OCC finds “Nothing Serious” in playlets

Rich Orloff may be no blood relation to Jules Feiffer, but he’s certainly a literary descendant.

The prolific Orloff wrote nine full-length comedies, two comic revues and over 50 short comedies, 10 of which are on view at Orange Coast College under the collective title of “Nothing Serious,” presented by OCC’s student-operated Repertory Theater Company.

Like Feiffer, Orloff leans heavily toward wry commentary on romantic relationships while dealing with an expanded scope of humorous subjects. OCC’s performers dig their heels into this offbeat humor, occasionally drawing some real comedic blood.

The program opens with “Bride and Gloom,” a two-hander dealing with a young woman’s trepidations on her wedding day, given the marital failures in her immediate family. Veronica Waters and Jeff Kieviet play the anxiety for all it’s worth under the direction of Sean Engard.

“Nice Tie,” directed by Laura Palacios, is a tentative bar pickup line employed by Lezl Peters and deftly returned by Drew Ledbetter. Like the first play, it delves into what may or may not happen should this chance meeting become an actual relationship.

One of the evening’s most creative segments is “Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson,” in which writing teacher Nick Breslin, clicker in hand, puts prospective jumper Omar Chavez and good Samaritan Linney Nguyen through a succession of potential outcomes. It’s great fun under the direction of Linda Nguyen.

Probably the best entry of the comical evening is “Off the Map,” set at the South Pole and examining a frosty relationship between visitors Dan Barnard and Erin Grissom. However, it’s “local resident” Steve Moe who walks off with the scene under Jill Prout’s perky direction.

“Matterhorn” involves the entire company as people waiting in line for a Disneyland ride, but only Dustin Lemon and Linney Nguyen are featured as a quibbling couple attempting to keep their unseen kids in check. Zaid Tabani directs this clever exercise.

The book of Genesis is rewritten and God cast as a woman (Jill Prout) in “Eve and Adam: The Untold Story.” Here, Prout creates Adam (Jeff Kieviet) from the rib of Eve (Courtney Fletcher) and the carping begins almost immediately under the direction of Matt Jensen.

“Bladder Control” focuses on a group of architects planning a new building and boils down to the issue of women’s restrooms -- specifically, the prospective line outside them. This one, directed by Melissa Maurizi, doesn’t quite reach its comic potential.

Having recently awaited the arrival of my granddaughter, I could appreciate “Last Minute Adjustments,” in which a fetus (Erica Matulich) is being prepared for impending birth by quibbling technicians Steven Moe, Zaid Tabani, Omar Chavez and the ubiquitous Linney Nguyen. Dustin Lemos directs this lighthearted entry.

“Can This Marriage be Saved?” isn’t what you might think -- in this case the contentious parties are God Himself (Brett Horn) and a representative of humankind (Vanessa Rosche), each arguing their case before a judge (William Madden) as bailiff Melissa Maurizi keeps order. Amanda Jimenez directs with a wryly deft hand.

Finally, Orloff sends up the theater itself with “Oh My God, It’s Another Play!” Here, most of the company collects to pulverize theatrical stereotypes, with Nick Breslin’s fretting director wringing most of the humor from the piece. Patrick Blankenship performs the actual direction.

As promised, there’s “Nothing Serious” about this collection of short Orloff comedies, and OCC’s Rep company obviously is having a lot of fun bringing these playlets to bloom.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: “Nothing Serious”

WHERE: Orange Coast College Studio Theater, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Closing performances (dark tonight), Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 & 7 p.m.

COST: $6 - $7

CALL: (714) 432-5880