In ‘Van Gogh,’ Comic Has an Ear for Voices

Don’t be misled by the title “Where Did Vincent Van Gogh?,” Dan Castellaneta’s one-man show at the Acme Comedy Theatre. Although Castellaneta starts the evening as Van Gogh--or rather as Kirk Douglas playing Van Gogh--he segues almost immediately into a straight-on comedy showcase.

Anyone who remembers Castellaneta’s inspired comic contribution to “The Tracey Ullman Show” or tunes in regularly to hear his Emmy-winning turn as the voice of Homer Simpson on the long-running series “The Simpsons” will know that Castellaneta has the comic chops to handle a solo turn. And, under the direction of Art Wolff, Castellaneta trots out a formidable array of comic characters, a diverse assortment that includes a gruff machine shop operator, a fey theatrical producer and a perky little girl with a sanguinary tale to tell.

Unfortunately, there’s a big component missing from the mix. Castellaneta, who also wrote the piece, cobbles his characters together in a rough aggregation, without the vital unifying thread that would raise the proceedings above the level of vanity production. Structurally shaky and thematically confused, “Vincent” sounds more like an actor’s voice-over tape than a bona fide play.

Castellaneta is most effective when he’s doing original characters. His more familiar parodies, such as Sister Wendy and Billie Holiday, tend toward the obvious. Still, he is a versatile performer with an impressive range. If he only had the material to match his talents.

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* “Where Did Vincent Van Gogh?,” Acme Comedy Theatre, 135 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. Wednesdays only, 8 p.m. Ends July 28. $15. (323) 655-8587. Running time: 1 hour,20 minutes.