LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS -- by Neil Simon -- at Marriott's Castle Harbour Hotel on Sunday evenings.

The idea of dinner theatre in Bermuda appears to be slowly catching on and, so far, it has been Barbara Hooper leading what could be a fertile new entertainment field.

As director of Theatre Express, she has chalked up some memorable successes in major City Hall productions, and she was one of the first to recognise that crossover theatre would become part of the natural evolution of the Island's theatrical history. Dinner theatre offers some interesting possibilities, tapping in on the more sophisticated tourists who are constantly looking for the new and novel in terms of entertainment.

The group has been presenting successful Sunday evening dinner theatre at Castle Harbour since last April and now have a brand new play on view. While the production is obviously aimed primarily at a tourist audience, the four-course, truly gourmet dinner in the large Windsor Room which precedes the theatrical fare, certainly makes this a pleasant evening alternative for local audiences as well.

The latest attraction is a truncated version of Neil Simon's comedy, `Last of the Red Hot Lovers'. The play takes place in New York's Manhattan, and chronicles the efforts of happily married and successful fish restaurateur Barney Cashman experimenting with the world of sexual dalliance.

His mother's apartment (emptied of Mother, of course) becomes the unlikely setting for his carefully arranged intrigues and it is the interaction between him and his female visitors which provides the comedy.

Dal Tucker, who attracted favourable attention when he appeared earlier this year in `Six Degrees of Separation', takes on the role of Barney. He is an actor of natural talent and brings an appealing air of diffidence to this mixed-up, would-be-lover. Comedy is the hardest form of acting for the amateur, and Dal Tucker makes a most promising beginning in this, his first effort.

He is greatly assisted by the strong casting of the two women in the play who provide excellent foils.

First, it is Elaine Navazio ("a woman of Polish persuasion'') who saunters into the neat domain and whose brand of New York tough-gal routine so unnerves our hero.

Dee Martin, who is well known to many Bermudians from her Inverurie Hotel days, when she performed as a singer and entertainer, is back in Bermuda and now back on stage in this, her first acting role. Her experience is evident and she turns in a beautifully polished and highly comical performance.

There are some lovely directional touches here, as when she plucks her eyebrows and resorts to deep breathing and upper body exercises to relieve the glaze of boredom which assails her as Barney tries to pour out his heart to her unreceptive ears.

In the second act, Kathy Bean (also very well known as a former dancer) takes on the role of Jeanette, not surprisingly, the exact opposite of Elaine.

Overcome with self-doubt and an almost terminal case of depression, she thwarts Barbey's every move in his progression down the primrose path. Kathy Bean is also an experienced actress, born for comedy, and she never falters in this not altogether funny role.

For despite the comedy, it is in this act that Neil Simon's underlying theme of hypocrisy and double standards comes most clearly through.

First produced in 1969, the play has been brought up to date by Barbara Hooper. Little touches, such as flossing of teeth and the now almost mandatory flourishing of condoms, achieves this.

Unfortunately, one act (and one woman) had to be removed from the play -- this, presumably, to avoid any suggestion of taxing the replete tourists' attention span. Purists would say that this destroys the balance of the play, but as entertainment, the adaptation of The Last of the Red Hot Lovers holds up.

This production takes place each Sunday evening, and it is hoped that different plays will be offered on alternate weeks. Local residents are welcome.

The one area of criticism is the long wait before the end of dinner and the commencement of the theatricals. Dinner theatre should be just that -- and enjoyed along with the dessert. As it was, some diners, understandably bored with waiting for others to finish second and even third cups of coffee, got fed up and left. A pity, as they missed a good evening of entertainment.

PATRICIA CALNAN TRAIL-BLAZING -- Theatre Express director Barbara Hooper may be carving out a fertile new entertainment niche with her dinner theatre productions such as `Last of the Red Hot Lovers', currently showing Sunday evenings at Marriott's Castle Harbour Resort.