‘Nathalie’ Seems a Vanity Piece

While intermittently amusing, Kristina Robbins’ one-woman “Nathalie Gets Made,” about the internecine squabblings of three Mary Kay representatives, smacks of the trumped-up vanity piece. Robbins and her co-writer Carina Chocano, who also directs, fall short of the inspired camp that would distinguish their derivative tale.

Nathalie, a bored young hotel receptionist who is still living with her mom, hears a motivational talk by Claire, a formidably perky Mary Kay sales director, and is inspired to change her life. However, Claire’s boozy former business partner Mickie has some shocking dish about Nathalie’s glamorous mentor.

As a performer, Robbins has a nicely winsome quality, but her roughly drawn characters are neither subtle nor extreme enough to get the big laughs. The most interesting dramatic element is the clandestine interaction between Claire and Mickie. The title character, Nathalie, remains oddly extraneous to the action throughout, and why Mickie and Claire compete for such a dimwit as a business partner remains a mystery.

*

* “Nathalie Gets Made,” Tamarind Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. Thursdays-Sundays, 8 p.m. Ends April 26. $18. (213) 964-4516. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.