Leap

LEAP by ex sitcom writer and current Producing Director of the Falcon Theatre, is a mildly amusing play that pits a washed up writer whose main claim to fame was a talking dog show, against two eager young acolytes of heaven and hell.  Bob Kanicki (played by veteran actor Michael Kagan) is trying to leap from his window when he is interrupted by Bub (short for Beelzebub) who proceeds to try and take his soul in exchange for a successful career as a writer. Bub almost wins, when in comes Emily Stapleton (Bob’s first true love) who promises to be his guardian angel even down to providing him with sex despite the now enormous age difference. This is a rather tired premise that the character Bob even admits is a cliché, but there are a few twists and turns to keep it from falling flat. The acting for the most part is over the top and pushed and many of the gags fail. I mean would a man who wants to die really say,  ”I want to die but not be didactic”: too many gags, which spoil any reality. The actors try hard, too hard and are not helped by the direction of Susan Morgenstern who keeps the actors going at a frantic pace. The real fault lies with the script that is full of improbabilities and frankly doesn’t always make sense. Bob is going to hell no matter what he does so “where’s the beef?”

FALCON THEATRE 4252 Riverside Drive Burbank CA 818 955 8101 through Oct 7