Revenge Shakes a Puny Fist

A few years ago, Howard M. Gould served as executive producer on the CBS situation comedy “Cybill,” for which Cybill Shepherd also got an executive producer credit. Then Gould left. “It went from being a difficult show,” he said in 1996, “to a really, unusually, painfully difficult show.”

Now Gould has written a play about the experience--though he is downplaying any actual autobiographical and nonfictional aspects--called “Diva,” at the La Jolla Playhouse.

It raises the question: Revenge-wise, is this the best Gould could muster?

“Diva” showcases a rather scarily skinny Susan Blakely (“Rich Man, Poor Man”) as Deanna Denninger, star of her own sitcom. The play runs in reverse. Scene 1: The blowup. We’re on the set of the hit series “Deanna,” where Denninger’s hissy fits are driving everyone nertz.

Her primary victim is Isaac Brooks (Jere Burns), creator of the show and head writer, an ocean of reason among lesser bodies of show biz water: a wit, a mensch, a saint. I’m not sure, but I think Gould’s portrait of a put-upon writer isn’t quite flattering enough.

Others include the quietly duplicitous producer, Kurt Fast (Jonathan Hogan); Deanna’s agent, Barry (Paul Provenza); the star’s latest hunkazoid, Petey (Timothy Warmen); and the wisecracking Ezra (Tim Maculan), who plays Deanna’s assistant. Maculan did four seasons on “Cybill,” which heightens the roman a clef air of “Diva.” It heightens it without actually making it funnier.

From the blowup, “Diva” takes us back, scene by scene, to what led up to Isaac’s firing. Affairs are revealed; friendships betrayed.

Playwright Gould attempts to humanize the titular anti-heroine the further back he goes. He’s after a “Merrily We Roll Along” notion of ideals compromised by a mean business.

The play settles for mechanical wind-up jokes about the diva’s sexual resume, spanning Orson Welles, Harvey Korman and Frank Capra; insults hurled, mercilessly (and amusingly) at Helen Hunt; and the occasional decent zinger, as when Isaac instructs Deanna to “put down the sandwich, say the words and not bump into the actors with talent.”

Blakely is game but struggling. She doesn’t want to play the role as (mostly) written, which is to say, as a one-note punching bag. Blakely, however, ends up leaning a little too hard on every naughty line, and she hasn’t dished up the relish and rude vitality the play needs.

Director Neel Keller’s staging is slick up and down. Burns can’t make Isaac interesting, but he makes him decent company. Hogan’s relaxed take on the double-dealing producer is welcome. Provenza ladles on the energy and has, at least, the Helen Hunt joke to fall back on.

Maculan and Warmen are pretty good, as is the physical production, dominated by Andrew Jackness’ simple, bright set.

Its centerpiece is a rectangular bulb-lighted frame--a makeup mirror--inside of which are six fake palm trees, ready for their close-up.

Nice image. Dull play.

*

“Diva,” La Jolla Playhouse, Mandell Weiss Forum, La Jolla Village Drive at Torrey Pines Road, UC San Diego, La Jolla. Tuesdays through Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends Oct. 14. $19 to $42. (858) 550-1010. Running time: 2 hours.

*

Susan Blakely: Deanna Denninger

Jere Burns: Isaac Brooks

Paul Provenza: Barry Joshua

Jonathan Hogan: Kurt Fast

Tim Maculan: Ezra Twain

Timothy Warme: Petey Ryan

*

Written by Howard M. Gould. Directed by Neel Keller. Scenic design by Andrew Jackness. Costumes by Candice Donnelly. Lighting by David Lee Cuthbert. Sound by Robbin E. Broad. Stage manager M. William Shiner.