It’s a first date. We’ve all been there. But seldom is a preliminary rendezvous as much of a roller coaster ride as Adam Szymkowicz’s “Nerve,” an offbeat romantic comedy in its West Coast premiere at The Chance Theatre in Anaheim Hills through Feb. 27. Seldom is such an occasion as hilarious or as crazy as this one, though the play is bound to ring a few bells for those playing the online dating game these days; mostly, it will ring peals of laughter.

Director Marya Mazor matches the many revelations of the evening with some clever touches of her own. Her casting is inspired, matching Chance regular Casey Long, as needy Elliott, opposite Jessie Withers as neurotic Susan. The pair have solid chemistry, an essential ingredient for a two-character play with no intermission. Long is consistently amusing; Withers has terrific stage presence, and is especially commanding when she’s out there by herself. Call 714-777-3033.

Alan Ayckbourn's "The Norman Conquests,"a delectable comic trilogy of plays staged in Los Angeles and London decades ago, and recently revived on Broadway, is now available on DVD. The plays, which concern the shenanigans that take place when three couples cross paths at a country house one weekend, tell the same story from three different points of view. Produced for British TV in 1977 and broadcast here on PBS, the trilogy stars Tom Conti. (Available from Acorn Media).

Hot tip: You’ll want to stick around for the post-show at The Chance (and the actor’s real-life dating stories) following “Nerve.” The storefront theatre’s On-the-Radar workshop series commences Feb. 16, and features a new play by Adam Szymkowiczon May 4.

More from Jordan:

Kazan’s sexy ‘Mlle. God’ at Ensemble Studio

John Lithgow, Hershey Felder deliver in solo shows

South Coast Rep introduces new Studio Series

‘No Exit’ at Stages, Moyers’ ‘Writers’ on DVD

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