Underneath the Holiday Wrapping, ‘Light’ Shines

Jim Geoghan’s romantic comedy “Light Sensitive” could become the Theatre District’s annual holiday treat. The current production in Costa Mesa is the company’s third incarnation of the staging with the same cast.

“Light Sensitive” isn’t a seasonal play, except that the action takes place during the holidays--Act 1 just before Christmas, Act 2 on New Year’s Eve. What makes it a special holiday show is the feeling of optimism and hope throughout and the play’s feel-good ending.

Thomas Hanratty is a former cabby who has been blind for eight years. Bartender Lou D’Marco, partially responsible for the accident that blinded Tommy, has looked out for him all those years: read to him, run his errands and kept him company.

When Lou decides to leave New York for Maine with a new flame, he leaves Tommy with a volunteer from the Lighthouse for the Blind to check in on Tommy and read to him.

The entrance of plain, well-to-do Edna Miles into Tommy’s battle-scene of a Manhattan flat brings about change that Tommy didn’t figure on. Nor did Lou, who returns on New Year’s Eve, disenchanted with Maine and love. The new situation is at odds with Lou’s plans.

Playwright Geoghan’s sense of humor is rich and ribald, and his affection for these three lost souls is touching. The beautifully constructed play is full of insights into the human heart.

We each take a snapshot of the one we love in the beginning, Edna tells Lou, and that’s what they look like from then on. It doesn’t matter if she’s plain; Tommy will always think she’s beautiful. In fact, it is with an actual snapshot that their relationship eventually takes flight.

Director Mario Lescot sinks his teeth into this play, shaping it with unerring detail. The atmosphere is very much that of Hell’s Kitchen; the dynamics among the three characters are so Big Apple, and so honest, that it’s easy to forget this is a play.

At the core of the staging is David Rousseve’s intricate, many-colored performance as Hanratty, with intense attention to detail and subtext and totally believable quick flights of emotion, from dour moping to raucous peals of laughter. Rousseve captures with humor the varied attitudes brought on by his character’s blindness.

Karen Mangano, nowhere near as plain as Edna is supposed to be, is nevertheless a perfect balance for Rousseve’s Tommy, genuine, loving and with a completely different sense of humor, but one just as catching as his.

Steve McCammon is also grand as Lou, the bartender from New York’s “worst bar.” He’s as much a product of Hell’s Kitchen as is Tommy--rough, crude and full of delight.

Geoghan’s comedy tells us that it’s a wonderful life, as long as you leave yourself open for the unexpected, and that’s about as solid a holiday message as you can find.

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* “Light Sensitive,” Theatre District, 2930 Bristol St. (behind the Lab), Costa Mesa. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. Ends Sunday. $15-$20. (714) 435-4043. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes.

David Rousseve: Thomas Hanratty

Karen Mangano: Edna Miles

Steve McCammon: Lou D’Marco

A Theatre District production of Jim Geoghan’s romantic comedy. Directed by Mario Lescot. Scenic design: Two Blue Chairs Inc. Lighting design: Extended Visions. Sound design: Bonnie Vise. Stage manager: Debbie Kissinger.