RCT offers comedy about 1950s TV show antics

Richmond Civic Theatre is offering five opportunities to laugh this weekend, including a rare Saturday matinee.

The latest comedy, “Laughter on the 23rd Floor,” offers insights on what goes on behind the scenes to make a 1950s TV comedy-variety show.

Different than most of its Main Stage productions, RCT has condensed all performances of “Laughter” into one weekend, April 3-6. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, plus two matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Neil Simon wrote “Laughter” in 1993. His inspiration came from his own early career experience as a junior writer (along with his brother Danny) for “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour.”

The plot is focused on the show’s star, a Sid Caesar-like Max Prince, and his staff, including Simon’s alter-ego Lucas Brickman, who maintains a running commentary on the writing, fighting and wacky antics that take place in the writers’ room. The harried staff frantically scrambles to top each other while competing for Max’s attention.

Max has an ongoing battle with NBC executives, who fear his humor is too sophisticated for Middle America.

RCT staff say the play is notable not only for its insider’s look at the personalities and processes of television comedy writing, but also for its reflection of the political and social undercurrents of its time, in particular the rise of Joseph McCarthy, relationships between various (European) American ethnicities, and attitudes toward women. Longtime RCT volunteer David Cobine directs the R-rated show.