Laughing at a stellar friendship

The late Daniel J. Boorstin once warned about confusing celebrities and heroes: “We come closer and closer to degrading all fame into notoriety.” One wonders what that social historian might make of “Matt and Ben” at the Acme Comedy Theatre in Hollywood. In its West Coast premiere, Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers’ sendup of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s friendship and the culture that made them tabloid idols is a virtually critic-proof prep-school romp.

“Matt and Ben” began in 2001, after Dartmouth grads and Astoria roommates Kaling and Withers noted Affleck’s ubiquitous magazine presence during his stint in rehab. Their improvisations and immersion in the popular mythos surrounding Affleck and best friend Damon evolved into an hourlong piece, the smash of the 2002 New York Fringe Festival and an off-Broadway hit.

The time is 1995; the place, Affleck’s apartment in Somerfield, Mass. Set designer James Youmans presents a Fauvist garret, with skewed perspectives and shrewdly chosen slacker decor. The lights come up on an exchange about adaptation, imitation, flattery and thievery, which sets up the show’s dichotomy. Jogging-suited Ben (Kaling), more concerned with stardom (and lady-killing) than art, proposes a screenplay based on “The Catcher in the Rye.” Matt (Withers), devoted to perfecting his craft, is a button-down Harvard yuppie who hesitates to crib from J.D. Salinger, not when there’s a leading role in a revival of “Buried Child” to be had. But he can’t tell Ben, who refers to Sam Shepard as “that wrinkly guy from ‘The Pelican Brief.’ ”

Initially, “Matt and Ben” seems content to follow this nutty sketch-comedy route. Then the script for “Good Will Hunting” literally falls into their laps.

With the instant commentary on Affleck and Damon’s Tinseltown ascension, the show dives into riskier absurdist waters. Matt recognizes a sure-fire hit but has a pesky compunction about unearned credit; Ben is more pragmatic. This conflict is as old as their friendship: A shrieking flashback shows the high school talent competition in which Matt’s emotive rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is upstaged by Ben’s bad-boy antics.

The dilemma resurfaces in the pair’s rehearsal of “Hunting’s” romantic breakup scene. Here, Matt’s artistic standards (and ambition) are hampered by Ben’s “English” accent in the Minnie Driver role. Another complication is Matt’s migraine strategy to make his callback without hurting Ben’s feelings.

Dream sequences with the chirpy, food-deprived Gwyneth Paltrow (Kaling) and the Katharine Hepburn-voiced, pudding-loving Salinger (Withers) shore up the rising action. It rises to fisticuffs and ends with a sentimental take on the meaning of friendship, a contrivance saved by its affectionate sincerity.

Under director David Warren’s knowing guidance, “Matt and Ben” isn’t earthshaking, but it’s often house-shaking. Besides Youmans, the designs -- Jeff Croiter’s lighting, Fitz Patton’s sound and Anne Sung’s costumes -- are expert and in on the joke.

So are the deadpan Kaling and Withers. Their script is hardly Kaufman and Hart, and its targets are somewhat off the radar at present. But the writing is bright, brash and ruthless in its name-dropping attack on the celebrity food chain (note to actor David Schwimmer: Avoid going on a low-self-image day).

And their interlocking performances are riotous, lifting “Matt and Ben” from smart-aleck showcase to tickling cult treat. Another cultural critic, Andy Warhol, famously gave everyone 15 minutes of celebrity. This talented pair should be around much longer than that.

*

‘Matt and Ben’

Where: Acme Comedy Theatre,

135 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood

When: Thursdays, 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 and 10 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.

Ends: May 16

Price: $27.50

Contact: (866) 811-4111 or www.mattandben.com

Running time: 1 hour