A Tale of ‘False Bravado’ and a Need for Acceptance

“False Bravado,” the title of James Morrison’s play, refers both to whatis required of a troubled teenager seeking to join a motorcycle gang, the Bravados, and to its members who fail to uphold their creed. This Blue Sphere Alliance production at the Lex has some decent performances, but none save Morrison’s script, which attempts to address too many issues.

Morrison illustrates the opposing views of the Vietnam War using the microcosm of a 1970s Northern California small-town motorcycle gang. Greasy-haired, alcoholic Reno (Will Yun Lee) has shot his foot to avoid the draft. Patch (Kurt Caceres), a Native American, was disabled in ‘Nam and spends his time sewing to calm his nerves. Brutus (Patrick Wilkins) gets high any way he can to escape his war memories. The gang’s leader, clean-cut Rufus (Elijha Mahar), is 4-F for some unknown reason.

Joey (Jerrod Cornish), the son of an alcoholic mother, yearns to belong to the group and on this day makes his bid.

Director Anthony Barnao has a light, sensitive hand, but he plays it a bit too clean--not evoking the gritty cool of a rebel gang. He also can’t overcome the script’s mechanical problems to make this a smooth ride.

Morrison doesn’t build the complications--they appear suddenly, or they seem unrelated to anything else. The guilt Rufus feels over his girlfriend’s death some time ago is a wild plot tangent. Patch’s probation for an unknown crime is a convenient problem for Joey’s initiation.

All of this feels more false than brave--and totally unconvincing.

BE THERE

“False Bravado,” Blue Sphere Alliance at the Lex, 6760 Lexington Ave., Hollywood. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Aug. 13. $15. (323) 930-9304. Running time: 1 hour,20 minutes.