SHAW IN HIGH GEER AT THEATRICUM.

Byline: Evan Henerson Theater Critic

Leave it to the hotel waiters of seaside England to sire barristers and possess wisdom far beyond their stations. By all means, leave the impoverished dentists to be masters in the art of love.

Leave it, also, to George Bernard Shaw to mine his own difficult upbringing and end up with a light yet highly intellectual comedy.

And above all, leave it to Heidi Helen Davis and a sparkling cast at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum to bring GBS' ``You Never Can Tell'' to a frothy and delightful boil.

Davis sets the production's tone even before it begins. Gabby twins Dolly and Philip Clandon (played by Jamie Snow and Michael James Thatcher, smartly finishing each other's sentences) are employed to give all the pre-curtain cell phone and refreshment instructions. Then we're off and sprinting with Dolly undergoing a tooth extraction at the hands of Valentine (Jeff Wiesen), a ``five-shilling'' dentist. Philip will join the proceedings later, as Valentine's landlord, Mr. Crampton (William Dennis Hunt), who has a toothache and seeks several weeks back rent from Valentine.

The Clandon clan has recently returned to England from Madeira. where the twins and their older sister, Gloria, (Willow Geer) have been raised since their mother, Mrs. Clandon (Ellen Geer), fled their father. Mrs C. has since become an author and an authority on the modern ways, raising her children on strict principles of logic and science. This, alas, leaves Gloria rather ill-prepared when Valentine sets his amorous gaze in her direction.

The Clandon brood's persistent inquiries about the identity of their father are finally about to be answered. The man is none other than Mr. Crampton, who instantly finds fault with the children's upbringing.

Throw in sage waiter William (Steven Matt), family adviser McCombs (Philip Littell) and ultimately lawyer Bohun (Tishuan Scott) and what a quaint stew of love, class, modernism and fortune hunting Shaw has concocted. This being an early Shavian work -- and one of his designated ``pleasant'' plays -- things are going to end on an up note. When the players prance off stage to join the masquerade ball, we'll be anxious to join them.

Davis' cast keeps the tone light and the rich dialogue flying as briskly as Snow and Thatcher appear to be darting on and off stage. Expertly counterbalancing the twins' flibbertigibbet antics are Wiesen and Willow Geer, whose characters find themselves deliriously in love largely against their will. Hunt and Ellen Geer -- as the parents who haven't always provided the best of examples -- have a solid handle on their place in the action as well.

Another note on Willow Geer. The Theatricum was built by her grandfather and is run by her mother, Ellen, who is also a frequent performer and director. Theatricum visitors over the years have basically watched Willow grow up on stage through the roles she has played every summer.

With Gloria Clandon, this maturation has reached a new and quite satisfying level. Geer gives the character spine, wit, poise and, when necessary, a kind of love-induced desperation. This is, in short, an excellent match of performer and role, and proof positive that the Geer legacy is in good hands.

Evan Henerson, [phone]

evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com

YOU NEVER CAN TELL - Three and one half stars

Where: Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Road, Topanga.

When: In rotating repertory through Oct. 1; call for specific show days and times.

Tickets: $15 to $25. [phone]; www.theatricum.com

In a nutshell: We can tell you the production's a winner.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Jamie Snow, left, William Dennis Hunt, Michael James Thatcher and Willow Geer star in George Bernard Shaw's light comedy ``You Never Can Tell.''