TOM TITUS -- Theater Review

When playwrights Larry Coen and David Crane brought their outlandish

farce “Epic Proportions” to Broadway two years ago, they surely were

influenced by the current king of the Great White Way, Mel Brooks, and

his anything-for-a-belly-laugh string of movies from the 1970s and ‘80s

-- particularly “History of the World, Part I.”

“Epic Proportions,” now enjoying a rollicking Orange County premiere

at Orange Coast College, is a left-handed tribute to the early days of

Hollywood and the slapdash style with which the early films were

assembled. It’s set in the 1930s in the Arizona desert, where a movie

company is attempting to mount a biblical epic -- probably “The Ten

Commandments,” with a little “Cleopatra” and several other recognizable

sword-and-sandal potboilers thrown in.

Director John Ferzacca’s 25-member company certainly approximates a

“cast of thousands,” and set designer David Scaglione’s imposing Egyptian

structures provide an excellent backdrop. In fact, they very nearly dwarf

the action; it’s among OCC’s more impressive scenic designs.

The heroes of “Epic Proportions” are a pair of extras tired of working

on the farm for a dollar a day who’ve decided to try their luck in

Hollywood -- Frank Miyashiro and Kyle Kopp. Actually, Miyashiro makes the

move, and his brother, Kopp, comes to get him and catches the bug

himself, particularly after he spots the pretty director of extras,

Alison Hartson.

This little triangle doesn’t quite approach the one in “Pearl Harbor,”

but it does generate quite a few laughs, especially as Miyashiro finds

himself with the “No. 4” players (the lowest rung of the extras’ ladder)

while Kopp worms his way into management and into Hartson’s favor.

Hartson is particularly appealing as the assistant director, and Kopp

and Miyashiro handle the funny stuff splendidly. But the biggest slice of

ham at this buffet is Sean F. Gray as the godlike director (a thinly

disguised sendup of Cecil B. DeMille, here known as “DeWitt”) who closets

himself in a pyramid and runs blue movies on his projector. It’s a pity

his character isn’t more involved in the action.

Other student actors making fine impressions are James Grant as the

tongue-in-cheek narrator (and the ruler who dies a thousand deaths until

the cameras can get it right), Isabella Melo as the haughty actress

playing Cleopatra, Raine Hambly as a butch fashion designer, and Danielle

Johnson as another “4” extra whose parade is constantly rained on.

There’s also a lively combat scene that pits Miyashiro against three

beefy gladiators (Travis Woods, Mark Vincent Hunt and Nick Saia). And

choreographer Maegen O’Connor joins dancers Bihn Khuu, Camberly Morawa

and Morgan O’Dell in an impressive and comically sensual bit of

Salome-style kicking. It’s a bit extended, and doesn’t further the plot a

whit, but does this really matter?

Director Ferzacca has a reputation of discovering new, unfamiliar

scripts for the OCC players, and “Epic Proportions” certainly keeps it

intact. This one is laugh-out-loud funny, albeit with a groan or two, and

an ideal opportunity for maximum student involvement.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.

FYI

WHAT: “Epic Proportions”

WHERE: Orange Coast College Drama Lab Theater, 2401 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Closing performances 8 p.m. today through Saturday and 2 p.m.

Sunday.COST: $9-$10

TICKETS: (714) 432-4880