Bring a chicken if you don’t have cash

The bawdy tale of the Chicken Ranch, a small-town Texas brothel with a statewide reputation, gets really crazy when a crusading TV reporter (Bob Baxter, who also directs) gets a wild hair and shines a broadcast light on Miss Mona’s (the outstanding Ruth Phillips) operation. The sheriff (Michael Maples), a good ol’ boy with a profanity problem, isn’t much help, and chaos ensues—complete with high-steppin’ choreography by Darryl Stroh, who also plays a couple of roles. OK, so it’s a bit naive about the realities of prostitution and takes the “hooker with a heart of gold” meme for a ride, but Larry King, Peter Masterson and Carol Hall called political prostitution just the way it is in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Language, innuendo and sexuality make this show inappropriate for children, but older teens and adults will find it great fun.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; $15-$22. Runaway Stage Productions at the 24th Street Theatre; 2791 24th Street; (916) 207-1226; www.runawaystage.com. Through July 31.