Wittenberg

Philosophy and literature rub elbows with bawdy physical high jinks and pop culture in this frothy intellectual comedy by David Davalos. The tale involves Reformation theologian Martin Luther and intellectual seeker Dr. Faustus (who sold his soul for knowledge) as professors, with Shakespeare’s Hamlet as their student. A few buxom ladies wander through as diversions, and there s also a bit of rock music (Pete Townshend, Led Zeppelin). Actor David Pierini has a romp, presenting Faustus as a medieval guitar-strumming pop star/herbalist, launching double-entendres à la Groucho Marx. Greg Alexander, normally a cutup, has some semi-serious moments as the resolute Luther. Jason Kuykendall dithers in Shakespearean gibberish as Hamlet. Amanda Stephen and Sylvia Kwan are the sexy ladies, more serene than the men. Director Buck Busfield sets up outrageous visual contrasts between the sacred and the profane.
B Street Theatre, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; $22-$30. 2711 B Street, (916) 443-5300, www.bstreettheatre.org. Through November 2.