Last of the Red Hot Lovers: Little Theatre of of Savannah

It was once written in Time that, "If Broadway ever erects a monument to the patron saint of laughter, Neil Simon would have to be it." And, based upon the Little Theatre of Savannah's recent production of Last of the Red Hot Lovers, this would seem to be a fair enough assessment.

Though Simon is simultaneously considered an award-studded superstar (usually by the general populace) and a cosseted writer of commercially viable fluff, one cannot deny that he is, at the very least prolific. The key is, at this sort of point, to simply accept the work for what it is, a sentimental and unchallenging piece of work that asks little of the audience but to sit back and enjoy.

As such, though one wishes that the Board of Governors had meditated on a slightly more energetic work (particularly given that this piece was done not long ago out at the Savannah Community Theatre), the cast has done a delightful job of spinning these yarns into a light and delicate (if not elegant) lattice of neuroses and sexual repression.

Justin Kent, as nebbish Barney Cashman, is delightful in his numerous abortive attempts to jump on the sexual revolution bandwagon before it is too late. Mr. Kent builds in confidence and attention to detail with each tryst, and one truly does get the idea that he is learning something, even if it isn't what he had originally intended. Elaine Navazio, played by Lynita Spivey, is a stereotypical tough broad from NYC. Given Ms. Spivey's other excellent work in our community (Urinetown and Inspecting Carol to name a couple) it is a shame that she was saddled with a walking cliche of minimal interest. Indeed, this is a problem faced by all three of our ladies, as they are really only ciphers in the transformation of Barney Cashman. Eve Butler, as Bobbi Michele, makes her return to the Savannah boards by building the picture of paranoid, yet compelling, nymph; while Nicole Koplik faces the daunting challenge of playing a depressive prude in a sentimental comedy... while keeping it interesting for nearly forty minutes. Each of these actresses does a fairly remarkable job with the materials given her, it just so happens that the material was woefully short in supply.

Though director Grace Diaz Tootle and he cast have assembled a fairly effective presentation of Mr. Simon's script, the piece is, like much of his early work, weak and one-sided. Given other offerings from the same author (or options for the castable material) it is our sincere hope here at the Savannah Dramaturgy that the Little Theatre's Board of Governors decides to make slightly more interesting choices in the future.