A Lovable and Oddball Second Hand

Giggles, guffaws, chuckles and chortles abounded Saturday night at Pepperdine University’s Smothers Theatre when the Second Hand strutted its endearingly oddball brand of movement magic.

The three-man ensemble--co-artistic directors Greg O’Brien and Andy Horowitz, and newcomer Marlon Torres--is a real crowd pleaser, especially in the kiddie arena. No matter. Their 70-minute show, which included four numbers new to the West Coast, definitively proved that a plethora of props, huge sets or fancy costumes are not needed for a good act.

Particularly appealing: “Window-7,” a premiere set to the music of Plastic Nebraska in which the stage area was shrunk down to the size of a 4-by-4-foot site. Talk about a Magritte-like atmosphere! This so-called window provided the perfect backdrop for somersaults, dives and leaps.

Another premiere, “The Much,” featured Richard Marino’s xylophone-based score, with the men hopping in unison--when they weren’t leaping onto somebody’s hands or doing a bit of comic shoulder shrugging.

Also new: “Viklarbo.” Alfred Newman’s adagio accompaniment saw an array of machine-like moves that recalled Charlie Chaplin’s film “Modern Times.” Wearing silver unitards, the trio looked like friendly aliens. “Lonesome Cowboy Bob,” the evening’s other premiere, was like Agnes de Mille on acid, with plenty of bouncing in place, backward leaping and upper-torso wiggling, all set to the tune “Ragtime Cowboy Joe.”

A gaggle of previously reviewed numbers, including “The Weird Sisters,” “Rachmaninov” and “Clackers” completed this lovable, albeit loony, program.