Familiar Ground

North Hollywood, it seems, isn’t that far removed from 19th century Russia. Nor is Philadelphia or the Texas-Oklahoma border.

“Chekhov U.S.A.,” at Group Repertory Theatre, transplants short plays by Anton Chekhov to American soil.

Adapted and directed by Lonny Chapman, Group Repertory’s artistic director, the transition is complete but not flawless. Tucked in the middle of these Americanized one-acts, however, is a theatrical gem: Patricia Lee Willson in the hilarious Chekhov monologue “The Harmfulness of Tobacco.”

With “Tobacco,” traditionally written for a man, Willson and Chapman have created an adaptation that is, if you can imagine, a perfectly subtle overhaul. Speaking at a women’s club in suburban Philadelphia, a supposed housewife is intoxicated with the power of an attentive audience.

One senses that she has hardly ever been listened to before. She talks about everything but tobacco. By the end, one can’t imagine that the same speech could have been performed by a man.

Though mostly positioned behind a podium, Willson’s performance demands every ounce of attention. Her face makes unpredictable expressions at unpredictable moments. She elicits laughter at will, repeatedly revealing that the funnier moment is the one right after a wisecrack.

The other short plays on the program don’t measure up. In “Swan Song,” 75-year-old actor Thevenow (Martin Clark) rants about the lifetime he has wasted on the stage. Knowingly or not, he passes the theatrical torch to Joey (understudy John Keller), an aspiring actor.

Certainly the issue of sacrifice for one’s craft is timeless, and Chekhov’s basic structure is undeniably solid. But throughout “Swan Song” there are clunker lines that attempt to update the piece. In lamenting his diminished comic ability, Thevenow recalls doing Wilde . . . and Neil Simon. Clark lacks the riveting presence this one-time Broadway star needs, and his melodramatic chest pains grow tiresome. Keller is overeager in character and performance.

“The Marriage Proposal,” a slight but amusing comedy set by Chapman on the Texas-Oklahoma border, has more potential. Here, Huel (Van Boudreaux) is having a hard time asking the girl next door to be his wife.

Boudreaux has funny moments as the wide-eyed and nervous suitor. But once he starts bickering with Naomi (Anecia Ross in a double-cast role), the two fall into a cartoonish nose-to-nose shouting match. And is Naomi’s father Chub (Eddie Pratt) mumbling indistinctly on purpose? Maybe 19th century Russians are closer to reserved Midwesterners than to these boisterous Oklahomans.

BE THERE

“Chekhov: U.S.A.” at Group Repertory Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Friday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. Ends Oct. 17. $15. (818) 769-7529. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.