THEATER : ‘T.G.I. Orange’ Is Crazies About the Audience

For those with a thirst for fun, the Orange County Crazies are serving up a round of improvisations called “T.G.I. Orange.” It’s a promising setup of skits comprising one part Crazies’ know-how and one part audience participation, seasoned serendipitously with the inspiration of the moment.

Like all art that trusts to the muse, improvisation is a hit-or-miss event, but the company of 15 Crazies is as game as any on the boards. Working with the suggestions from small but lively audience recently, they essayed Shakespeare around a broken copy machine, delivered pizza in half a dozen different dialects, and showed us the CIA, down and dirty, fixing a toilet.

Conducting from the sidelines was Cherie Kerr, producer, director and Crazies founder, who has guided the company through a period of remarkable growth.

Not only are the Crazies now performing in a permanent, albeit unfinished space (the Pacific Symphony Building in Santa Ana), but blossoming confidence fuels the work of the company members.

Lauri Johnson still shines as the matriarch of foolishness, crowned in a solo turn as an expert “vocabularyist” who creates definitions for words invented by the audience. Rich Flin is emerging as a versatile comic, appearing in this show as, among others, a blind man playing chess and a giggling, suburban femme fatale.

Roger Lee displayed a wry charm (and notable inventiveness in his turn as Telephone Man), and Suzette Coger took off as part of the bicycle-riding, pizza-delivery trio.

Some of the skits get derailed by the audience suggestions. A panel of “Women in the Know,” which featured some inspired character work by Flin, Paul Pierce, Joe Troilo and Troy Nelsen, was hobbled by the task of finding guffaws in a discussion of date rape. But when the elements come together, the entire company demonstrates a burgeoning ability to play together and a dedication to their mission of mirth that is really paying off. The evening of improvisation relies upon an almost classical roster of exercises designed to hone the company’s comic skills and, above all, to provide a fine time for an audience willing to play along.

‘T.G.I. Orange’

An Orange County Crazies presentation. Produced and directed by Cherie Kerr. With Nina Arnold, Suzette Coger, Rich Flin, Eric Halasz, Greg Hammond, Lauri Johnson, Roger Lee, Robert Morris, Troy Nelsen, Paul Pierce, Ron J. Ruhman. Annette Slusarenko, Robin Spehar, Gretchen Stahl and Joe Troilo. At the Pacific Symphony Building, 115 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana. Performances Friday and July 4 at 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 reserved, $8 general seating. (714) 840-1406.