JEN DIBBLE as Rosemary Mortimore, Bobby D. Lux at Dr. Hubert Bonney, Laura Lejuwaan as Jane Tate, Judy Jones as Mother and Roxy Payne as Leslie (Westminster Community Playhouse).

By Thom deMartino/Orange County Tribune

The doctor is in – trouble. Deep trouble.

Director Stephen Gomer and the Westminster Community Playhouse are presenting the classic 1987 Ray Cooney farce, “It Runs In the Family,” now playing through Sunday, March 30 at the popular community theater.

“Family” opens with the renowned Dr. David Mortimore (Jon Korbonski) pacing and prepping for his speech to a group of fellow neurologists… and his frayed nerves are not helped by the presence of his boss, Sir Willoughby Drake (Paul Hunn) pushing him to be entertaining in his speech. Nor is he amused by the antics of the whimsical Dr. Mike Connolly (Sina Siassi) distracting him as he desperately tries to prepare. Could the pressure get any worse?

Obviously, yes it can – in the form of former nurse Jane Tate (Laura Lejuwaan), looking to speak with the keynote speaker. It’s been more than 18 years since she mysteriously vanished from the hospital… just after she’d had a fling with the married Dr. Mortimore.

It turns out the product of that affair is waiting downstairs – Leslie (Roxy Payne). Newly turned 18, she’s looking to find her long-lost father, whom her mother has told her almost nothing about – other than he’s a doctor at this very hospital. Mortimore is thoroughly unprepared for this news, and wants Jane to keep it under wraps… and away from his wife, Rosemary (Jen Dibble).

Which would be easier, if the delinquent Leslie wasn’t now rampaging through the hospital halls searching for her dad, while the police sergeant (Jack Millis), who tried arresting her earlier in the evening for drunken driving, is in hot pursuit.

The minutes are slipping away, as Mortimore’s speech to his colleagues draws inevitably closer: and he decides to confide in Dr. Hubert Bonney (Bobby D. Lux), to help run interference with both his new-found daughter, and the rest of the staff.

Time is running out for the Dr. Mortimore, in more than one way. Is there any escape from this parental predicament for him?

At least once or twice per WCP season, the troupe has presented some great comedies: and “Family” is a marvelous one for the books. There’s plenty of fun awkward moments and visual gags, not to mention the splendid pacing and comic timing by the players.

Korbonski does amazing work as Mortimore – a protagonist that the audience finds themselves not as much sympathizing with, as much as waiting for the other shoe to drop for this seemingly unrepentant cad; Siassi’s Connolly is a lovable buffoon, with some wonderful comedic moments; not to be outdone, Lux’s Dr. Bonney has some excellent shenanigans himself over the course of the show, trying to cover for Mortimore; Lejuwaan’s Jane is charming, striving to both placate her daughter, while still protecting the father’s identity; and Payne’s Leslie is a whirlwind – alternating between anger and endearment, as she draws closer to finding her real dad.

A particular scene-stealer is David Stevens as Bill, the elderly patient wheeled into the common room, whose random non-sequiturs and cheery energy are delightful in any scene he’s in.

Only one weekend remains for “It Runs In the Family” at the Westminster Community Playhouse, so you’d best get out to see it before the curtain falls … doctor’s orders.

“It Runs In the Family”: Jon Korbonski, Laura Lejuwaan and Roxy Payne star in this fun romp about family, secrets, and what lengths we go to to keep them from colliding. Playing through Sunday, March 30 at the Westminster Community Playhouse, 7272 Maple St, Westminster. Ticketing information available online at http://www.wcpstage.com, or call (714) 893-8626.