THEATER REVIEW : ‘Prophets’: Two Saviors in a Brisk, Dark Comedy

We’ve heard of the second coming, but this is ridiculous.

In Slawomir Mrozek’s “The Prophets,” the world is about to explode from overpopulation when two identical prophets arrive with a message of redemption. Can humanity tolerate two saviors?

The All-U-Can-Eat Players make sure that Mrozek’s allegory, which dates from 1972, is indeed as ridiculous as it ought to be. This is brisk black comedy, barely lasting an hour, that stimulates thought and laughter in just about equal proportions. The text is strained at the end, but Jonathan Emery’s cast knows how to handle it.

The Regent (Benjamin Livingston) is in a jam. As crowds awaiting the prophet gather outside his balcony, he tries to mollify them with distractions (Noelle Kramer, in a bravura cameo as the “prima donna”), while simultaneously settling the matter of the dueling saviors (Tyler Hansen and David Allen Kramer in Jesus garb) behind closed doors.

He recruits three supposedly wise men--academics Melchoir (Tuc Watkins), Balthazar (Brian Peck) and the young Gaspar (Vincent Ventresca) to help him find an answer. But when the dirty work finally has to be done, it’s his bailiff (Sean Sullivan) who has to be the hatchet man.

Nearly everyone ends up losing his head. The artificial noggins that appear on stage after the beheadings are so fake they’re funny. This show deals with blood and guts, but it’s designed to tickle our brains, not turn our stomachs.

Sullivan and Livingston could take their comedy--or commedia-- act on the road: the short, scrappy servant and the tall smooth-talking master. The wise men look too young--it’s a risk when you cast from a group of relatively recent college graduates--but they rise to the task.

Daniel Bosler’s set evokes Eastern European aristocracy on the tiny World Theatre stage without undue clutter, and Emery’s sound design reminds us of the dire conditions outside the palace.

* “The Prophets,” World Theatre, 6543 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends Sept. 4. $12. (213) 883-1565. Running time: 1 hour, 10 minutes.