Shakespeare, silliness and slapstick highlighted the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s production of “Leading Ladies” during its opening night performance Friday.

The comedy, written by Ken Ludwig, is set in 1952 in York, Pa. It centers on two struggling Shakespearean actors, played here by Jasen Durrence as Jack and Josh Ruben as Leo.

The two devise a scheme to pose as the long-lost nieces of a wealthy women (Wendy Tippens) whom they believe to be dead.

They descend on York only to find that Florence is indeed alive and that their would-be cousin, Meg, played by Stephanie Freeman, is engaged to a gold-digging pastor, played by Rodney Strong. The family doctor is played by Stacy Helton.

The good doctor is apparently unable to diagnose death properly and appears to have his sights set on his son, played by Sanford Knox Jr., marrying the soon-to-be wealthy Meg. Butch, however, is in love with Audrey, the sweethearted, beautiful ditzy blonde played brilliantly by Katlyn Whittenberg.

Durrence and Ruben are rock solid as the cross-dressing overactors. Ruben’s comic delivery was especially good and the audience appreciated Durrence’s growing suffering as the ramifications of the pair’s ruse plays out.

Tippens, who is no stranger to playing over-the-top characters, delivers again as the eccentric matriarch.

The play has the zaniness of a Hannah-Barbara cartoon with a little Mel Brooks or Marx Brothers edge, though it suffers at times from unevenness in timing and delivery, especially during the first half.

Strong’s cartoonish doubletakes, for example, made more sense as the slap-stick moments came more quickly and more often near the end.

As the actors grew more comfortable with the help of an appreciative audience which seemed ready to laugh at every opportunity, the pace, and the delivery improved.

Some of the humor is a little obvious and clichéd (how could men in drag not be?), but there are some very funny performances and plenty of good laughs.

The production continues Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 10 with shows at 8 p.m. Call 267-8534.

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