A playhouse filled with ‘Legends’

Angelique Flores

“Legends,” James Kirkwood’s farcical romp, leads the audience through a

hilarious frolic for two legendary actresses -- including a funny friend,

“magic” brownies and a stripper.

Producer Martin Klemmer, played by Sammy Montana, has found a script he’s

sure will be a hit. But before he can get the financial backing, he needs

to sign two legendary actresses to play the leading roles.

The problem is that these two rival legends can barely stand to be in the

same room with each other. So, waiting in the same room with each other

for their meeting with Klemmer isn’t a pretty sight.

Sylvia Glenn, played by Beth Titus, and Leatrice Monsee, played by Dawn

Vasco, shared the limelight and also a husband during their glory days.

Now the two are down and out and need the money the play would bring

them.

But it would be too easy to happily make an agreement. Instead, these

actresses playing actresses tear the room apart, pull off each other’s

wigs and spout off several rounds of insults.

The shining performer in this play, however, was not one of the leads.

Instead, it was Stephanie B. Johnson, who plays Aretha Thomas, the maid

of Glen’s friend, Dorothy Coulter.

While Glen uses Coulter’s fancy home to impress Monsee and Montana,

Thomas is there to referee the matches between the legends. As the

bickering between the characters grows tiresome, Thomas’ down-to-earth

humor, played expertly by Johnson, keeps the audience laughing. And so

does the stripper Boom-Boom Johnson, played by Cornelius Countritied

Wedman, who thinks the gathering of ladies is a wedding shower.

Thomas’ colorful character has spunk, attitude and a charm that balances

out the burnt-out legends. She makes quick entrances and exits with just

enough time to sing an amusing song and keep some temporary peace between

the ladies she admires.

Directed by Larry Watts, a newcomer to the Huntington Beach Playhouse,

“Legends” will run through May 21. Performances are 8 p.m. Thursdays

through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $5 to $13. The

playhouse is in the lower level of the Huntington Beach Library and

Cultural Center, 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach. 375-0696.