COMEDY REVIEW : Some Juice, Lots of Pulp in ‘As the Orange Turns’ : Some of the material in the Orange County Crazies’ latest show is appealing, but often the troupe is trying to squeeze laughs out of derivative ideas.

“In all comedy business,” said Charlie Chaplin, “an attitude is most important.”

The words are brought to mind by the Orange County Crazies and the comedy sketch group’s current show “As the Orange Turns.” When the material, written by company members, has an attitude, it is funny. When the sketches are defiant, the ridicule is pointed and amusing. When it doesn’t have attitude, it’s derivative, repetitious and even dull. Example: A sales pitch for an Orange County walled community (Coto de Caucasian) is neither strong nor pointed enough to hit its target.

The funniest sketch, “Special Deliverance,” certainly has an attitude, based partly on the everyday experience of dealing with some postal employees and partly on the recent spate of violence perpetrated by disgruntled postal employees against their fellows. A group of prospective employees--a bunch of drooling, grinning Neanderthals--is taking an exam. Among the questions: “How much does a 29 cent stamp cost?”

Rich Flin’s uncompromisingly aggressive audience-participation bit about an incompetent romantic ranchero whose guitar all but embraces his victims is the only other sketch that shows any sort of attitude. In Flin’s overbearing macho non-vocalist is every man who thinks he’s sexy but really needs a long look at himself in a mirror. The women Flin picked from the audience were as much fun to watch as he was.

The strongest impressions during the evening are made by Robert Morris, whose malleable face and giddy manner is particularly effective in “Deliverance” and in a sappy audience-inspired group-therapy sketch. Nick Coletto’s sure timing and his ease with comic delivery also help buoy the evening, and Eric Halasz’s offbeat takes and gentle approach provide a nice balance to the group’s generally frenetic style.

From the silly soap sendup that runs through the evening and gives the show its title to numerous inane short sketches, the missing attitudes are obvious in the bits’ weak endings, and aggravated by the long pauses between scenes used to place furniture and props that generally are unnecessary.

*”As the Orange Turns,” the Pacific Symphony Center, 115 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana. Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Aug. 14. $12-$15. (714) 550-9900. Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes. The company: Toni Ala, Nick Coletto, Patty DeBaun, Tom Collins, Drake Doremus, Rich Flin, January Gordon, Eric Halasz, Tami Lesser, Robert Morris, Guy Nelson, Russell Towne, Lindsay Marie Verbage, Cherie Kerr.

An Orange County Crazies production. Material by the company. Directed by Cherie Kerr. Musical director Allon Sams. Technical director, Loren Gameros.