LOVE - AND LUST - IN THE AIR FOR BARD'S `LABOR'S LOST'.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

Pity the high minded King of Navarre, his devoted lords and all their lofty ideals of purity. Matched against those sexy and saucy maids of France, these poor men never had a chance.

It's a pastoral, occasionally religious and decidedly eroticized energy that sweeps through the version of Shakespeare's ``Love's Labor's Lost.'' playing at the Actors' Gang. One of the Bard's less-oft-performed comedies, directed here by France's Simon Abkarian, these ``Labors'' are wacky and wonderful, a treasure chest full of daffy surprises, as well as the occasional bit of melancholia and cruelty. Ara Dabandjian's musical accompaniment sets the mood beautifully.

It's lovely to watch as well. A centralized white curtain -- flanked, in Francois-Pierre Couture's scenic design by a villa outcropping -- provides a space for prayer, laundry, revels and the occasional bath. There is indeed bare flesh on display, suggested and imagined. No wonder the Navarrese nobles -- and ignoble -- seem so hot and bothered.

Court servants Jaquenetta (Toni Torres) and Costard (Pierre Adeli) get so aroused taking down the wash that they elect to get it on right then and there. At which point we learn, via a security-warning-like message, of the King's (played by Matt Huffman) barring women from the court.

His three courtiers, Berowne (Brian Kimmet), Longaville (Ethan Kogan) and Dumaine (Daisuke Tsuji) have foolishly agreed to join with the king in three estrogen-free years of fasting, prayer and study. At which point the King is reminded that the Princess of France (Nancy Stone), and her comely attendants Katherine (Lolly Ward), Maria (Shana Sosin) and Rosaline (Sabra Williams) will arrive at the court on a mission of diplomacy -- and therefore can't be ignored or refused admission.

Not that any of the gents -- who have admired the various ladies and vice versa -- have any intention or desire to keep them away. Letters are written, and mass teasing ensues. Meanwhile, Costard is forced into servitude for Don Armado, (Robert Shampain), a silly knight also in love with Jaquenetta.

I don't profess to understand every bit of Abkarian's scheme here. There's a certain amount of erotic/religious imagery centering around a Christ-like deer pierced with arrows. The director is playing around a bit with Armado's page, Moth (Angela Berliner) who turns out -- oddly -- to be playing things in drag.

And the ladies' manner of turning the tables on the men (particularly when Navarre et al. disguise themselves as randy Russians) may not be entirely consistent with the modesty that's coming out of their mouths.

Nonetheless, the antics -- spoken and physical -- are infectious. The performances are strong throughout, and the play is one we don't see enough. If the Gang ensemble is laboring here, it doesn't show, but there sure is a lot in this production to love.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

LOVE'S LABOR'S LOST - Three and one half stars

Where: The Actors' Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; through Sept. 16.

Tickets: $20 to $25. [phone]. www.theactorsgang.com.

In a nutshell: Loftiness gives way to lust very quickly in Simon Abkarian's high-concept performance.

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Photo:

Katherine (Lolly Ward, left), Boyet (Andrew Wheeler), Maria (Shana Sosin) and Rosaline (Sabra Williams) turn up the heat considerably in ``Love's Labor's Lost.''