Male Bonding and Humor in ‘Suit’

Five scruffy Latino laborers, too poor to buy decent clothing, pool their cash to purchase a beautiful white summer suit. Once they possess the coveted garment, a small miracle occurs. In addition to a new pride and dignity, the suit brings the five men friendship, stability and hope.

Ray Bradbury’s one-act “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit” could be subtitled “Better Living Through Male Bonding.” The current revival at Nosotros is not particularly distinguished in terms of production values. However, on a shoestring budget, this short, sweet, highly sentimentalized little parable manages to be entertaining and life-affirming--not a bad recommendation for an evening of theater.

The word dear often comes to mind during the course of this brief evening--dear in the sense of sweet, as opposed to costly. Director Marcela Cardinale doesn’t stint on the schmaltz, yet interjects a palatable humor into the mix. Luis Alva, Larry Costales, Armando Ramirez, Edwin Rivera and Robert Servellon, who play the five “suitors,” are funny and convincing.

* “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit,” Nosotros Theatre, 1314 N . Wilton Place, Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 and 7 p.m. Ends Dec . 31. $15. (213) 465-4167. Running time: 1 hour.