OTHERWISE ENGAGED  by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

Otherwise Engaged, Simon Gray’s play written in the 70’s is the latest offering by the Group Rep Company at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.  It is set in the living room of Simon Hench’s London flat in 1975.

            

Simon Hench (Michael Robb), a successful publisher, is home alone, his wife having left on a trip to the country.  Obviously he is relishing having time to himself to relax while enjoying a quiet afternoon listening to a recording of Wagner’s Parsifal which seems to stir his emotions.  But fate will not have it so, for as soon as Simon gets comfortable, he is interrupted by Dave (Joseph Marcelo) his bungling tenant. 

          

  Following Dave’s departure, his insecure school teacher brother Stephen (Fox Carney) shows up.  There seems to be no rest for the wicked because, when his brother takes his leave, his friend Jeff (Doug Haverty) an imbibing journalist, arrives with his girlfriend Davina (Kait Haire) who has written a book that she wishes Simon to publish.  She makes it obvious that she will stop at nothing to get him to do so! 

            

His longtime friend Wood (Lee Grober) becomes another infringement upon his privacy.    It seems his fiancé has been cheating on him only to be an additional conquest of Simon’s.  Simon has shown no feelings of any kind to any one of his visitors.  He is numb to anyone but himself.  Last but not least to conflict with Simon’s plan for the day, is the unexpected return home of his wife Beth (Beccy Quinn).  She tells him that she has been having an affair, is pregnant and is leaving him.  As she walks out of his life, one wonders if he thinks or cares about anyone in the world but himself, or wonders if he ever has.

            

Otherwise Engaged is directed by Linda Alznauer.  The actors give fine performances.  Michael Robb is perfect as the insufferable Simon Hench.  Because the play takes place in London, their roles are performed with English accents. At times I found it difficult to understand some in the early part of the production.       

            

Otherwise Engaged plays Saturdays at 4 PM, Sundays at 7 PM, through September 8, Upstairs at the Group Rep, Second Floor of the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood.  Tickets and information are available online at www.thegrouprep.com, or by phone at (818) 763-5990.