‘Cereal!’ Plunges Into Low Humor

In the words of an old childhood rhyme: Hasten, Jason, get the basin! Oops, flop. Get the mop.

You might not actually require a basin at the campy soap opera parody “Cereal!” at Hudson Theatre Backstage, but be forewarned. This vertiginous plunge into low humor is so tasteless it verges on the surrealistic. If the various characters aren’t groping themselves or one another, they are vomiting and urinating on stage, in between bizarre plot twists, of course.

Director Scott King also wrote the bulk of the show, which previously ran in New York. The plot revolves around the scheming, steamy Towers family and the struggle to control the family’s cereal empire. Prim Essence Towers (Robin Polk) sports a spray-stiffened flip hairdo and a retro perkiness straight out of “The Donna Reed Show.” Essence’s insanely evil sister Saliva (Amy Scribner) is a hyper Alexis Carrington derivative with mayhem on her mind.

King has assembled a spirited cast, which includes various television names, including Eve Plumb (“The Brady Bunch”), Jill Whelan (“The Love Boat”) and Charlene Tilton (“Dallas”). Decked out in Tony Villanueva’s wild costumes, the actors have a field day vying for unprecedented levels of tastelessness. Episode 1 garnered more groans than guffaws. Can future episodes get any grosser? Or any funnier? Tune in next week.

* “Cereal!,” Hudson Theatre Backstage, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Episode 1 plays today-Saturday and Feb. 16-17 at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Episode 2 plays Feb. 2-3 and 23-24, 10:30 p.m. only. Episode 3 plays Feb. 9-10 and March 1-2, 10:30 p.m. only. The next three-episode cycle will introduce a new episode a week for three weeks, then repeat. $10. (213) 660-8587. Indefinite. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.