Phil and Carl form an inept duo who’ve forgone careers in the U.S. Postal Service to open a restaurant. Into their employ come a big-nosed waiter-cum-actor, a deaf chef, a faux-Norwegian busboy, and eventually a senile hitman. Also traipsing through are a very silly Mountie and a multi-titled journalist who is unable to keep her skirt down. Director Anthony Carreiro’s cast brings energy to Flaming Idiots (maybe too much: now and again they needlessly yell their lines at each other), enlivening material that could easily fall flat with a cast afraid to sell it. Carreiro understands the pacing of the work, and things get jumping just where they need to in the second act. Kudos to Dan L. Wheeler for his detailed and functional set—a kitchen where the entirety of the action takes place. The script requires five doors, including those to an alley, an office, and an industrial refrigerator, and Wheeler faithfully delivers all that and more within the confines of a theater space intimate enough to squeeze nearly a hundred people within five rows of seats.

FLAMING IDIOTS LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE (LIBERAL ARTS CAMPUS) // 4901 E CARSON // LONG BEACH 90808 562.938.4659 LBCC.EDU/TDF // THURS-SAT 8PM, SUN 2PM // $7-10 // THROUGH JULY 27 + AUG 21-24

Tags: flaming idiots, Long Beach, long beach city college, Theater