‘Heir Transparent’ by Theatricum Botanicum; Two One-Acts at the Cast; ‘The Club’ by West Coast Ensemble; ‘Or’ at Richmond Shepard Theatre : ‘The Club’

The Scene: the flower of male chauvinism, an exclusive men’s club in 1903.

The Surprise: a cast of women dressed in tuxedos playing men speaking about women.

The West Coast Ensemble is staging Eve Merriam’s musical spoof, “The Club” (a multiple Obie winner from 1977). Allison R. Liddi’s staging is sublime and the actresses a diversionary delight in their satire of the vanities and attitudes of Havana-puffing clubmen musing about women from the dark paneled comfort of their bar.

The actresses don’t ham it up. They play it straight, from four serene, complacent gentlemen right down to a maestro, a bellhop and a dutiful black barkeep named Henry. The irony is lightly tangy, never shrill.

The show’s details are sharp, from Robert Cortelyou’s set (with elevated on-stage piano) to Jane Francis Lloyd’s caramel lighting, to hair designer Richard A. Zimmerman’s array of wigs and lacquered waves.

The selected songs (arrangements by Alexandria Ivanoff) are from the period 1894-1905--a nostalgic feast. The talent, choreographed by Jim Kelly, glides effortlessly through intricate cues.

Devoutly male until the curtain call, the actresses even maintain this show’s tradition of sexless initials in their billing (D. Carlson, K. Bates, A. Wilson, C. Barret, B. E. Ivens, C. Friedl and E. Harding).

Plays at 6240 Hollywood Blvd. Thursdays through Sundays, 8 p.m. Sunday matinees at 3. Ends July 31. Tickets: $8-$10. (213) 871-1052.