‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ through July 19 at Gloucester Stage

GLOUCESTER – Neil Simon’s “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” is the first Simon play to be produced at the Gloucester Stage Company in its 30-year history – and GSC gets it right.Those expecting a comedy filled with Simon’s trademark comic blow-ups will not be disappointed, and those who like to see some substance swirling around under all the laughter will also be delighted.The 1969 play follows Barney, a married middle-aged restaurant owner in search of the romance he fears that he missed, as he tries to find what he’s looking for in three different women.In Act 1 the woman is Elaine, a married woman with a burning need for a cigarette or a quick sexual encounter- she boasts that her husband assumes that she’s married and she assumes what she wants. Elaine is followed by Bobbie, a bisexual hippie entertainer-wanna-be, and Jeannette, a frightened, in-over-her-head married friend of Barney and his wife.Barney is played to the hilt by Ken Baltin, a GSC veteran, who is equally comfortable as straight man to three wonderful Sixties women and a fully developed character in his own right who grows as the encounters progress.All three women are played by Karen MacDonald, making her GSC acting debut with audience-charming style. That is Simon’s brilliant stroke in this play – Barney almost makes three different mistakes but under the skin – and the wildly different costumes – they’re all the same mistake. What Barney learns from those near-misses is what gives the play its depth – and MacDonald is there to teach him every step of the way.No review of this effort could be complete without mentioning Eric Levenson’s perfect New York City apartment set. Barney’s dates all take place in his mother’s apartment, under the watchful eyes of dozens of family photos, and the convertible couch where Barney wants to consummate his affairs is sheathed in plastic because it’s the only new furniture in the room.This production is a crowd pleaser and it deserves to get a lot of crowds.If You Go?’Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ will run through July 19 at the Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St.Performances are at8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 4 p.m. onSundays, with Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $37 for adults and $32 for seniors and students. Reservations and further information are available at(978) 281-4433 orwww.gloucesterstage.org