Sentimental Journey With Female Vets

“A Piece of My Heart” suffers from an abundance of sentimentality.

Based on 26 interviews with women who served in the Vietnam War, Shirley Lauro’s dated docudrama, first produced in 1991, revisits “China Beach” territory. Six women and one multipurpose male earnestly perform a quick-changing series of vignettes and monologues at International City Theatre. These ultimately resemble more of a vacation slide show than a documentary film.

The women journey from stateside optimism, through love and war and death, only to return home disillusioned. How many movies and television shows have already marched that well-worn road?

Of course, the point is that what happened to men in Vietnam happened to women, too. The United States military statistically never kept a record of the women who served over there. That fact alone makes this type of play an invaluable resource.

Even so, the stories remain redundant, even when graced with a dedicated company, Shashin Desai’s energetic direction and top-of-the-line production values. Especially impressive is Ramsey Avery’s abstract set and Tom Ruzika’s exquisite lighting. These efficiently suggest a multitude of locations and situations. However, like the performers, the set self-destructs by going over the top in a desperate plea for sympathy, rising flimsily at the climax to become the Vietnam War Memorial wall.

* “ A Piece of My Heart,” International City Theatre, Long Beach City College campus, Clark and Harvey Way, Long Beach . Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends June 20. $16. (310) 420-4128, (213) 480-3232. Running time: 2 hours.