Playwright George Herman's venerable chestnut teaches the importance of unity and greater good over that of individual selfishness. His fictitious troupe of nomadic actors specializes in the centuries-old style of commedia dell'arte, wherein stock characters — the lovers, the jester, the grouch, etc. — present improvised slapstick. With the troupe's finances in disarray, it tries to impress a wealthy duke to earn passage home. The unseen benefactor has requested them to present The History of Man, leading to all sorts of Act 1 silliness as the self-absorbed performers attempt to upstage and outdo one another. The results are often hilarious, but they reach intermission with the troupe having nearly destroyed itself and its chances for a positive outcome.
Director Joe McClean handles this script's everything-but-the-kitchen-sink requirements with skill. The set, consisting of multileveled playing spaces and littered with seemingly unrelated props and costumes, is a perfect playground for this sort of production. McClean allows his cast the latitude of complete chaos in Act 1 as we watch their efforts disintegrate before our eyes; then, the focus and guidance he provides in Act 2 is evident as his actors handle the subtleties and nuances of Herman's script with touching simplicity.
Performances are, on the whole, very well crafted. Standouts in their ability to flip between buffoonery and realism include Chas Mitchell as Pantalone, the foolish old man; Joseph Ruzer as Scapino, the roguish troublemaker; Andrew Mueller as Harlequin, the company's leader, who struggles to keep his troupe intact; and Andrea Pandazedes as Colombine, Harlequin's wisecracking, devoted spouse. Supporting them with varying degrees of success are Jason Parsons and Sarah Yahr Tucker as the juvenile lovers, Tristano and Isabella; Marc McHone as Capitano, the self-appointed know-it-all; Candace Brown as Ruffiana, the troupe tart; and Jack Seal as Dottore, the grumpy doctor. Tchia Casselle's appropriately Renaissance-like costuming is augmented beautifully by Wendy Gough Soroka's handcrafted masks. Rich Wong's lighting is particularly effective during Act 2's quieter moments, as director McClean and his company demonstrate the true art of ensemble acting.
Presented by and at the Write Act Repertory Theatre, 6128 Yucca Ave., Hollywood. Thu.-Sat. 8 p.m. Jun. 26-Aug. 2. (323) 469-3113. www.writeactrep.org