Emotional Exchanges in an ‘Airport’ Lounge

Structuring a bill of one-acts around a particular situation is innately problematic. The plays might come across not as individualized dramatic expressions, but as writing exercises that have been cut to order, then wrapped around the prevalent conceit.

Although thoroughly professional and often engaging, “re: LAX--Stories From an Airport,” Playwrights 6’s production at 2100 Square Feet, has an unfortunate quality of the prefab about it.

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The evening’s five one-acts are set in the departure lounge of a Los Angeles airline terminal, where a procession of characters meet and interact in various comical and/or poignant exchanges.

Upon entering the theater, we are met by an outlandish nun soliciting donations. Programs are enclosed in a boarding pass packet, and a steward and stewardess give us “preflight” instructions.

It’s a funny setup--perhaps too funny to lead into G. Bruce Smith’s wrenching “The Faint Scent of Amanda,” directed by Tom Seidman. Thomas (Darrel Guilbeau), the protagonist-narrator, meets periodically with his actress mother, Amanda (Marian Woods), who abandoned him to pursue her career.

Despite heavy-handed allusions to its obvious prototype, “The Glass Menagerie,” Smith’s elegiac memory play is heartfelt and moving, as is Woods’ wistful lost soul.

Amy Heidish’s “The Honorary Picker-Upper,” which Heidish also directed, ventures into the arena of wacky romance before tacking on a self-consciously downbeat ending.

Writer-director Laura Black has similarly uneven results in her surreal comedy-drama “Waiting for Bobo,” which, despite the protean performance of Lisa Pescia, vacillates too wildly in tone to be genuinely effective.

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Larry Dean Harris’ “When Harry Met Harry,” directed by David Nathan Schwartz, is an unpretentious comedy about two gay guys who “meet cute” at the airport. Lighthearted and slight, the playlet is distinguished primarily by Chris Jerger’s amusing turn as a waspish gate agent who plays Cupid.

Schwartz also directs the closer, Monica Trasandes’ “Famous,” in which the wryly winning Carol Shannon delivers a hilarious but pointed tirade about the vicissitudes of the Hollywood dream machine.

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* “re: LAX--Stories From an Airport,” 2100 Square Feet, 5615 W. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles. Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. (except Memorial Day weekend). Ends June 10. $10. (323) 666-6086. Running time: 2 hours.