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

Theatricum Botanicum, venturing into period farce, has added relish to its summer festival with the West Coast premiere of a 17th-Century French comedy, “The Heir Transparent,” by Jean-Francois Regnard.

Regnard (1655-1709), who wrote for the Comedie-Italienne, and later the Comedie-Francaise, is not Moliere--his characters are less developed and too crude for that. But his comic situations are a witty surprise under delicious casting and the deft commedia direction of Ellen Geer.

Freyda Thomas’ translation cleverly retains the spirit of the play’s verse. An actor-triumvirate (Ford Rainey’s dying miser and Melora Marshall and George McDaniel’s conspiring maid and valet) contributes ripe, physical performances.

One point suggests a sight gag from a silent movie. The abusive, wheelchair-bound Rainey is picked up and hauled down a flight of stairs literally on the back of Marshall’s undaunted maid.

The play’s hook is the valet as the central character. Here, Crispin’s propulsive, gleeful performance is embellished by his greased, pointy (punk strip) hair style.

In support, Philip Littell essays a dim, awkward lover and Susan Angelo an ingenue who never speaks more than four words at a time. A vivid Randi Pareira does a bizarre turn as a very short notary. Her character is half her real height, a feat sublimely--painfully?--created by squatting under a billowy robe.

Abra Flores’ period costumes highlight technical credits. Children too can enjoy this outdoor production in a canyon setting.

Plays at 1419 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. Matinee this Saturday only, 3 p.m. Ends Aug. 6. Tickets: $4 (children under 12)-$12.50; (213) 455-3723.