Bermuda Avenue Triangle

Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna's hilarious, touching comedy of senior love and lust has gallons of laughs, as well as sizzling perfs by Taylor, Bologna and Bea Arthur.

Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna’s hilarious, touching comedy of senior love and lust has gallons of laughs, as well as sizzling perfs by Taylor, Bologna and Bea Arthur.

When longtime friends Tess (Arthur) and Fannie (Taylor) are shunted off to a garish Las Vegas condo by their respective daughters Angela (Carolyn Aaron) and Rita (Randee Heller), they both feel that their lives, which weren’t that great to begin with, have become really terrible.

Things get even more depressing when their first visitor is a welcome-wagon rabbi (Manny Kleinmuntz). But the arrival of Johnny (Bologna), a kind of senior Italian stallion, lifts the two ladies’ spirits.

From a simple, straightforward premise, Taylor and Bologna have created comedy magic. The two women — one Italian, one Jewish — are lovingly drawn, familiar but never cliched. And the gigolo Johnny, brought to life with great soul and warmth by Bologna, is a priceless character. While the play itself doesn’t aspire to profundity, it does touch on the essential humanity of its characters as they try to sort out love, friendship and parenthood late in life.

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Taylor and Arthur are a couple of real gems. As the Jewish Fannie, Taylor goes on a romp from kvetch to cutie-pie. She’s got the role nailed, using her great comic timing, attitude and charm.

Arthur is equally fine. Beginning as the grim and enraged Italian Mama, Arthur blossoms into a spicy seductress, never losing sight of the poignant vulnerability of her character.

These well-known television actors give performances here that push well into complex, classic stage roles.

Supporting players also are excellent, although the gifted Aaron and Heller don’t get much chance to strut their stuff. Kleinmuntz is fine as the befuddled Rabbi Levine.

Director Caitlin Adams does a terrific, seamless job, finding each tiny emotional moment or subtle sight gag, but never letting down the comic pace. Outrageous costumes designed by Ellis Tillman add much to the comic fun.

While this is a play that seems bound for Gotham, it seems a shame to waste it on the current theater climate there. With this cast, a regional tour likely would be more successful and have a greater impact on the theater world than a stint on Broadway.

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