CENTER REPERTORY COMPANY OF WALNUT CREEK takes on something new and different in presenting award-winning playwright Karen Zacarias’s 2009 spoof, “The Book Club Play.” It’s a play about the making of a documentary, following the activities of a group of adults who meet twice a month to discuss their selected book. The show, which continues at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek through Feb. 28, is just about as interesting as it sounds — for better or worse.

Zacarias looks at two aspects of book clubbing in the play: how people respond to the books they read, and the ways they relate to each other in the process of sharing their responses. Ironically, there is a sense that a person might get more out of the play by reading it rather than watching it unfold onstage, because the connections between the book excerpts and what transpires among the friends is not always obvious. And perhaps that is part of the playwright’s intent after all — to demonstrate the advantage of reading books over watching dramatizations.

Director Becca Wolff adds interest to the production by incorporating projected images in a number of ways. Overhead monitors, for example, offer periodic glances at the finished product: a video juxtaposing the home gatherings with individual reader interviews, pundit commentary and reporter narration. It’s fun to see an interview in progress on the stage while simultaneously viewing the video feed on the monitor above, though it can be distracting when the two are out of sync. The monitors are also used for a kind of silent-film effect, displaying a framed book title before each new club meeting scene.

Actors’ Equity Association member Liam Vincent stands out as the one character with the most personality of the bunch in his portrayal of Will, a single guy somewhat obsessed with propriety. He seems to be the one most passionate about the books and the club and brings a foundation of interest to the circle. Kathryn Han is also funny as Ana, the hostess and the one responsible for bringing the documentary film maker onto the scene. Ana seems to be more excited about being “on TV” than she is about any kind of enlightenment or inspiration the friends might get out of their reading.

Equity actor Gabriel Marin is on the other end of the intensity scale as Ana’s husband Rob, who usually doesn’t get around to reading the book between meetings. Rob is a simple guy who confesses he’s mostly there for the food.

Equity actor Rebecca Schweitzer and Khalia Davis have lesser roles as Jen and Lily, respectively. Jen is the shy, emotional one (she chose “Age of Innocence”) while Lily fills a niche as Ana’s ego boost (an underling by virtue of her position as Ana’s assistant editor at work) and, to other club members at least, a token representative of the African American voice — when Ana proudly proclaims (to the camera) that they are a “diverse” group, Lily points out that none of the authors they have chosen has been black — or, for that matter, female.

The most pivotal character in “Book Club,” though, is the unexpected guest who arrives toward the end of the series. Jen didn’t exactly invite her friend Alex (played swimmingly by Alonso Yabar) to attend, but not being especially assertive, she wasn’t able to find a way to tell him he couldn’t just show up without a formal invitation from the group.

Yabar captures the role of the comparative literature professor beautifully, gently but keenly pointing out ways the others could get more out of their participation in the club. “The Return of Tarzan,” “Twilight” and “The DaVinci Code,” he suggests, could all be just as intriguing and fruitful to discuss as classic tomes like “Ulysses” or “War and Peace.” At first the group responds harshly to the newcomer, reluctant to open their cloistered group to an outsider, but by the following meeting Alex has succeeded in altering their perceptions.

“The Book Club Play” is a refreshing departure by virtue of its unusual subject matter, but also because of the complex framework in which it is presented. The production doesn’t follow a familiar theatrical vein, so it can feel puzzling at times — but in essence it’s a light-hearted look at books and how they affect our lives, whether we read them or not.

If You Go
“The Book Club Play” continues at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek through Feb. 28. Tickets are $33 to $58 and are available by calling 925-943-7469 or online at lesherarrtscenter.org.

Elizabeth Warnimont is a freelance writer specializing in the performing arts. She is also a substitute teacher for the Benicia Unified School District.