COMEDY : Benefit offers a dose of laughter that will help ease rape victims’ pain.

Apart from its other benefits, laughter is highly regarded for its medicinal value. This weekend’s prescription is to make yourself feel better by laughing for a good cause.

The Sigma Pi fraternity at Cal State Dominguez Hills presents its fourth annual “Comedy Thrills at Dominguez Hills” benefit Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the campus’ University Theater. Admission is $10 for the public and $5 for students.

The show is a benefit for the Community Center Rape and Sexual Assault Hotline, which provides 24-hour crisis intervention and counseling for people in the South Bay.

Henry Cho, who stars in the television show “The New WKRP in Cincinnati” and who has appeared in several cable TV specials, will supply the comedy and the performer Flame will amaze, mystify and delight with her “Magic of Flame” show. Local musical entertainers round out the night’s program.

“Rape is no laughing matter,” said Raul Castillo, a member of Sigma Pi. “But maybe your laughter for an evening might help a rape victim.”

The fraternity hopes to raise at least $2,000 for the hot line, he said.

The fraternity’s relationship with the hot line began several years ago when its counselors helped a member’s friend who had been raped, Castillo said.

“Those young men care about women,” said Betty Halle, the hot line’s acting director. “They’re the only ones who have consistently supported this hot line.”

She said the hot line is seeking funding from a variety of sources and is looking for a permanent center for its services. Volunteer counselors work with South Bay Hospital, Little Company of Mary and UCLA Harbor General Hospital, Halle said.

Cho, who met Halle when she worked at a comedy club, said he likes to do as many benefits as he can.

“Saturday’s show is for a good cause,” he said. Cho, a Korean-American, described himself as “real clean and basically a storyteller.”

He doesn’t do much ethnic material, he said, except to explain his Tennessee origins, which accounts for his Southern accent.

Flame, widely acclaimed for her performances at the Magic Castle and magic clubs around the United States, has done several benefits for the hot line.

“Since I can’t be a counselor, this is my way to contribute to the cause,” said Flame, who prefers to be identified by her stage name.

During her act, Flame produces doves and animals, seemingly out of thin air. One of the few professional female magicians and the only female classical dove magician, Flame said support for women has “kept me going.”

The show is also supported by the university’s Women’s Center, which has sponsored several programs in March to celebrate Women’s History Month, said Angie Schneider, the center’s coordinator.

What: “Comedy Thrills at Dominguez Hills”

Where: University Theater, Cal State Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson

When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Admission: $10 for the public; $5 for students with ID

Information: (310) 516-3559. The hot line numbers are (310) 545-1230 and (310) 410-7066.