Quirky ‘Kozmo!’ Spotlights Carny World

In a confusing maze of draped tents and sideshow freaks, two carnies (Kirk Ward and Brian T. Finney) battle to be the biggest name draw in the suitably slimy, darkly humorous “The Amazing Kozmo!” at Actors’ Gang El Centro.

The old Kozmo (Finney) is a worn-out, slightly belligerent man in his shiny silver and red swami costume. The show manager (Mike McShane) informs Kozmo that he’s being replaced by a younger, more virile man (Ward).

“I was warned about this day,” the old Kozmo grimly replies, not quite ready to leave. He challenges the younger man to perform Kozmo’s famous trick and then seduces the younger Kozmo into a tour of the carny world--a man who sculpts cotton candy (McShane), a dangerous Asian woman (McShane) and a mysteriously awe-inspiring entity.

Finney, Ward, McShane and R.A. White scripted this odd and slightly macabre piece that looks into the hardened hearts of people who sell themselves as curiosities. The real trick is that “people expect to see amazing and must be satisfied with mediocre.”

White directs with a grimness offset by a slight quirkiness. He rightfully maintains the slightly dangerous edge of uneasiness throughout. One leaves the tented corridors slightly unsettled at the fate of a man who gets what he doesn’t want.

Finney’s Kozmo is cunning, but not artfully so, while Ward plays an overly eager innocent slowly being duped. McShane oozes malevolence in varying degrees and guises.

Salvatore Salamone dresses the cast in clothes that have a sheen of cheapness and an almost disagreeably ill fit.

The Hudson Hut Hustlers (Joseph Oxman and Scott Weissman) provide live music that sets a mysterious, offbeat atmosphere.

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* “The Amazing Kozmo!,” Actors’ Gang El Centro, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m. Ends April 18. $12. (213) 660-8587. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes.