If you love live theater and the people who make it, you will absolutely adore Morgan-Wixson Theatre’s delectable latest, and even if you don’t know Ben Brantley from Ben Franklin, you’ll have a smashingly good time at Terrence McNally’s It’s Only A Play.

It’s Opening Night tonight for Peter Austin’s The Golden Egg, whose producer, director, leading lady, and playwright are joined by the writer’s best friend, an infamous theater critic, and a starstruck fledgling actor named Gus P. Head in nervously awaiting reviews.

Malaprop-popping producer Julia Budder (sunny delight Kelly McReynolds) may have a tendency to misquote Irving Berlin (“There’s no business like the one we’re in!”), but if anyone deserves the Tony speech she hopes to deliver when awards season rolls around, it’s this daffiest of theater-loving ducklings.

Wunderkind British director Sir Frank Finger (Justin Heller in mirthful, manic Eddie Izzard mode) has garnered so many rave reviews, there’s nothing he wants more now than a first-ever pan, and in the meantime, if he happens to display a certain tendency towards kleptomania, being knighted while still in your 20s does sort of put the pressure on.

 Leading lady Virginia Noyes (Joanna Churgin, divine beyond words) returns to Broadway fresh from an Oscar win (and a not so successful rehab stint) with an ankle bracelet to ensure she doesn’t evade parole and a potty mouth to do David Mamet proud.

Playwright Austin’s (Chris Aruffo, earnest and engaging) long-awaited Broadway break has him wishing and hoping and thinking and praying and planning and dreaming that The Golden Egg won’t lay one, though with a title like that, critics’ daggers may soon be out.

Peter’s longtime best friend Frank Wicker (a fabulously zinger-flinging David Callander) ought by rights to have been starring in tonight’s opus had he not exited Broadway for sitcom fame some nine seasons back, though with Out On A Limb on its last legs, he might just wish the part had been his after all.

Critic Ira Drew (Michael Bernstein, droll) may not have achieved his New York Times counterpart’s make-it-or-break-it status where reviewing is concerned (or apparently know the difference between Harvey Weinstein and Harvey Fierstein), but his venomous write-ups are the stuff of legend.

Last but not least, fresh-faced, fresh-off-the-bus Broadway hopeful Gus (Kent Navarrette, wide-eyed, adorable perfection) can’t believe his luck securing tonight’s gig as coat-check boy that has him hobnobbing with Broadway’s brightest.

Longtime L.A. theatergoers may recall It’s Only A Play from its 1992 run at the then Doolittle (starring among others Charles Nelson Reilley and David Hyde Pierce), and though the laugh count is every bit as high this time round, don’t expect the same names to be dropped, that is unless the name in question is Rita Moreno’s, still going strong at 88. (Otherwise, it’s goodbye Arlene Francis, hello Kelly Ripa and the Kardashians as Chekhov’s Three Sisters.)

In his fourth Morgan-Wixson director’s gig, Aric Martin elicits the kind of performance gems you’d expect to see at the Pasadena Playhouse or the Geffen, and though William Wilday’s set and lighting may not be as elegant or elaborate as those Equity houses would provide, they more than do the trick as does Greg Ruttledge’s sound design, and Kelly Mattson’s ab-fab costumes not only include fancy evening wear but coat after coat after coat as  6’6” Tommy Tune, 5’5” Daniel Radcliffe, and the casts of Hamilton and The Lion King arrive downstairs sporting distinctive wraps.

It’s Only A Play is produced by Kalila Horwitz. Nathan Perry is assistant to the director. Ashley DeFrancesco is production stage manager, assisted by Hailey Moskal and Sara Smith. Wilday is technical director.

With ticket prices maxing at a mere $25 (and half that if you shop around for discounts) and performances that more than hold their own against those you’d see in houses charging three or four times that much, It’s Only A Play is easily the best theatrical bargain in town. It might also end up the funniest, best acted comedy of the season.

Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica.
www.morgan-wixson.org

–Steven Stanley
January 18, 2020
Photos: Brian Norris

Tags: Los Angeles Theater Review, Morgan-Wixson Theatre, Terrence McNally