By David C. Nichols, Special to The Times
Breezy affairs of the heart
A capable cast and direction keep the lightweight musical 'The Thing About Men' enjoyable and breezy.

Here's the thing about "The Thing About Men" in its West Coast premiere by Musical Theatre West: You don't have to think about it. In fact, if you do think about it, you might pop a vein. Better to let this musical triangle ply its lightweight but crowd-pleasing wares.

Based on a 1985 German film by Doris Dorrie, "The Thing About Men" is written by Joe DiPietro and Jimmy Roberts, the team responsible for "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change." Billed as "a musical comedy affair," the new musical opens on an all-purpose Man (Craig A. Meyer) and Woman (Jodie Langel), who appear on either side of Vincent Roca's open-faced set. They propel the winking opener, "Oh, What a Man!" aided by zany projections on the upstage wall (an evening-long motif).

Wife Lucy (Elizabeth Ward Land) spills the beans to husband Tom (Stan Chandler). She's having an affair, her first. Tom, a philanderer long before his spouse, storms out on Lucy. At his advertising agency, while struggling with the Milo Nuts account, Tom starts to melt down: "No Competition for Me." As Tom learns to his horror, Lucy is shagging a stud, artist Sebastian (John Bisom), his sensitive side as wide as his moneymaking skills are narrow, being a "Free, Easy Guy."

Through the kind of twists that keep making Hollywood money, Tom becomes Sebastian's incognito roommate Ñ Milo Nuts. Complications ensue, involving a gorilla mask, boxing gloves and the changing motives of all three. Eventually, Tom finds his touchy-feely place, Sebastian embraces upward mobility, and Lucy gets the man she loves the most.

Director Larry Raben keeps this froth moving on its own mildly racy terms, which is some kind of achievement. Todd K. Proto's costumes and Steven Young's lighting are, as usual, expert. The endearing cast sleekly blends under Diane King Vann's musical direction. Land, sensitive and cagey at once, sells the William Finn-flavored "Because," an explanation of her infidelity, with glossy tone and simple honesty. Chandler sounds great, has a flair for slapstick and burrows into his understated "The Better Man Won." Bisom, who owns at least half the house from his first entrance, is ideal in voice, person and attitude.

Meyer and Langel devour their cartoon cameos, though these functional roles reveal a show two sizes too small for the Carpenter Center. DiPietro's lyrics range from admirable to clunky, though seldom as piano bar synthetic as the pseudo-book becomes. Roberts has a knack for uncomplicated post-Sondheim tunes. They tell us nothing new about men (or women), in part due to the source material. Yet, though hardly earthshaking, "The Thing About Men" is pleasant pop entertainment. You'll still respect yourself the morning after.

4/22/2005

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