‘Heaven’ Stumbles on Its Spiritual Path

Carlos Lacamara’s comedy “Crashing Heaven: Can a Good Atheist Find God Without Breaking His Father’s Heart?” has some funny moments, but it fumbles and meanders as the leading character, Tony, played by the author, searches for spirituality.

Burris Jackes painted the stage walls at the Court Theatre as pastel blue skies heavily dotted with fluffy white clouds. These frame the dark black box upstage, where a small group mourns the passing of Tony’s father, James. Played with gruff good-guyness by J. Kenneth Campbell, James appears later in flashbacks and as an advisor in Tony’s mind’s eye.

After receiving some food from his slightly daft maiden Aunt Maggie (Lee Garlington), Tony retires to a bathroom to flush away his father’s ashes.

A few weeks later, Tony’s friend Jeff (Lance Guest) finds him unbathed, recently detached from his girlfriend (Jennifer Parsons) and sliding toward unemployment.

In his search for faith and equilibrium, Tony meets believers of different creeds and of questionable sanity and honesty. His libido leads him to join a New Age cult, led by buxom good-looker Rebecca (Cynthia Ettinger). Commercialism, selfishness and greed abound.

There is, of course, the slimy television reverend (Jerry Lambert) who appears downstage as a disembodied indirect commentator on the actions upstage, where Tony’s father appears to give Tony advice.

Michael Edwards’ direction seems aimed at merely getting laughs. That, along with the assaults on dubious religions, fails to make a statement that supports the touching last moments.

* “Crashing Heaven,” Court Theatre, 722 N. La Cienega Blvd. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends Dec. 19. $15 to $20. (310) 845-0740. Running time: 2 hours.