Stones in his Pockets

In the tradition of "The Mystery of Irma Vep" and "Greater Tuna," Marie Jones' 1999 two-hander "Stones in His Pockets" gets terrific comedic mileage out of versatile actors making split-second shifts among multiple characters. It allows a gifted duo to demonstrate wide-ranging comedic skills, relying almost exclusively on voice and body language to achieve the transformations. Director Zeljko Djukic's rendition taps into the talents of Andrew Friedman and Jerry Richardson, who clearly relish the opportunity to create 16 amusing characters between them. The play's first half is a nonstop lark, but the shift to a tragicomic tone after intermission feels too jarring. Thankfully, this skilled company keeps the boisterous shenanigans entertaining most of the way through.

Hollywood filmmakers have come to a small village in County Kerry, Ireland, to make a movie, giving bored working-class citizens the thrill of playing extras. The pivotal characters are local yokels Charlie (Friedman) and Jake (Richardson), each yearning for a shot at Hollywood glamour and fame. The personal values of the visitors from Tinseltown prove shallower than expected, best exemplified by a flirtatious film star, the bawdy Caroline (Friedman in an uproarious turn), who catches Jake's fancy. Richardson likewise shines in a female role, that of Aisling, an uppity young assistant director eager to climb the studio ladder.

Richardson excels as another eccentric Kerry resident, 70-year-old Mickey, who considers himself a seasoned vet, having performed as an extra in John Ford's film classic "The Quiet Man." It takes Richardson no more than an instant shift to a stooped posture and an immediate change in voice to bring this codger to life. Friedman pulls off equally impressive lightning-swift segues. The mood darkens following a suicidal drowning, as the play's title takes on literal and figurative significance. Though the script is less than the sum of its parts, Djukic's polished production and the appealing actors should satisfy most audiences.

Presented by TUTA Theatre West at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., L.A. Aug. 19-Sept. 17. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m. (No performance Sat., Aug. 27.) (323) 960-7822 or www.plays411.com/stones.