Malibu Stage Company soars in ‘Light Up the Sky’ revival

When Moss Hart’s “Light Up the Sky” opened in 1948, Broadway’s Golden Age was peaking. “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Mister Roberts” were among the established hits, with “Death of a Salesman” and “South Pacific” yet to debut.

In such august company, Hart’s mangled mash note to the theater was (and is) pure boulevard confection. However, few trifles are more durable, as the apt revival now sending Malibu Stage Company sky-high proves.

Hart wrote and directed the original production, which surely accounts for the insider’s insight and satires on actual notables that distinguish this account of a Boston tryout from hell.

Such factors are splendidly upheld in Malibu. Director (and playwright’s son) Christopher Hart demonstrates nonpareil understanding of his father’s stylistic requirements. The designs are sleek, particularly Gary Randall’s hotel-suite setting and the haute couture costumes from Valentino’s.

The ensemble is equally effervescent. Michael Laskin’s bombastic producer and Greg Zerkle’s watery director could have walked off Hart’s pages, while Suzanne Ford’s outre star suggests a miniaturized Dana Ivey.

Virginia Hamilton’s Glenda Farrell-flavored producer’s wife and Mary Gregory’s deadpan star’s mother are wonderful -- their tandem Act 2 entrance is sidesplitting. Mark Arnott and Gene Lythgow make ideal authorial surrogates; Lou Wagner’s theater-loving Shriner is priceless; and so it goes, throughout the cast.

Los Angeles has seen many first-rate “Light Up” revivals over the years, including David Lee’s starry 2000 Pasadena Playhouse production, yet this sure-fire chamber mounting raises the bar anew, in deliciously old-fashioned fashion.

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‘Light Up the Sky’

Where: Malibu Stage Company, 29243 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu

When: Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.

Ends: June 8

Price: $20

Contact: (310) 589-1998 or (323) 655-8587

Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes