Outlandish in the Ozarks

Gilroy's Pintello Comedy Theater presents 'Farce of Habit'

WILD MIDWEST April Ouellette as Wanelle, and Maureen Haney as Deputy Maxie tangle at the Reel ‘Em Inn in ‘Farce of Habit’. Performing at Pintello Comedy Theater through Feb. 25, 2017. Credit: Marion Pintello

Farce is one of the theatrical forms well suited to the community theater, what with its over-the-top characters, zany plots and wild action.

Gilroy’s Pintello Comedy Theater is making the most of its six-play collaboration with playwrights Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten with Farce of Habit, a sequel to 2014’s Farce of Nature, in which the Southern-fried action is centered at the Reel ‘Em Inn, a rustic fishing lodge in the Ozarks of Arkansas. Everything moves a lot slower there as the Wilburn family hosts a strange assortment of guest over a stormy weekend: a snobbish English talk-show host, a hapless bow-tied Midwesterner, a group of nuns housed in the barn, a vengeful ex-wife and, lurking among them all, a serial killer.

The true star of the show is Maureen Haney, reprising her role as sheriff’s deputy Maxie, sister to hapless innkeeper D. Gene Wilburn (Jim McGann, twitching and itching with ferocity) and his caffeine-addict wife Wanelle (April Ouellette).

Haney deadpans her way through all sorts of inanity, and really is something to behold in black leather hot pants and vest.

Jeff Patereau is appropriately imperious and uptight as Nigel St. Clair, who’s hiding from his adoring public (and soon-to-be-ex-wife), even if his attempts to hide behind the couch are ridiculous and his British accent comes and goes with changes in the weather.

Derek Barnes and Angela Doss Santiago have their own set of troubles as newlyweds Ty and Jenna, who discover their marriage certificate has never been filed in court. Ty’s also keeping a silly secret from his wife: His role as understudy in the local community theater production of Around the World in 80 Days requires parading around in a series of increasingly ludicrous costumes.

Kel Whisner masters the art of physical comedy with his role as a Midwesterner looking for a life change. When he downs a “tonic” meant for Ty, his herky-jerky response is side splitting.

Keep an eye on Dena Gregory as a Californian on a quick visit, and Barbara Bottini as Sister Myrtle Agnes, also not what you’d expect.

The raucous action, directed by Marion Pintello, is typical of a “four-door” farce, even when the plot doesn’t depend quite so much on those quick entries and exits. Still, the whole thing is an evening of silly fun.

‘Farce of Habit’ by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. Presented by Pintello Comedy Theater. Additional performances through Feb. 25, 2017 at the Gilroy Grange Hall. (408) 337-1599; www.PintelloComedy.com.