The British accents are above-average, Tera Struck's period costumes and wigs are meticulously rendered, and the unmistakable style of Restoration farce fills the air. Yet the whiff of contemporary sex comedy is also quite evident in director-adapter Richard Tatum's clever take on Edward Ravenscroft's 17th-century comedy, infused with a crowd-pleasing 21st-century sensibility. Imagine Desperate Housewives by way of Tom Jones. There's much to admire in this witty production, as Tatum and his ensemble mine the script's bawdy humor, outrageous plot complications, and pointed social satire. Unfortunately the lengthy play becomes too much of a good thing. There are only so many wide-eyed, exaggerated facial expressions and so much frantic running around that any production can withstand before a sense of repetitiveness sets in.
The excess can primarily be traced to the overwrought script. There's little to quibble about in the ensemble, which offers an array of fine characterizations, capturing the crisp stylization of the genre. The labyrinth of story elements revolves around three upper-crust married gentlemen (Herb Mendelsohn, Charles Pacello, and Quincy Miller) with overactive libidos but feeble brains, and a handsome scoundrel (Darin Toonder) determined to capitalize on the wandering eyes of the restless wives (Julie Granata, Catherine Cronin on the night reviewed, and Jessica Mills). The battle-of-the-sexes story commences with a brainless discussion among the three titular dolts. These chauvinistic husbands ruminate on which kind of wife is most controllable: silly or sharp-witted? Teenage simpleton Peggy (hilariously portrayed by Mills) is obvious prey for the local libertines; shrewd and feisty Arabella (the superb Granata) can't wait to commit adultery; religiously pious Eugenia (Cronin, a hoot) tries to reconnect with a long-absent ex-lover (an inspired comic turn by Matt Saxe). In a finely etched portrayal, Toonder makes a deliciously inept anti-hero. The actors playing the husbands elicit solid belly laughs. Patty Robinson and Tracy Eliott sparkle as two saucy maids. Also of note are the spry contributions of Zack Foulkes, Kenn Johnson, and Helene McCardle. Tatum and his ferociously funny farceurs make this ribald romp worth catching.
Presented by and at the Ark Theatre Company,
1647 S. La Cienega Blvd., L.A.
Thu.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m. Thu.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m. Mar. 1-Apr. 12. (323) 969-1707. www.arktheatreorg.