Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Message of Understanding : Theater: Quiet Zone’s eighth annual benefit gives the hearing and the hearing-impaired a chance to share some laughs.

Remember the game called “telephone”?

A tidbit passed along from one gossip to the next--and on and on down the line--becomes so garbled that the final version barely resembles the original.

Well, the deaf can play too. Consider this: In sign language, the symbols for “football” and “pregnant” are nearly identical. The same goes for “Ireland” and “vampire.” And in the hands of Quiet Zone Theatre, a Lake Forest-based troupe for the deaf and hard of hearing, that makes for comedy.

In one skit, the story of a young couple about to have a baby “ends up with their going to Ireland and getting bit by a vampire,” says Joshua Vecchione, QZT’s executive director.

“Just as in the hearing world,” Vecchione says, “where people misunderstand what they hear, deaf people misunderstand signs.”

“Gossip” will be part of the amateur troupe’s eighth annual benefit show tonight and Saturday at Irvine Barclay Theatre. Signed songs, from rap to country, plus dance, magic and mime round out the all-new revue, one of few local theatrical entertainments for the hearing-impaired.

The evening’s object is to amuse and enlighten the hearing community too, thereby better uniting the two worlds. There are informative, humorous skits such as “Gossip,” and a vocal interpreter provides translations.

About half of the 70 cast and crew members of the 8-year-old nonprofit troupe are deaf or hard of hearing; the others are sign-language students or interpreters.

QZT members, all volunteers, make the sets, props and flashy, colorful costumes for the show, from which about half the proceeds will benefit Southern California’s deaf community. Many take part simply for the fun of performing, for the camaraderie and, they say, because they love sign language.

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Energy and camaraderie were in abundant supply during a recent rehearsal at the group’s headquarters. David (Hollywood) Velasquez, 30, preened and pranced as Simba, the beguiling cub from “The Lion King,” while signing and lip-syncing Simba’s joyful theme song, “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” Next, clad in regal white and gold, he glowered as a fearsome Egyptian king, then let it rip as a flamboyant, silky-pink-shirted hairdresser playing telephone.

The Whittier resident, a data-entry technician, was born deaf. Childhood surgery restored much of his hearing, although he wears hearing aids in both ears. His broad shoulders and strong facial features make him an appropriately proud Simba; his dark complexion, goatee and gold hoops in one ear work well for his role as the Egyptian thing.

He’s performed in QZT’s variety show for the past five years.

“I enjoy myself,” said Velasquez, who conducted an interview through an interpreter. “This is the happiest place. We’re like family, and we try to work together and help and respect one another.”

While some QZT members have taken dance or acting classes, they don’t have the technical prowess or finesse of professionals. But, at least to the uninitiated, they expressively dance and sign songs (to act out each song’s narrative) with startling unison.

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Because he has partial hearing, Velasquez can count the beats of the music to stay in time. Knowing the choreographic sequence by heart is critical, of course. But to right himself if he gets off step, he subtly glances at performers beside him.

Cliff Lee McCraw, 30, is totally deaf. He jokingly insists that he “never” messes up but admits that lip reading helps when mistakes occur.

“When we have a new song, I feel awkward, and it takes time to get it right,” the Lake Forest mail clerk said through an interpreter. “I have to practice to become perfect.”

Kristie Vecchione (Joshua’s wife), 25, is a hearing troupe member who has been perfecting sign language since high school. She has been an interpreter for four years and a regular performer in the troupe’s benefit revue. She’s earning at degree at Cal State Fullerton to teach sign language.

“I just love the language,” she said. “It’s so beautiful, and it’s fun to communicate.”

QZT presents performances and lectures throughout Orange County and Southern California. It offers sign-language and interpreting classes and “expression” workshops at its offices.

“Learning to use your body, your face, is half of what sign language is,” said Joshua Vecchione. “It’s good to put feeling into it.”

* Quiet Zone Theatre’s eighth annual benefit show is presented tonight at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. at Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. (714) 854-4646.