The idea of a funny doorman isn’t exactly a groundbreaking plot twist. The job, which puts a guy in your line of vision for exactly ten seconds, seems almost designed for the cultivation of witty one-liners. Maybe that’s what playwright Kenneth Lonergan was thinking with Lobby Hero, which opened in an off-Broadway theater in New York ten years ago. Then again, maybe Lonergan had more complex issues on his mind.
The comedy centers on moral dilemmas. Jeff, our screw-up, funny-guy doorman, tries to stay out of trouble but constantly stumbles into new messes. There’s been a vicious murder, and William, Jeff’s boss, has a no-good brother who might have been involved. Does William blow the whistle or keep his mouth shut? Directed by Adalberto Acevedo, Alliance Theatre Lab tackles Lobby Hero, opening Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Main Street Playhouse.
Thursdays, Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 5 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Starts: Nov. 10. Continues through Nov. 27, 2011