Tracking the Beast That Is ‘La Bete’

Staging David Hirson’s “La Be^te,” at Santa Clarita Repertory Theatre, Gabrielle Brewer-Wallin allows the central character, a playwright named Elomire, to take himself too seriously. In addition, the actor who plays him, Bruce Marshall Romans, is too wooden.

Hirson wrote in verse, setting his play in 17th century France, where a prince (Albert Dayan) orders his resident acting troupe to meet a common street clown, Valere (Christopher Neiman).

Neiman is properly foppish, with a giddy laugh that recalls Tom Hulce’s Mozart in the film “Amadeus,” and he wears wonderfully gaudy attire designed by Sean McMullen.

Yet Neiman is so funny in his boorishness and exaggerated mannerisms that one has little sympathy for the boring Elomire. Romans’ Elomire isn’t convincing in his heroic, artistically tortured stance. In several scenes, Brewer-Wallin’s staging is stagnant, leaving Romans little to do as Neiman’s Valere prattles on and on and on.

Some of the acting styles don’t mesh well. Romans and Geordie MacMinn as his friend Bejart seem out of place among the other actors.

In the end, one wants to agree with Elomire’s troupe as it deserts him. Elomire is a no-fun stuffed shirt.

Opening the repertory company’s first full season at this venue, the production shows some promise that one hopes will be fulfilled in time.

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* “La Be^te,” Santa Clarita Repertory Theatre, 24266 San Fernando Road, Santa Clarita. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 5 p.m. Ends Feb. 27. $15. (661) 222-7278. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.