Living in Los Angeles has afforded me the guilty pleasure of meeting countless has-been actors from all levels of bygone fame (especially in bars.)  All of them have one thing in common: a connection to a show or a director or another actor who actually made it and probably no longer returns their phone calls.  Still, these afflicted never-wases cling to that shred of unfulfilled destiny and drop names at every convenience to bail out their own deflating self worth.  In Barbra’s Wedding, now showing at the Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre, playwright Daniel Stern (the actor of Home Alone fame) has captured the pathetic ghost of showbiz past and made a funny little play out of it.

The play takes place on the day of Barbra Streisand’s star-studded wedding to James Brolin.  Mary Beth Evans and Wilson Green play a married couple who live conspicuously next door to the festivities and yet were not invited.  Molly (Evans) isn’t bothered by this at all, while Jerry (Green) spends the entire play obsessing over the perceived snub.  Jerry was an actor on a show which doesn’t even run on Nick at Nite, but having built his world around the businesses he has given up on any other possibility of happiness.  He fawns over a picture of  himself and Robert Redford like my grandmother treasures an item blessed by the pope.  It’s a familiar affliction and easy to understand (the preoccupation with celebrity, not the pope), and Evans and Green both play the crowd nicely.

Brent Mason’s set is well done; he captures the feel of a tiny house on a posh beach somewhere just waiting to be torn down and replaced with a McMansion.  The sound of helicopters swoops in and out of the scene, but with the lack of ambient noise, it feels too interruptive.  Overall, the production is light and entertaining, a fun way to pass the time until your agent finally calls you back with news about the reunion show.  (fingers crossed)

Barbra’s Wedding is produced by Michelle Appezzato and Studio C Artists.  The play is written by Daniel Stern and directed by John Coppola.  Set design by Brent Mason, lighting by Rachel Levy, sound by Warren Davis and costumes by Rob Saduski.  The stage manager is Alex Nicholas.

Barbra’s Wedding is performed Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through March 7, 2010

The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre is located at 6500 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, 90038 on Theatre Row at Wilcox.

Ticket prices $20.00

Tickets are available online at www.barbraswedding.com or by phone at (966) 811-4111