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The Goldmans are back at Lawrence Community Theatre.

When we saw them last season in "Beau Jest," Sarah had married Bob; Bob decided to convert to Judaism; and Sarah's parents were kvetching about parking spaces, bagels and babies. Now, in "Jest a Second," playwright James Sherman returns us to the slightly dysfunctional but always lovable Jewish family in Chicago. This time Sarah is pregnant and three weeks overdue; Bob is taking his conversion very seriously; and Sarah's brother Joel has a secret. The parents are still kvetching about parking spaces, bagels and babies.

Sarah (Sarah May Shaffer) and Bob (Case Bruyr) try to comfort Joel (Brenton McCall), who is facing divorce and must tell his parents that his new girlfriend, Randi, is actually his new boyfriend, Randy (John Phythyon). When Joel's courage fails him, Bob decides to join the long theatrical tradition of men in drag and becomes "Randi." The typical kinds of hilarity ensue, and more complications arise when the real Randy turns up.

As Joel, Brenton McCall is hilarious and touching as he tries to deal with his wife's demand for full custody of their children. In several very complex phone "conversations" with his children, McCall reveals Joel's pain and frustration but conveys his clear love and devotion to his two boys. When faced with his own parents' disapproval, however, he becomes a quivering, angst-ridden mass of insecurities. McCall's performance is completely compelling; he delivers a dimensional character with charm and depth.

Peggy Sampson and Charles Decedue return as Miriam and Abe Goldman, putting on the roles like comfortable, well-fitting suits. Decedue makes a great study of Abe, who is full of sound advice even when he's not exactly sure what's going on. Sampson is brilliant as Miriam, a funny, nagging Jewish mother you have to love, because if you don't, she'll hound you until you do.

Shafer and Bruyr make a believable couple, struggling in the first year of marriage with questions of faith and parenthood that cause some funny and tense moments. Bruyr's turn in drag is a sight not to be missed.

There are some weaknesses in the script. McCall and Phythyon are not given much to work with in order to establish the truth of their relationship, but they do pretty well with what they have. There also are several moments when one wonders how Sherman is going to keep his characters from looking silly.

The real trick he has to pull out of his hat is maintaining the audience's sympathy with Miriam and Abe. They are the ones being "fooled" here, and it's hard not to make them look foolish. How Sherman works this out is surprisingly satisfying, and Sampson and Decedue hit just the right notes in order to make the ending believable.

Smartly directed by Charles Whitman, "Jest a Second" is a hilarious cure for the winter blahs and reminds us in simple ways about the joys and frustrations of families.

- Sarah Young is a lecturer in Kansas University's English department. She can be reached at youngsl@ku.edu.