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Replica

Reviewed by Lovell Estell III

Dorie Theater @ The Complex

Through December 20

This is a remounting of Urban Theatre Movement’s show that ran at Theatre Asylum this past summer.

Writer/director Paul Tully’s two-act tale of “meth, love and fear” transpires in a ratty motel room (skillfully crafted by Aaron Lyons) where Mickey (Spencer Weitzel), a low-level drug dealer for a neo-Nazi biker gang, passes time dispensing meth, over-indulging in same, and knocking down ample shots of hard liquor.

He’s a hard-scrabble embittered loser looking for a way out, which seemingly comes by way of a sudden visit from his long-time friend Paul (Charlie Jake Sanchez), and his black gal-pal Tonya (Gisla Stringer). A risky and dangerous scheme is devised to make a quick fortune using the stash of the head dealer (Paul Julianelli). This establishes the play’s wobbly plotline.

Tully is a good writer with scads of savvy, and he scripts a menagerie of compelling and often scary characters. Yet too often the script plunges into wispy melodrama or ersatz theatrics. Act 2 is grossly overwritten, and holds no surprises as to the outcome. The inexplicable romantic relationship between Mickey, a racist, and Tonya, a black wannabe actress, comes across as overwrought and contrived.

The upside to this production are solid performances, especially that of the muscular, tattooed Julianelli, who is thoroughly convincing as a man you don’t ever want to cross.

Dorie Theater @ The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles.; Thur.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun., 5 p.m., through December 20. www.urbantheatremovement.com. Running time: Two hours with intermission.