A 'POCKET' FULL OF SMALL MIRACLES.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

A MAKESHIFT TREE, a trunk on wheels, a couple of shape-shifting actors sporting several accents and a bushel of blarney.

``Stones in His Pockets'' rises to a rather higher level of entertainment than it might otherwise deserve. If I sound surprised at this, it's because I am. Slightly more than two years ago, I lasted through the first half of the ``Stones'' tour - featuring the estimable Bronson Pinchot - before repairing to an Irish pub for people-watching that was infinitely more engaging than anything I had seen on stage. Pinchot and his co-star Tim Ruddy dragged Marie Jones' much-ballyhooed movie-themed comedy into the ooze faster even than the pocketed rocks that bring the play's young Sean to his untimely end.

J.D. Cullum and Barry McEvoy, on the other hand, set this baby on fire in Neel Keller's production at the Mark Taper Forum. ``Stones in His Pockets'' may not be the deeply pondering meditation that author Jones seems to think she's written, but, played with this kind of verve, it's kind of irresistible.

Charlie (played by McEvoy) and Jake (Cullum) are a couple of extras on a fat-budgeted American film being shot in County Kerry. They get paid less than $100 a day to stand around as part of a downtrodden Irish crowd scene. Perks? Minimal. An extra piece of lemon meringue pie at the lunch truck? Don't even think about it.

Both are dreamers. Charlie, whose video shop was laid to rest by the arrival of Blockbuster, now has a script he hopes someone on the film crew will read. Jake, newly returned from America, has performance aspirations and a low threshold for suffering fools with anything approaching gladness. Which could turn out to be a problem given the number of nimrods trying to bring ``The Quiet Valley'' to cinematic life.

Jake and Charlie prove to be an engaging, quite likable pair - a couple of good-natured performing (and dancing) fools who, for 40 quid a day, are afforded an insider's education in the maneuverings of Hollywood. We enjoy time spent in their company. And we dig the Tinseltown zanies - also played by McEvoy and Cullum - even more.

McEvoy, whose trademark as Charlie is a wry stoicism bordering on bitterness, stretches his wings beautifully when he leaves Charlie behind. He simpers and fawns as Caroline Giovanni, the film's Julia Roberts-esque diva whose research extends to inviting extras into her trailer. McEvoy is equally memorable as Caroline's vaguely thuggish bodyguard, Jack Campbell, though the character only makes a single appearance.

Cullum is more manic and jittery, a performer who seems to take as much delight in playing off an audience member making a late return to her seat as he does working the stage. He's a natural fit for ``Stones' '' more colorful characters: Aisling, the cheerleading third assistant director; Mickey, the ancient former extra on ``The Quiet Man''; and even as the unfortunate Sean, whom we see at three ages.

Keller keeps his two actors in sync and moves things along briskly. More an exercise in farcical versatility for a couple of actors, ``Stones in His Pockets'' is by no means the most well-constructed of plays. The second act feels like an extended vamp session - with a dance, no less. I doubt that Jake and Charlie, as written, merit two full hours of stage time. McEvoy and Cullum certainly do, and that makes all the difference.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

STONES IN HIS POCKET - Three and one half stars

Where: Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; through July 18.

Tickets: $33 to $47. Call [phone].

In a nutshell: J.D. Cullum and Barry McEvoy expertly play two extras and the entire film crew.