gardner and Sheri Hellard, grapple with a crisis: the husband must go to West L.A. from the Valley. Says Gardner: “The meeting is at 3, it’ll last a couple of hours . . . I should be back by dawn.”

Certainly the line hits home for any of us who have pondered a trip to LAX from Van Nuys, but the skit--and others like it--outlasted its humor by a critical minute or so.

The performers are, for the most part, fine. Director David Lovejoy--though hilarious as an actor performing in two skits--needs to fine-tune the whole program. During the show, which has already run for six weeks, it often feels as if the actors haven’t performed in front of an audience before.

Each sketch was based on a great concept, but the jokes didn’t rise to the occasion.

Written and performed by Brian Bookbinder, “International Airport Bartender” was a close miss. Bookbinder is completely engaging as a bartender imitating patrons. His expressions and accents--British, Irish, German and Australian--get a chuckle, but each character’s monologue is flat.

Lovejoy managed best with his own material, such as “Cholo Infomercial.” In it, a very WASPish Eric LaScala tries to get in touch with his inner Cholo. Lovejoy guides him with advice on “turning what you’ve already got into a source of intimidation.” He makes up a gang sign, spelling out SCFVL with his hands--for Studio City Flats Vatos Locos--and sells a series of tapes and outfits through his toll-free number, 1-800 I’M CHOLO.

Yet the whole program was stretched to fill 90 minutes--a lot by modern comedy standards. As the 19th-century actor Edmund Kean said: Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.

BE THERE

“The Flipside of L.A.” at the Lionstar Theatre, 12655 Ventura Blvd., above Jerry’s Famous Deli. Friday-Saturday at 8:30 p.m., through Dec. 27. (818) 868-2449.