Drop-your-drawers funny

Expect to laugh ’til your sides ache at this production of The Underpants. Adapted from Carl Sternheim’s 1910 German comedy Die Hose by American comedic genius Steve Martin, this farce revolves around a hausfrau, Louise (Joelle Wirth), who accidentally drops her drawers when she tiptoes up to get a look at the king. That makes her the focus of shaming by her chauvinist husband, Theo (Jeffrey Lloyd Heatherly), and the object of lust by a pair of boarders (Joshua Glenn Robertson as Frank and Jouni Kirjola as Benjamin). Kellie Yvonne Raines as the lusty, nosy neighbor and Gary Pannullo as Herr Klinglehoff, a sickly, sputtering professor, succeed in stealing scenes. The entire show is stolen by the comedy of Justin Muñoz as “The Clown.” His note-perfect pantomime is reminiscent of the best work of the late Red Skelton. Perfect casting and tight pacing make this show run like clockwork—even if the works are sprung by frequent laughter. Under the direction of Benjamin T. Ismail, it’s another hit for Big Idea.

The Underpants, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; $10-$15. Big Idea Theatre, 1616 Del Paso Boulevard; (916) 960-3036; www.bigideatheatre.com. Through September 11.