At Balcony Theatre, ‘Panache’ Proves a Thin Slice of Life

An unlikely combination of Edmond Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac” and Neil Simon’s “Chapter Two,” the romantic comedy “Panache” offers little of what its title suggests.

Undemanding audiences may get some laughs from local playwright Don Gordon’s opposites-attract affair, in which a blue-collar fry cook and a high-culture socialite meet and fall in love. But we’re talking thin material. Thin. Turn this play sideways and whoops, where did it go?

Harry Baldwin (Eric Pierpoint), a sometime painter, has boozed his days away ever since the death of his wife (Jillian McWhirter, seen in flashbacks). Along comes snooty but, you know, endearing country clubber Kathleen Trafalger (Lisa Pelikan). A mix-up has occurred down at the Department of Motor Vehicles; Kathleen ordered a vanity plate spelling out “PANACHE,” and--odd as it seems, for, you know, a fry cook--Harry already has that license plate. Will Harry be bought? What is the story behind Harry’s panache, and what became of it?

The ensuing, trudging scenes provide the answers. Wesley Thompson stops by as Jumbo, a pal of Harry. James Benjamin Cooper plays Harry’s college friend. Everyone is directed with a sluggish hand by David A. Cox.

“Panache” reopens the Playhouse Balcony Theatre, situated above the Pasadena Playhouse courtyard. (The playhouse hasn’t any connection to this venture.) It’s a small, pleasant venue, and there’s certainly room on the block for a summer stock-type operation. And there’s plenty of salable, workable material, old and new, ready and waiting. “Panache” doesn’t feel ready.

The playwright tosses in “Cyrano” riffs, designed to tone up audience opinion of our hero. Too often the dialogue sticks to the level of:

He: “You make me goofy.”

She: “I like goofy.”

Pierpoint, a familiar television and movie face, labors mightily to keep us engaged, without overworking it. Pelikan, stuck in a condescending ninny of a role, overworks it. McWhirter, Cooper and especially Thompson bring some snap to proceedings that bring certain words to mind, “snappy” not being one of them.

* “Panache,” Playhouse Balcony Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Indefinite run. $25-$30. (626) 795-6000. Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes.

Eric Pierpoint: Harry Baldwin

Lisa Pelikan: Kathleen Trafalger

James Benjamin Cooper: Irwin Alcott

Jillian McWhirter: Laura Baldwin

Wesley Thompson: Jumbo Dombroski

Written by Don Gordon. Directed by David A. Cox. Set by Mark Bloom. Costumes by Nadejda Marinova. Lighting by J.P. Luckenbach. Stage manager Diana Lee Bartera.