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Good, Bad, But Beautiful

 ((Coast Playhouse, West Hollywood; 99 seats; $ 12.50 top) *)

By CHRISTOPHER MEEKS

The three-girl group the Beautifuls (Heidi Godt, Sylvia MacCalla, Carrie Stauber) are supposedly belting out pop and Broadway tunes in the Tonga Room Lounge of the Las Vegas Coconut Cabana Motel, circa 1966. It's their 2 a.m.
 

Judy Arnold presents a musical revue in one act written and directed by Richard Hochberg, produced by Judy Arnold. Musical direction, Scott Harlan. Opened Nov. 3; reviewed Nov. 17; runs through Dec. 30. Running time: 1 hour, 30 min. *TX:Cast: Heidi Godt, Sylvia MacCalla, Carrie Stauber, and Jeffrey Rockwell. While lounge acts have been parodied many times, "Good, Bad, but Beautiful" has so much affection for its characters and the singing is so damn good that this act shines in a way that transcends the comic schtick. The 90 -minute show, which starts at 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, is really meant for latenighters who love all things latenight. In particular, he sweet-talks Mitzi (Godt), whose margaritas and hair-trigger giggle are making her see their previous night's lovemaking in his car was not such a terrible thing.

Honey (Stauber) must be using something other than liquor, as she stops mid-sentence, forgetting where she is, then laughs it off as a stroke.

Bette (MacCalla) insists that people pronounce her name Bet-TAY, and she finds that, even though the group is not in one of the big rooms, she really loves where she is.

Writer-director Richard Hochberg gives the women thick wigs and short skirts and shows that, even if the characters don't master the hokey choreography, they're professional all the way, laced with sensitivity, style and talent.

Set, when the night and their emotions are starting to do them in, and when their piano man (Jeffrey Rockwell), appropriately handsome and sleazy, is getting lonely and trying to arrange sleeping with one of them.