FESTIVAL ‘ 90 : STAGE REVIEWS : OPEN FESTIVAL : Relaxed Humor in ‘This Is Midnight’

Mitchel Young Evans has a special talent that seems to fit this late-night time slot like a glove. “This Is Midnight,” at Friends and Artists Theatre Ensemble, is a relaxed hour of silent comedy that borrows from the past and makes its loans seem new, and makes its innovations timeless.

Some of his work is abstract, some pure vaudeville, but much of it is amusing and there are a few moments that are sheer beauty.

From a work in progress, “Water” is an extended visual poem, a paean to aquatic life, in which Evans confines his movements to his arms and hands, with plastic fluidity and a rarefied descriptive sense that’s hypnotic.

The vaudeville shtick runs rampant in an early number called “Swept Away,” an ongoing battle with an anthropomorphic push broom that’s delinquent in the extreme, and only begs forgiveness as Evans’ second banana, Alexandra Johnson, becomes the limp victim of his misguided efforts. A very funny martial arts exercise and a clever new look at 3-D movies help to fill out the hour. The climax is an interesting piece on the ravages of vampirism, but seems unfinished, although it has a couple of dazzling images.

At 1761 N. Vermont Ave., Hollywood; Saturdays, midnight; ends Sept. 29. $8; (213) 664-0689.