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If your local radio station is OKKK, an organization called Smut Snatchers of the New Order is on a crusade to remove offensive words from your dictionary, and your neighbors think that Roots only portrayed one side of the slavery issue, you might be a redneck, but you?ve definitely landed in Tuna, Texas.

The third smallest town in the Lone Star State is home to 20 of the quirkiest characters you?d ever want to meet in the widely popular two-man show Greater Tuna. Solano Repertory Company and Benicia Old Town Theatre Group joined forces to stage this hilarious, bitingly intelligent comedy which challenges the featured duo to populate an entire southern town.

Whether he?s embodying awkward teen Charlene Bumiller or animal lover Petey Fisk, James Brewer delights in recreating the distinctive individuals originated by playwright and star Jaston Williams. Brewer earns plenty of laughs emulating Williams? iconic characterizations of a wide and wacky assortment of Texas folk. There?s bug-eyed busybody Vera Carp, young Jody Bumiller who has a penchant for bringing home stray dogs, and Stanley, the eldest Bumiller with a sinister secret, just to name a few. Brewer?s choices are a little broad and indulgent for the small space, but he entertains.

Richard Ryan tackles the rest of the town with less distinction between the characters but more natural ease. Like Brewer, Ryan takes his cue from the great Joe Sears? original performance, both actors striking some of their best notes with the warm, misguided, and beleaguered Mama Bertha Bumiller. Ryan?s canine killer Aunt Pearl Burras is enjoyable as well, but some polish on lines and more varied traits for the different personas would be beneficial.

Guiding the two actors through the quick transitions from one Tuna resident to the next, director David Lagle has done a fine job replicating the work of Ed Howard, the third of the creative trio (along with Williams and Sears) who originally wrote and staged Greater Tuna. Lagle does add some nice tidbits of his own. His choice for Charlene?s reading of her award-winning poem ?My Tuna? is particularly fun, as is Sylvia Gregory?s costume for the wannabe cheerleader. Gregory outfits all the folks of Tuna with apt attire, but there are some noticeable challenges in executing the quick-changes for a pair of perpetually busy dressers.

A wonderful old radio is the central focus of Pam Spering and Paul Zill?s set and allows for Oz Angst?s array of country tunes that add authentic flavor to the show. Hitches with the technical execution of lighting and sound will fade, but the set could use some sprucing from a scenic artist.

Opening night pacing issues will work themselves out over the course of the Solano Rep/BOTTG run, but even with them, the Williams, Sears, and Howard script for [tag]Greater Tuna[/tag] is still politically relevant and funny as heck. The show runs through October 21 at the Missouri Street Theatre and moves to Benicia?s Historic B.D.E.S. Hall October 27 through November 18. For the Fairfield performances, call (707) 422-1598. To see the show in Benicia, call (707) 746-1269 or visit www.beniciaoldtowntheatregroup.com.

[tags]theatre review[/tags]