COMEDY IN ORANGE COUNTY : Folksy Approach to Humor at ‘Room Over the Coffee Shop’

As Orange County’s newest comedy nightspot, Coconuts in Anaheim takes a decidedly modest approach compared to the high-profile Improvisation Comedy Club in Irvine and the 11-year-old Laff Stop in Newport Beach, which proclaims itself “America’s Premiere Comedy Nightclub.”

“Basically, we’re kind of a mom-and-pop comedy club,” said Brian Craft, who owns Coconuts with partner Kelly Renner.

“I mean, Kelly hits the lights while I’m reaching into the closet to turn off the cassette. She runs up and introduces me, then I run on stage to start the show, and she seats people while I’m on stage.

“So you don’t have 13 people to go through to get seated. It’s ‘The guy on stage seated us and the lady who introduced him was the lady we bought our tickets from. . . .’ ”

And that, in a nutshell, is the kind of scaled-down, folksy approach that separates Coconuts from local mainstays the Laff Stop and the Improvisation. There are assorted other differences, both physical and philosophical, between this “mom-and-pop comedy club” and those venues.

For one thing, Coconuts, which opened for funny business on the first weekend in May, is in the Anaheim Ramada Inn, above the hotel’s Dugout Lounge. (That location already has served as the butt of jokes; one comic recently revealed that his agent had lined up gigs in Atlantic City and Las Vegas, “but I said, ‘No--I’d rather work in a little room above a hotel coffee shop in Anaheim.’ ”)

For another, the club so far offers shows only on Friday and Saturday nights, although Renner and Craft said that eventually they hope to add Sundays at the Ramada and hold weeknight shows at other, so-called “satellite” locations.

And while the seating capacity of the Improv and Laff Stop is in the 250 to 280 range, Coconuts’ current room can hold 70 to 125 patrons, (though, again, if the club starts to do well enough, the owners hope to move to a larger room at the Ramada).

If the room’s size isn’t a financial boon to Renner and Craft, it does help promote one of Coconuts’ most distinctive traits: the intimate, friendly atmosphere.

“A lot of times when people come to comedy clubs, they feel very self-conscious,” explained Renner, who books the comedians. “We try to make it so people don’t feel self-conscious, that everyone feels comfortable and has a good time.”

This amiable atmosphere is established--and patrons are put at ease--immediately by Craft, an engaging, polished performer who emcees each show and chats briefly with the audience members.

“I don’t call anybody names, and I don’t say that they’re stupid for doing whatever they’re doing,” said Craft, 30. “I try to make people feel comfortable, have fun, get a laugh and move on. . . . We’re there to make people forget their bills--and make them feel special--for those couple of hours.”

But even when those “couple of hours” are up, the warm, friendly atmosphere doesn’t necessarily end. That is partly because each person entering the club receives a ticket good for one drink downstairs at the Dugout Lounge--a policy that encourages patrons to mingle after the shows. These impromptu social sessions sometimes last well into the evening.

If all this makes Coconuts sound downright homey, it is. But not the least bit hokey . Renner and Craft know what they are doing, having been around the comedy block a few times. “Between us, Brian and I have been in the comedy industry for over 15 years,” Renner said.

The way those years divide up is nine for comedian Craft, the last few as a headliner at clubs across the country. (Hemophilic, he is also spokesman for the National Hemophilia Foundation and has performed numerous benefits for that and other organizations.) Renner, who wouldn’t reveal her age, has spent her six years in comedy primarily managing Craft. She had previously held other show-biz jobs, from running an equity dinner theater in Florida to acting in such TV shows as “Soap” and “WKRP in Cincinnati.”)

The pair had dreamed about owning a comedy club practically since they met six years ago in Ft. Lauderdale. With their partnership, which isn’t strictly professional (they are engaged), Renner and Craft aim to present top-notch comedians that are experienced, road-tested and clean.

And if their bookings are a little uneven, they are generally featuring some sharp funny folks. The headliner this weekend, Dailey Pike, is an energetic, lightning-quick veteran comic. Like Pike, most Coconuts headliners have notched at least some TV credits and a few--such as Drake Sather, who appears July 15 and 16--have been on “Late Night With David Letterman.”

While the Improv and Laff Stop are practically a stone’s throw from each other, in Irvine and Newport Beach, respectively, the arrival of Coconuts--part of a Florida-based chain--helps fill a comedy void in the north-central part of Orange County.

That is no accident, either. “We researched Anaheim thoroughly, and we were convinced that it was the right place for the club that we wanted,” Renner said.

Nodding in agreement and going on to address the further benefit of adding the satellite locations, Craft commented: “The good thing about Coconuts is that we’ll be bringing quality acts to different areas that might not have the population to sustain a full-time club.”

Coconuts is at the Ramada Inn, 1331 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. Shows on Friday and Saturday at 8:30 and 10 p.m. Tickets: $5. Information: (714) 978-8088.