What America Didn’t See

Jack Monty (Mark Roberts) is a funny fat man who “loves crowds, but he’s not too good with people.” Once a popular radio personality, Jack made the transition to television, only to watch his popularity wane. On the brink of cancellation oblivion, his floundering variety show was renewed to capitalize on sympathy generated from his recent and very public heart attack. On this day in 1962, he makes his first post-heart attack appearance.

“The Jack Monty Show” is a 90-minute, written-by-committee (Gus Buktenica, John Riggi, Roberts, Steve Rudnick, David Wendelman and Leo Benvenuti) tribute to the live-broadcast variety shows of television’s golden era, at the Egyptian Arena Theatre. It seamlessly takes us behind the scenes, exposing the barracuda instincts of the men in charge as they schmooze and hope to snooze with the women.

During this taping, Jack scams on the dancing bimbos, the Bebe Tyler (Georgia Simon) Dancers (Sherry-Lea Bloodworth, Brenda Matthews, Robyn Roth, Simon and Josie Walsh). He jealously cuts the musical number of a young teen-idol-in-the-making, Jimmy Barlow (Wendelman). His yes-man, the slick and almost slimy Don Donaldson (Buktenica), moves in on “America’s sweetheart” and show regular Marcy Pettigone (Johanna McKay) when he smells her emotional fragility, pushing aside another show regular, nice-guy Art Benny (Riggi).

Part of the sly fun is derived from the outdated comedic styles and the no-longer-PC attitudes that this top-notch cast play with bittersweet earnestness. Smiling cast members advertise cigarettes and hard liquor as essential to American family life.

As director, Rudnick displays faultless timing, from the phony facade of humor dropping from Jack’s face the instant the stage manager (William Holmes) yells “Clear” to the “offstage” prop choreography for Marcy’s impromptu musical number.

Roberts plays Jack as a crude man going through the motions of making laughter without being touched by joy. Buktenica’s Donaldson is Jack’s soiled conscience, linked to him but not necessarily liking what he sees. There’s a meanness in both performances, slightly mellowed in Buktenica, that contrasts with the tottering emotional stability of McKay’s Marcy.

Live music and banter by musical director Greg Glienna on piano and David Jeremiah on bass add to the air of authenticity, as do Heather Hoffman’s costumes. Glienna winningly teams with Buktenica for one of the show’s more inspired skits.

For those who remember television’s golden era and its real programs, this less-than-kind interpretation may grate. In this piece, the tarnish shows. It’s a twisted celebration, making us grateful that the sexist, racist comedic style of that era has passed, yet it still manages to entertain.

BE THERE

“The Jack Monty Show,” Egyptian Arena Theatre, 1625 N. Las Palmas Ave., Hollywood. Thursdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Feb. 20. $17.50. (323) 692-9430. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.