One-Act Plays Show a Swede Disposition

Brad Slaight’s pair of one-acts, “How Swede It Is!” at NoHo Actors’ Studio, puts a new wrinkle in that dubious institution, L.A. showcase theater. Both the opener, “Swedish Dominatrix,” and the post-intermission “Inga and the Rascal” require that actors convincingly play Swedish women.

Instead of finding an American, Slaight and director Tony Robinson are showcasing a Swede playing Swedes. Whether it’s a case of Slaight writing for tall, Nordic Julia Derek or of waiting for the right actor to come along, Derek’s presence gives the evening a definite accent.

“Dominatrix” is the slighter piece, but there’s nothing slight about Derek’s Mistress Lena, who comes on with a full-leather S&M; outfit cladding her Amazonian frame. This rightly intimidates Ryan, the customer (Slaight, whom Derek amusingly towers over).

Ryan seems to want some sort of kinky experience, then says he’s only doing “research” for a novel and finally confesses that he’s just split up with his wife. Lena is a little too malleable to this weakling’s various changes of heart, but the idea of a dominatrix turning into a marriage counselor is actually funny.

It’s hard, though, to judge Derek or Slaight as actors until the second piece, in which two finalists, Inga (Derek) and Dan (Slaight), are sitting on top of a Sunset Boulevard billboard as part of an FM radio contest.

Like “Dominatrix,” this is an ideal play situation where the characters aren’t going anywhere and are forced to deal with each other.

Dan, who comes off as a grump, would rather not deal with Inga, happy with her status as “a people person” and compelled to chat with Dan.

Slaight’s dialogue is much less arch in this piece and maintains the rhythm and nature of real conversation, which drifts toward a sense of self-discovery. In a brief time, this billboard exchange covers territory from the desires of immigrants to find a new life in America to the pains of failure felt by adults who once shone as child TV stars.

The most fun of this slight evening is watching Derek and Slaight change roles: She goes from a studied coldness as Lena to cheery sunniness as Inga, while he travels from Ryan’s poorly disguised insecurities to Dan’s buried bitterness.

The other pleasure has to be producer Mark Kadlec’s set, a single movable set piece that serves as an S&M; wall of torture on one side and a billboard on the other. How L.A. it is.

BE THERE

“How Swede It Is!” NoHo Actors’ Studio, 5215 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Dec. 18. $12. (310) 226-2830. Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes.