The Group Rep’s “Four Top,” an original new comedy by Michael B. Kaplan at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, opens with a one-night stand, or at least an attempted one. When Liz (Jackie Shearn) and Brian (Jack Menzies) come home after just meeting at a bar, the two opine about the nature of one-night stands and the difference between love and lust, before the night abruptly comes to an end.
What follows is a hilarious game of rom-com musical chairs played over 90 minutes. Although the characters can be overly verbose at times, it isn’t enough to distract from a good story. The small cast of characters are played by five funny and capable actors, with a mix of spitfire dialogue and physical comedy.
Cassidy LeClair plays the server, who pops in and out of the main characters’ stories (although she might argue that she is the main character). LeClair is very charming, often speaking directly to the audience to gossip about the drama unfolding on stage and creating a bit of drama herself.
Rosie Byrne and Luke Rampersad give memorable performances as Megan and Tony. Rampersad’s Tony is pitch perfect. Much like a golden retriever, his boyish innocence makes for great comedy when he is forced to reckon with adult themes like love, betrayal, jealousy, and fear of rejection.
While all the actors are on point, Shearn and Menzies have real chemistry as leads Liz and Brian. Their scenes somehow manage to be laugh-out-loud funny while still having so much sexual tension that you half expect them to abandon the show and run out of the theater together.
Brian is a relatable main character, and Menzies captures his slightly neurotic and hopeless romantic nature. Liz draws Brian in with her chaotic tendencies and Shearn is dripping with confidence in that role.
The Upstairs Stage at the Lonny Chapman Theatre makes for an intimate experience with about 50 seats, which is great for comedy. Director Kathleen R. Delaney uses every inch of the stage with her actors and packs a ton of action into a tight 90 minutes. An especially entertaining scene has a couple on each side of the stage, alternating between arguing and imagining what the other couple is arguing about.
And though the theater is small, its crew is no less professional. Lighting (Nick Foran) and set design (Daisy Staedler) are simple yet effective. At times it feels as if you are at home watching an episode of your favorite sitcom, only with more genuine laughter.
“Four Top” is a hilarious romp if you are looking for a laugh. On top of that, it is also a thoughtful piece of art that examines the complexities of dating, relationships, and love.
The Group Rep’s “Four Top” continues through Nov. 17 at the Upstairs Stage of the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, with shows Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 7:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $30; senior and student tickets are $25. For tickets and information, call the box office at (818) 763-5990 or visit TheGroupRep.com. Run time is 90 minutes with no intermission.
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