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Produced by Jill Frank; Brett Kennedy, associate producer, at the Globe Playhouse, 1107 N. Kings Rd., West Hollywood; (888) 566-8499. Opened September 27; plays Thursday and Friday 8; Saturday, 8 & 10:15; closes November 1. Part stand-up, part autobiography, part musical, Situation Tragedy by Sally Lapiduss and Maxine Lapiduss is the story of a comedienne from Pittsburgh (Maxine) who came to Los Angeles in 1987 and after working as a writer/producer on such shows as Roseanne and Home Improvement, finds herself the only gay member of the writing-producing team on this season's Ellen. Maxine Lapiduss subtitles her show "Observations on 10 Years in Hollywood…with Bongos" and there is nothing quite like it on the boards today. Situation Tragedy comes complete with a spitfire of a dancer/singer, Lynsey Bartilson; four dancing "boys;" and a six-piece all girl band led by the beautiful Allison Cornell, who is a composer, singer, arranger, conductor and keyboard player. Her music, along with the occasional standard, permeates the evening, and a duet between Cornell and Lapiduss describing a pick-up at a lesbian bar is one of the most memorable and sensitive moments of Situation Tragedy. Elsewhere in the show, Maxine and Joanie Weir commit to dueling bongos and their high-energy approach results in acoustic fireworks. In this era of the confessionals, it is surprising that more TV scriptwriters have not climbed on stage to tell their stories. In a way, we have been expecting to hear a tale of life in this particular industry, surprised it has not come along before now. There are always elements of indulgence and self pity whenever people present their lives on stage, but Maxine mocks herself with the same relish she uses against network executives, Los Angeles news broadcasters, Liza Minelli (her vocal imitation has a tendency to slide into Barbara Streisand), her picky mother and Joan Rivers. Situation Tragedy is anything but tragic. The wise-cracking Lapiduss is constantly finding new and surprising ways to amuse us, giving the impression that she probably began doing pratfalls as she fell out of the womb. She is a woman with a blunt manner and a penchant for mugging and posing that is easy to enjoy -- and in addition to learning about what it takes to be a woman writer/producer in the television jungle. Maxine reveals the one advantage of being a power lesbian. This information alone, not to mention a rousing rendition of "Beer Barrel Polka" on the accordion, is worth the price of admission. The talented six-lady band has the full sound of a symphony orchestra in the relatively small space of a 99-seat theater. We have already mentioned two of its members, Cornell and Weir, but everyone gets a moment to shine, thanks to Maxine's generosity (and it should be pointed out that her genuine friendliness is a major part of her appeal). The other four musicians include Denise Fraser on drums, Lynn Keller on bass, Anne King on trumpet, and Cathy Cochran on saxophone. The chorus of men includes four gentlemen who seem to be performing with several grains of salt behind their flashy grins: Joe Joyce, Joe Jokubeit, Brett Kennedy and Marvin Safford. They act, they sing, they dance -- but, ho hum, so does everyone in this cast. Tiny 14-year-old Lynsey Bartilson is a giant talent. With the ability to do the splits in a nanosecond and a soprano as penetration as a macaw in heat, she sizzles on every entrance. Amy Shock is responsible for the colorful set design, which turns the Shakespearean chram of the Old Globe into a slick Las Vegas club. Leni Schwendinger is design consultant, James P. Hunter II's lighting design is charming and warm. Joe Joyce's choreography is economical and witty. Catherine Arndt's costume design make the men look pretty and the women look functional. Danielle Eskinazi's casting is delightful. Situation Tragedy is the TV variety show Maxine Lapiduss has always wanted to produce -- and if this is her audition, she got the gig.
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