THEATER REVIEW:

The fine line between satire and silliness is being stretched thin at OCC, where an ambitious troupe of irreverent actors is presenting an inspired, if sometimes sophomoric, spoof titled “The Complete History of America (Abridged).”

Created by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, this “history” lesson begins with Amerigo Vespucci and ends with George W. Bush. And sitting in the first three rows is like being up close at a Gallagher concert, only you’re sprayed with water rather than watermelon.

Director Alex Golson has assembled a cast of 14 student actors who assume a variety of historical (and often hysterical) characters and, though they give their first names, it’s difficult to match them with those on the non-committal program. A few, however, do stand out.

Tops in the company is Henry Sipos, who dons the trench coat of private eye “Spade Diamond” in an overdone but quite funny closing sequence which wraps up America’s history from the McCarthy era to the present difficulties. It’s packed with a plethora of groaners as the OCC cast deals out some egregious “pun-ishment.”

Perky redhead Elyse Russell serves as a sort of mistress of ceremonies, setting up the various skits and participating in many.

Taryn Rabun also excels, particularly as the enthusiastic sound person in an Old West-type radio show.

Others playing various roles in this potpourri of political and historical lampoonery are Paul Bouyear, Michael Canas, Tiffanie Cheng, Marissa Garcia, Lauren Gautschi, William Hart, Michael Richie, Marissa Dalton, Gabreielle Salas, Peter Yoo and Jamie R. Smith.

The performers get involved with the audience on occasion, although it appears that the spectators involved are plants, since one of them at Saturday’s performance turned out to be set designer David Scaglione.

Cast members take some stinging swipes at the government from the founding fathers to the current administration.

There’s a spirited exchange between Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin as well as some scalding words about the Vietnam War and the Iraq unpleasantness.

Against the backdrop of Scaglione’s catch-all setting and with more props than a Carrot Top concert, “The Complete History of America (Unabridged)” doesn’t always hit the bull’s eye, but it scores often enough to be an enjoyable experience.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Thursdays.