The Way You Look Tonight

Reviewed by Neal Weaver
Odyssey Theatre
Through August 24

RECOMMENDED:

Photo by Ed Krieger

Peter Lefcourt’s romantic comedy takes a wry, witty, and occasionally wicked look at sexual mores in Los Angeles in 2014.

Dashing gynecologist Teddy (Robb Derringer) and beautiful Esme (Robin Riker) were married for 16 years, but split up over Teddy’s infidelities. (He declares he had only two affairs in all those years, which nowadays almost counts as fidelity.) Now they have been divorced for four years, and each has found a new significant other. Esme is remarried to Bernard (John Marzilli), the producer of slightly raunchy reality TV shows. But she’s curious about Teddy’s new partner, so she arranges a dinner for the two couples at the Brasserie, formerly her and Teddy’s restaurant of choice. She’s more than non-plussed to discover that Teddy’s new mate is male — an aristocratic British part-time cross-dresser named Robyn (Sean Smith). And Esme is freaked out when Robyn insists on joining her for a trip to the “ladies.” Shortly thereafter Esme and Robyn happen to meet at an exclusive shoe emporium on Melrose, and in an impulsive act of generosity, Robyn buys Esme a chic pair of Fluevogs, which make her feel glamorous and adventurous.

Esme is still perplexed by the discovery that Teddy has taken up with another man (“I can’t compete with that,” she says. “After all, I don’t have a penis.”) She arranges a lunch-date with Teddy, on the pretext of talking about their son’s imminent college graduation. (The boy’s major is in micro-brewery management.) But even before they get round to ordering lunch, old fires are rekindled, and the two wind up in a passionate clinch. A knowing waiter (Blake Silver) slips him the address of a nearby motel and they’re off and running.

Lefcourt’s clever script is knowing about all sorts of L.A. folkways, and he neatly skewers the vanity of Angelenos in a series of scenes before their various bathroom mirrors, as they tweeze, floss, brush, gargle, snip nose-hairs, and primp. He adroitly avoids resolving the many issues raised by finessing the ending.

Director Terri Hanauer (who is also Lefcourt’s wife) has cast the piece beautifully, and given it a stylish production. One can’t quite buy the notion of Teddy and Robyn as an “odd couple,” but Derringer is appropriately debonair, and Smith offers plenty of dry wit.

Marzilli’s Bernard is laid back in the modern manner, but still gets riled when he discovers his wife is cheating on him with her ex. Riker offers bountiful charm as the cause-loving Esme, and Silver scores nicely as the interlocutor, Ishmael, and also plays several small roles.

Celine Diano’s set is minimal but colorful, using brightly painted banners to suggest the various locales, and Shannon Kennedy’s costumes are just right for these modish L.A. denizens.

Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; through August 24. (323) 960-7712, plays411.com/tonight.