TOM TITUS:Teens make ‘Tenor’ a treat

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“Hey, kids. Let’s put on a show!”

Mickey Rooney’s enthusiastic line from the 1940s rings true for the Huntington Beach Playhouse’s “Lend Me a Tenor,” for which the Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School was recruited to fill a suddenly vacant slot when the previously scheduled play became unavailable.

The stars of the future shine brightly at the playhouse, where Ken Ludwig’s madcap comedy has been transplanted by director Earl Byers and offers a rib-tickling and thoroughly entertaining evening.

While the playhouse might not be Broadway, it’s an appreciable step up for the young actors — and they make the most of it.

Byers emphasizes the comedic characteristics of Ludwig’s zany opera buffs, much as he did with the frenzied thespians of “Moon Over Buffalo” (another Ludwig comedy) for the playhouse last season.

This time around, the venue is Cleveland, where a celebrated operatic singer — Tito Morelli — is scheduled to star in a local production of “Othello.” When some foul food lays him low, however, it’s up to the lowly factotum Max to don blackface and save the day.

Complicating matters are three ladies — Max’s sweetheart who’s dying to meet the great Tito, the opera star’s jealous Italian wife and the local diva out to perform some bedroom rehearsal.

Two of these three make Max’s new world a more interesting — and hectic — one.

As the frazzled Max, Jake Wells turns stammering indecision into a virtual art form. While he may overdo it on occasion, Wells nevertheless is well-tuned to the farcical nature of the show and renders a splendid performance.

Tabitha Steiffer is a particular treat as Maggie, the opera director’s daughter and Max’s erstwhile fiancee, most notably when attempting to seduce Tito, who’s really Max in Othello makeup.

Zacharius Whitson enacts her tempestuous father at the top of his voice, varying little but rarely needing to.

As the Pavarotti-type tenor, Alex Des Combes successfully projects an Italian accent and a sense of assumed authority, warming to “nice guy” mode in his scenes with Wells. Marlene Yarosh simmers as his petite but volcanic wife.

The star’s local Desdemona is seductively presented by Brittany Egbert, while Anni Sui renders a sophisticated opera guild chairman. And Jordan Potter completes the picture as a smart aleck bellhop with ambition to burn.

Scenic designer Andrew Otero’s hotel suite works splendidly with its many doors and spacious playing area. Courtney Suter’s costumes are attractive, and the lighting by Dallas Lucero succeeds nicely.

The original APA production of “Lend Me a Tenor” enjoyed only a one-weekend run at the high school. Now, it’s being showcased in three heavy weekends of laugh-loaded entertainment as the playhouse’s splendid substitute.