Gentle and Lyrical Humor in ‘America’

Before beginning “Robert Post: Here in America” on Saturday at Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach (tonight it moves to Thousand Oaks), Post spent a few moments musing over things in Southern California that surprised his Midwest sensibilities.

Ohio-based actor-comedian Post has a whimsical sense of humor and a lyrical style of movement that make his show attractive entertainment for all ages. Yet he seems uncertain about the sensibilities of Southern Californians. Perhaps this accounts for the somewhat slow pacing of his show about various American experiences.

First, Post appears as Ace Wingspan, a stunt pilot who experiences minor problems. In “Ballet 101,” Post is a young girl who is exceptionally limber and light. “The Driving Lesson” has a frustrated father spending a few stressful moments with his son. In “Beyond the Wall,” Post shows a remarkable ability to create four different characters in an English mystery parody.

In “Just Another Head,” with only Post’s head visible, he progresses from birth through marriage and wartime service. If there is a message, it’s delivered as gently as the balloon bombs that whoosh out into the audience.

The second act, “Private Zeno,” is an overlong visit with a crazy street-side food vendor who cooks omelets while talking to his dog, Caucus, about extraterrestrial conspiracies and politicians, set in a city where someone “gets up, makes a speech, says nothing, nobody listens and everyone disagrees.”

Post’s manual dexterity and visually appealing movement create an evening of gentle humor.

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* “Robert Post: Here in America,” Scherr Forum Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Tonight, 8 p.m. (805) 449-ARTS. $17. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes.