‘Fried Worms’ Cooks Up Gross-Out Giggles

A comic-book set, goofy adults and jokes about eating creepy crawlies--”How to Eat Fried Worms,” the Serendipity Theatre’s children’s comedy at the Coronet Theatre, has undeniable kid appeal.

In Thomas Rockwell’s play, smoothly staged by Denys Gawronski, Billy (Rasi Delgado) says he’ll eat 15 worms in 15 days. His pal Alan (Lawrence Bammer) bets $50 that he won’t.

But Billy, with the help of lots of ketchup, mustard and other condiments, is chonking those night crawlers down. Time for Alan and conniving Jo (Rebekah Baker) to do a little scheming.

The child cast does a respectable job, eliciting groans and giggles and audible “Ewww, gross” comments from the audience, but professional adult actors (Caryn Ronis and Eugene Rubenzer) add the polish and the big laughs as Billy’s deliciously nutty parents, whose idea of encouragement is to serve Worm a la King for dinner.

Rubenzer’s dual comic turn as Alan’s dad is another plus, as is Randall Perry’s cartoony production design, complemented by Ken Realista’s lighting and sound by Lyle Brooks.

* “ How to Eat Fried Worms,” Coronet Theatre, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Friday, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday, 1 and 4 p.m. Ends Feb. 16. $12 ($6 for ages 13 and under); (213) 652-9199).