‘Common’ Denominators

Turning the pages of prepared sketch pads, Randall Rapstine and Doug Budin immediately tell us the meaning of the title of their whimsical bill of character studies, “Common Knowledge.” It’s “the cord that binds us together”; they then note that “rice and cheese are also binding.”

These short, instructional messages are used again at the end of intermission and to neatly wrap up this gently humorous two-man show at the Lillian Theater. These men don’t need to speak, with their exquisite timing and nuanced facial expressions and gestures, but when they do, things only get better.

The duo has written quirky, poignant sketches that link a mechanic (Rapstine) in a small Texas town with a penchant for “paranormally gifted” pets with a crassly outspoken Jewish matron (Budin).

She, in turn, is connected to a German student (Budin) on his first visit to the United States and Starbucks, a gay theater teacher (Rapstine) and a small boy who has written 3,014 one-minute plays detailing his travails at home.

Other characters include a pair of conjoined twins, Gavin (Rapstine) and Grendle (Budin) in a keenly portrayed skit on co-dependency; and a location scout for Planet Hollywood (Rapstine).

Under the direction of Randy Brenner, the show is well-paced and the timing almost faultless.

This is a warm reminder of how even complete strangers brush up against one another and influence other lives.

BE THERE

“Common Knowledge,” Lillian Theater, 1076 N. Lillian Way, Hollywood. Tuesdays-Wednesday, 8 p.m. Ends Sept. 29. $12. (323) 960-8918. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes.