Meanwhile, Back at the Super Lair 

Reviewed by Deborah Klugman 
The New American Theatre 
Through June 23 

The world of super heroes can be fun to satirize, and Greg Kalleres’ Meanwhile, Back at the Super Lair, directed by Jack Stehlin, is a potentially entertaining spoof, with enough irony and character-driven humor for an adept actor to play with. Set in an imaginary town called Sate, it revolves around a group of clueless crime fighters about to lose their jobs because the community they’ve pledged to protect no longer has any crime. The play makes fun of individuals who indulge in existential angst; it also goes after racists — specifically white people who foist negative stereotypes on people of color, and lack even the wherewithal to recognize their bigotry. The latter is a theme Kalleres thoroughly and successfully explored in his play Honky a couple of years ago. Meanwhile, Back at the Super Lair is a fluffier and far less impressive effort (it’s actually an earlier work, produced in Berkley in 2004), but the inclusion of that particular issue lends it a degree of substance.

The pivotal character calls himself the Human Fly (Brendan Brandt), and when the play opens he’s complaining to his therapist, Dr. Reynolds (Robert Cicchini), about a lack of purpose in his life. Meanwhile, back home at the lair, an African-American official (Ronald Auguste) from the mayor’s office is paying a visit to Fly’s housemates: Leopard Woman, his girlfriend, (Jade Sealey) and two rather dim dudes, Silver Streak (Jeff Kongs), a timorous fellow dressed in a crimson and silver jumpsuit, and Rhino Man (Christopher Frontiero), a large guy who wears a cap with a fake rhino horn.

Eventually, the narrative takes off when Fly decides that what is really needed in Sate is a new villain to combat. He disguises himself as an evildoer called the Eidolon, and begins committing crimes, alarming the populace, but conveniently creating work and purpose for his pals, who are reluctantly energized to action.

Meanwhile is a silly play, but while not all of the riffs work, there are enough laughs for an evening of lightweight entertainment. The problem comes down to execution: this type of satire requires a particular sensibility and skill set that many members of this ensemble have yet to develop. As the psychiatrist and later as one of the Eidolon’s henchmen, one-arm Eddie, the veteran Cicchini knows what and how to deliver — precise in his manner, he can project larger than life while infusing his character with the barest modicum of credibility. Auguste also has moderate success playing straight man to the other clownish “heroes.” The other performers still have their work cut out for them.

Tech values are pretty basic, but the sound design (Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin, Nick Pavey and Jeff Kongs), including music apropos of a super hero movie, complements the burlesque.

Note: Some roles are double-cast.

The New American Theatre, 1312 N. Wilton Place, Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; through June 23.  Newamericantheatre.com Running time: 90