‘Out of Order’ Pokes Fun at Right Wing

One has to wonder what Newt Gingrich, newly tapped duke of the right wing, would make of “Out of Order” and its penchant for tweaking hypocritically conservative politicians.

No “Boys Town” this, Ray Cooney’s farce concerns a stuffy British cabinet minister (Steve Brady) who tries to tryst with a pretty young secretary (Risa Benson) in a swank London hotel. Of course they never get a moment alone, thanks to a tricky window sash that keeps falling on guests, and the rest of the play is a good-natured blur of mistaken identities, naughty double-entendres, slamming doors and dropping trousers, all set against the rich brocaded patterns and white-and-gold trim of Don Gruber’selegant set.

Director Shashin Desai’s production, at International City Theatre in Long Beach, is a bit too perfunctory and controlled to provoke anything more than a couple of chuckles. Brady works up a sweat as the punningly named Richard Willey, but still seems a bit too cool for a philanderer who’s on the verge of losing his marriage and his career.

* “Out of Order,” International City Theatre, campus of Long Beach City College, Clark and Harvey Way, Long Beach. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m., Saturdays-Sundays, 2:30 p.m. Ends Feb. 19. $18. (310) 420-4128. Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.