An all-around inspired romp in ’80 Days’

Clever. Crisp. Cunning. When describing the theatrical adaptation of “Around the World in 80 Days,” now in its Los Angeles premiere at the Colony, a little effulgent alliteration is in order.

The first production of the Colony’s new season, the show is witty in the extreme. That’s not so much because of Mark Brown’s adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic, although Brown’s is a briskly competent treatment that, save for a few well-considered elisions, is rigorously faithful to the original story. Chalk up this production’s success to the efforts of director Stefan Novinski and a sparkling ensemble cast. They elevate what could have been a pedestrian chase to an inspired romp.

The opening of this “Days” just a few days shy of the latest film version starring Jackie Chan is purely coincidental. Whereas previous Hollywood treatments, including the Oscar-winning 1956 film, have been notoriously big budget, the Colony’s production is refreshingly bare-bones. Interestingly, unlike the two film versions, Brown’s adaptation has no balloon, nor does Verne’s tale, as Brown takes pains to point out in his humorous program notes. Here, ships and trains are the typical means of conveyance, with a few exotic exceptions.

Donna Marquet’s spare set -- essentially a few movable flats, a table and some chairs -- ingeniously suggests the piece’s varied locales. Also integral to the action are Jeremy Pivnick’s lighting, Drew Dalzell’s sound and most notably, Melanie Watnick’s costumes, which contribute an appropriately silly note to the proceedings. In Novinski’s staging, simplicity is key. At one point, chairs are piled atop the table, and the actors clamber aboard for a jolting elephant ride through the Indian subcontinent -- a perfectly realized effect.

The story begins in 1870s London, where Phileas Fogg (Tony Maggio), a cool rationalist with an adventurous streak, ventures his entire fortune on the daring wager that he can circumnavigate the globe in a mere 80 days. Accompanying Phileas on his journey is his newly hired French manservant Passepartout (Jeff Marlow), whose dismay at their proposed exploit fuels considerable comedy. As an added complication, tenacious Detective Fix (Larry Cedar), who has mistaken Fogg for a fugitive bank robber, dogs their footsteps around the globe.

Various escapades include saving the beautiful East Indian Aouda (Kwana Martinez) from forced immolation on her husband’s funeral pyre. Of course, the radiant Aouda cuts through the impenetrable Fogg, exposing the ardor beneath his inclement exterior. This is hardly the stuff of great drama, but Novinski and company capture the piece’s pulpy appeal.

As the unflappable Fogg, Maggio is a dashing straight man, and Martinez makes for a likely romantic heroine. However, Marlow, Cedar and the dynamic Morgan Rusler, who rounds out the cast, get to really frolic with their material. Marlow is a music hall Frenchman par excellence, while Cedar and Rusler, playing about two dozen roles between them, change clothes and accents with lightning dexterity. Facile and purely fun, this comical triumvirate is a treat to watch.

*

‘Around the World in 80 Days’

Where: Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. No performance July 4.

Ends: July 11

Price: $26-$36

Contact: (818) 558-7000

Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes