Probing the Identity of ‘Poor Super Man’

The secret identity--that enclave of privacy so carefully protected by comic-book superheroes--becomes a clever metaphor for alienation, betrayal and hidden agendas in “Poor Super Man,” another installment in Canadian playwright Brad Fraser’s exploration of ‘90s trendy aimlessness--or, if you prefer, dislocated hip.

Fraser’s “Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love” was a local 1994 hit with its mix of ironic satire, horror and raw sexuality, and while less morbid in tone, “Poor Super Man” sports its share of stage shockery in a no-frills production at Actor’s Lab Theatre in Hollywood.

Fraser’s edgy romantic triangle revolves around David (Joe Bailey, who also directs), a successful but isolated artist who decides to restore his connection with the everyday world by taking a job as a waiter in a struggling cafe.

He gets more contact than he bargained for when he finds himself falling in love with his employer, Matt (Finn Bryant), who’s inconveniently married to chef Violet (Samantha Flate).

Predictably, things heat up when Matt’s doubts about his own sexual secret identity make him unexpectedly receptive to David’s advances. Enamored, David pursues the affair over the objections of his columnist friend Kryla (Cassandra McCarthy), whose own alternate occupation appears to be storming out of every scene in a huff. An AIDS-infected transvestite (Alex Boling) pursuing a sex-change operation rounds out Fraser’s quirky quintet.

Despite committed performances from the entire ensemble, Fraser’s shallow, comic-book conceits and sound-bite dialogue wear thin. After much floundering, only in the final half-hour do these characters work their way to the meaningful insights that point the way out of their emotional traps.

Also, be forewarned: The combination of graphically suggestive anal sex and audience seating on un-upholstered metal chairs can make for downright painful viewing.

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“Poor Super Man,” Actor’s Lab Theatre, 1514 N. Gardner St., Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends June 24. $15. (800) 965-4827. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.