Romance isn’t all in black and white

The spirits of many celebrated bozos cavort about “Clownzilla: A Love Story” at the Rude Guerrilla Theater Company. Don’t let the modest means of this oddly delightful assault on clown social dynamics fool you. Beneath its cracked sensibility bubbles elemental energy that reaches past commedia dell’arte to Aristophanes.

Not that “Clownzilla” is exactly lofty; its core concept of haves and have-nots is more often decorative than developed. Yet the silent-movie premise, though slight -- two innocents go from birth to nuptials amid projected titles, physical indignities and traditional props -- serves its purpose. From its blackout opening with the cast invading the seated audience, “Clownzilla” walks a tightrope between absurdist angst and daft precocity.

That it seldom trips is due to director Eli Simon, designer-composer Mike Hooker’s invaluable soundtrack and the ensemble, a perfectly pitched mimetic quintet. As lovers Hope and Toots, deadpan Betsy Mugavero recalls the young Bernadette Peters, while mournful Adrian Alita suggests the late Emmett Kelly as slacker.

Adrienne Mueller’s priceless Prissy, perpetually peeved of expression, is equal parts Mack Sennett comic Louise Fazenda and a dancing pickle. Dane Svenningson imbues nimble Arlechino figure Spot with gleefully controlled elasticity. As factotum Mr. Pants, the remarkable R.J. Romero goes for broke, his lip-sync to Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” a demented highlight.

Clad in designer Jessica Lynn Champagne’s resourceful black-and-white wardrobe, these guileless goofs and some loopy guest buffoons devour the commedia-meets-community approach, which brings tickling returns. The frivolity climaxes in a surreal talent show of rubber-nosed locals who command the space, whether blowing bubbles sur la pointe or doing slight-of-hand with one giant card.

“Clownzilla” could tighten a vignette here, drop a transition there, but its freewheeling festivities offer a slapstick valentine to geeks everywhere.

*

‘Clownzilla: A Love Story’

Where: Rude Guerrilla Theater Company, 202 N. Broadway, Santa Ana

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Also, 8 p.m. Thursday, May 24

Ends: May 26

Price: $20

Contact: (714) 547-4688

Running time: 1 hour, 15 minutes