ROLE PLAYERS ENSEMBLE OF DANVILLE IS CURRENTLY STAGING Charles Morey’s “The Ladies Man,” a high-octane situation comedy set in Belle Epoque Paris in which “one tiny, little lie” turns into a riot of ridiculous circumstances. “Ladies Man” is chock full of mockery, deception and mistaken identities — plenty of fodder for laughs — but while the Danville production boasts fetching costumes, an array of swinging doors and a cast of quick-stepping players to go popping in and out of them all, the performance doesn’t quite burst with pizzazz. Last Friday’s show felt as if the actors weren’t enjoying themselves nearly as much as they should in such a wild and crazy farce.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Role Players rendition of this modern little gem, based on the 19th-century French farce “Tailleur pour dames” (“The Ladies Dressmaker”) by George Feydeau, is the fun the players have with their French and German accents. Yvonne (Monica Ammerman) may roll out her husband’s name (Charles Woodson Parker as Hercule Molineaux) with polished flair, but the name of Hercule’s would-be mistress (Dana Lewenthal as Suzanne Aubin), for example, is playfully exaggerated by all.

Meanwhile Prussian “General” Gustav (John Hale), a big tall guy who intimidates anyone he perceives as flirting with his “vife” Suzanne, utters his German phrases in jolly, ultra-Bavarian style to a nearly slapstick effect, a perfect complement to his helmeted, epaulet-adorned uniform; while Hercule’s reluctant patient M. Bassinet (John Blytt) pronounces everything with such an obvious lisp that his accent is entirely beside the point.

Ammerman has just the right farcical feel in the play as Molineaux’s baffled young wife. She is sharp, delivering even the fastest lines with practiced agility. Parker is adorably hapless as her rueful husband, though his delivery Friday was surprisingly sleepy considering the fast-paced nature of the comedy. Lewenthal and Hale both have more of a slapstick air about them as the doctor’s amorous patient and her brutish husband, a quality that would fit better if only all the others were on the same wavelength; and Ron Pickett and Cynthia Lagodzinski are conspicuously low-key as house servants Etienne and Marie. The two aren’t stiff enough to fit a “straight man” role, yet not sharply comical, either.

I’m also not sure why maid Marie is outfitted in a floor-length, full-skirted black brocade gown with a Scarlett O’Hara-red petticoat underneath. She certainly doesn’t look the stereotypical French maid part, despite the white pleated head piece and feather duster. If her sassy underthings play into the humor of any of the scenes, I’m afraid I must have missed it. On the other hand, the Medusa-themed topper on mother-in-law Mme. Aigreville (Elinor Bell) provides a nice dash of visual humor. (Costumes on stage appear differently from the promotional photographs.)

Blytt is pretty funny as the unwitting pawn in Molineaux’s desperate ruse. The doctor’s patient plays an important part in the structure of the story, and Blytt’s antics seem well rehearsed. I just found myself wishing all of the players were in on the same joke, all acting in the same comical vein, so that I knew whether I was supposed to be enjoying a lowbrow, slapstick-style comedy or a more sophisticated and subtle one. Blytt’s character, like the few mentioned above, appears to fall somewhere in between.

All in all, “The Ladies Man” makes for a fun night (or afternoon) out with friends. Silly laughter abounds and the pace is mostly frenetic, leaving little room for distraction. Costumes (Lisa Danz) are bright and festive, in the style of fin de siècle, and the multiple doors (and one surprising wall) add even more fun to the mix.

If you’re in the mood for some light-hearted comical theater, this one just might fill the bill. Go early and enjoy the bi-level art gallery that serves as the theater’s foyer, and enjoy a refreshment or two. Wine is available for patrons 21 and older.

“The Ladies Man” continues at the Village Theatre, 233 Front St., Danville through Sunday. Tickets are $20 to $28 and are available by calling 925-314-3400 or online at www.roleplayersensemble.com.

Elizabeth Warnimont is a freelance writer specializing in the performing arts. She is also a substitute teacher for the Benicia Unified School District.