The fact that the dead man (Gordon) steps forward in Act Two to say he fell in love with Jean at first sight because of a bowl of soup stretches credulity to the breaking point. Neil Simon, for one, knew that jokes can get out of hand and ruin the delicate fabric of comedy.
Still the play is very funny and full of great characters. Bart Lorenzo, who directs with a sure hand, has gotten himself quite a cast. Christina Pickles plays the dead man’s overbearing mom with just the right mix of sentiment and fangs. Shannon Holt, an expert at dippy and weird roles, scores again as his alcoholic wife. Andrew Borba plays Gordon’s put-upon brother with his feet firmly in reality. The ever-talented Nike Doukis plays Gordon’s other woman as well as a stranger in Gordon’s nefarious business dealings (he is a gun dealer to terrorists). Gordon is Lenny Von Dohlen, who invests the character with a strange energy and quirkiness all his own.
Though I found the play lacking in certain aspects, it is thoroughly entertaining if you can get over the premise. SCR has provided its audience and the playwright a chance to get to know each other again. (Last year they produced her more successful play Clean House.)
Dead Man’s Cell Phone plays at South Coast Repertory until Oct. 12.
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