Laughter on the 23^rd Floor 

Reviewed by Lovell Estell III 
Garry Marshall Theatre 
Through April 22 

RECOMMENDED 

Before Neil Simon became Neil Simon, he got his first break as a writer working for Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca’s 1950’ TV series “Your Show of Shows.” On board were some big talents, with scribes like Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks and Joseph Stein churning out the laugh material on a weekly basis. As the new kid in the writer’s pool for this hugely popular television show, Simon had a lot to learn and experience — thus the inspiration for this sentimental comedy, which transpires in 1950’s New York and offers a glimpse of the original Golden Age of Television, while skewering the personalities and creative chaos of television comedy writing.

The play (a slightly updated version) takes place in the writer’s room (stylishly rendered by Alex Calle) of the Max Prince Show. The first scene introduces us to new writer Lucas (Jason Grasl), who is happy about his new job and the possibilities that it offers. One by one, his quirky, uproarious fellow staffers enter: tetchy head-writer Milt (Ty Mayberry); Russian expatriate Val (Roland Rusinek); Brian (John Ross Bowie), who is not modest about his aspirations to Tinseltown renown; the flashy, affable Kenny (Cornelius Jones Jr.); Carol (Lanisa Renee Frederick); and Mel Brooks stand-in Ira (Jeff Campanella), a whiney, perpetually unhinged hypochondriac.

The jokes, barbs and insults fly from the first moment. At the center of it all is the buffoonish, temperamental Max Prince (a great turn by Pat Towne) who, in a highly memorable moment, strips off his suit, hands it to his blonde bimbo secretary Helen (Jessica Joy), and sashays around in his underwear, shirt, tie and sock garters.

The play spans a seven-month period, during which the staff confronts the challenges of tolerating each other, an in-house pregnancy, writing, looming budget cuts, Max’s outrageous tantrums, and the displeasures of network executives. It’s two hours of fun, and although this is not one of Mr. Simon’s wittier, more engaging works, the laughs are still there, with the ensemble performing well under Michael Shepperd’s skillful direction.

Garry Marshall Theatre, 4252 W. Riverside Dr., Burbank; Thur.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. (additional perf., Sun, April 8 at 7 p.m., no perf April 1). through April 22., (818) 955-8101 or www.garrymarshalltheatre.org Running time: two hours with one intermission.