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.
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