Last Chance

By Daryl H. Miller

Nov. 18, 2004 12 AM PT

Habeas Corpus: A 1973 comedy by Alan Bennett about the sexual revolution then rattling middle-

class morality, this breezy satire turns surprisingly poignant whenever it pauses to consider the fear of death that caused its characters to stray from the straight and narrow. A terrific revival of the play teases its audience into understanding how profoundly this fear has influenced human behavior. Full of bungled machinations, outrageous coincidences and dropped trousers, “Habeas Corpus” is a variation on that popular British entertainment: the sex farce.

*Ends Sunday at South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555 or www.scr.org.

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Daryl H. Miller

Daryl H. Miller has been besotted with the arts since age 5, once he was old enough to sing with the church youth choir, and has yet to top the thrill of portraying Billy Bigelow in his rural high school’s production of “Carousel.” He has been covering the arts in Southern California for three decades for the Los Angeles Times, Daily News, LA Weekly, Orange County Register and other publications. He is also a former Times copy editor.

Last Chance

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