The new summer show at the Sierra Madre Playhouse is Neil Simon's "The Gingerbread Lady," a dramatic comedy, set in Manhattan in the 1970s.

Strong acting and able directing by Melanie Ewbank and Linda L. Rand (who also has the leading role) make this play memorable.

Linda Rand plays Evy Meara, a recovering alcoholic returning home after an extended stay at rehab. From the moment she walks onstage, her nervous demeanor immediately alerts the audience that her struggle with drink is not over.

Before she has time to settle in, her teenaged daughter (played by Molly Lynch, whose expressive face is a delight to watch) arrives with her suitcase and a plan to move in with her "new improved" mother.

But the teenager's neediness is more than Evy can endure, and her agitation increases.

Two loyal and supportive friends come to encourage Evy, but their lives are less than serene, and their attention does not relieve her distress.

Chuck Hand plays Jimmy Perry, a gay, out-of-work actor stressing over the fact that he can't be a star, and then when he does get a part, lamenting over the injustice of being bumped three days before opening. Hand's excellent rendition of a hysterical, over-the-top nervous breakdown is typical for the character, and very believable.

Nancy Lantis plays Toby Landau, for whom beauty is everything. She constantly "fixes" her make up and gazes admiringly into mirrors. On the eve of her 40th birthday, her life falls apart and she immediately runs to the already over-distraught Evy to recount her tale of woe ... in detail. Her heartbreaking expose of sexual prowess and failure is farsical, but oddly touching.

As a final blow, Lou Tanner ( Chey Kennedy), an old Hippy lover who broke Evy's heart shows up looking like "the second day of a garbage strike." She steels herself against his pleas for reconciliation and commands him to go away. But soft words and a sexy pose at the open doorway nearly do her in.

Of course, the inevitable happens, and Evy falls off the wagon. Her daughter and two friends leave in disgust. In desperation she seeks out the abusive lover, after which suicide-by-alcohol seems the only solution.

But what could be a depressing play, then takes an upward swing and beams of light begin to penetrate Evy's darkness.

There is the expected, but sad reversal of roles. And the audience is left unsure of an ultimate outcome. But hope shines forth as the lights dim on the final act. "The Gingerbread Lady"is sure to be an hot topic for discussion among those who attend performances.

Playing now through Sept. 22. Shows are at 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. General admission is $20, Seniors (65+) and students (13-16) pay $17, Children (under 12) pay $12.

Call (626) 256-3809 for information and reservations. The theater is located at 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, CA. Free parking is available behind the theater