SEE HOW THEY RUN: THREE-ACT FARCE RUNS ON FAST LAUGH TRACK

A case of mistaken identity sets the stage, alerting the audience that something mischievous is afoot. But what puts "See How They Run" on a nonstop laugh track is timing and consistency.

The St. Vincent de Paul Parish's production of "See How They Run" operates with razor-sharp precision. Such precision makes the story work well both physically and mentally, turning it into a rich comedy of errors. The play offers plenty of double entendre and some funny lines from at least four gentlemen purporting to be cut from the same cloth. All of them claim to be the same person. So when will the real vicar step forward?

The story develops slowly for much of the first act. But the pace picks up considerably by the end of the first act and never relents until the conclusion.

The three-act farce, based on the play by Philip King, is deftly directed by Gerry Strohmeyer, whose cast turned in an entertaining performance during Tuesday night's dress rehearsal.

The production will be presented tonight, Friday and Saturday evenings, May 19-21, at 8:15 p.m.

Reserved seating is available. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased through the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Office at 1913 Ritter Drive. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

The audience is introduced to a spinster named Miss Skillon, played by Joan Strohmeyer, a vicar named Rev. Lionel Toop, played by Alan Essner, and the vicar's vivacious wife Penelope, played by Trish Robisson. Oh, and don't forget the maid, Ida, played with plenty of gusto by Sherry Reiminger.

Penelope appears to have discarded her career as an actress. But she seems to have retained a penchant for theatrics in her real life. When Penelope tries to act out a scene with her former theatrical cohort, Sergeant Towers, played by Dan Little, the spinster, who comes and goes, re-enters the room and mistakes the sergeant for Rev. Toop. Is this adultery or an optical illusion?

The three become entangled in a web of confusion. Miss Skillon is knocked unconscious and the curtain closes to end the first act.

After Miss Skillon imbibes in alcohol for the first time in her life, she provides a level of slapstick humor that provides a balance and yet keeps everything just a tad out of kilter.

The Bishop of Lax, played by Al Stoverink, visits the Toops a day early and is sent through a maze of mistaken identities. Who is the real Rev. Toop? Why does an escaped prisoner want to look like a priest? And what is a former actor turned Air Force officer doing out of uniform?

They run, and run, and run until the bishop is discovered in the bushes outside this Michigan manse, only his legs visible to corporal Clive Winton, played by Dennis Cremins.

Ida comes and goes, providing some witty observations along the way. Miss Skillon stumbles in and out of the closet, careens off the couch and holds onto every spiritual leader and lap of laughter she encounters.

To confuse the issue even more, the audience is introduced to the Rev. Arthur Humphrey, who is scheduled to perform the service for the bishop in place of the Rev. Lionel Toop.

When corporal Winton asks who the real Rev. Toop is, fingers point to a different vicar, causing the audience to explode with laughter.

Penelope would love to point out who the real Rev. Toop is. Or perhaps not, since she discovered her husband in the closet with Miss Skillon. Even if she wanted to end this madcap affair by revealing who the real Rev. Toop is, she is kept from doing the right thing by the business end of a gun held by the escaped prisoner, who is hiding behind the white collar of the clergy.

Finally sergeant Towers finds a way to hoodwink the escaped prisoner and get his real uniform back. But to learn how that scheme is played out you will have to come "See How They Run."

It will be well worth the effort.