Don’t blink!

Twenty different characters, a closet full of costumes and plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor deliver lighthearted laughs in a two-man play about Texas' third-smallest, mythological town.

"Greater Tuna," as its been known for more than 20 years, represents some of the funniest of redneck America in two weekends of shows at the Permian Playhouse, starting tonight.

And the entire cast of characters will be played by the dynamic acting duo of Jed Duesler and Dominic Lopez - young actors with a lot of experience at the Playhouse.

 "It's really cool to work with someone like Dominic - I totally get him, and he totally gets me," Duesler said. "Doing the multitude of characters that we get to do, it's mind-boggling - I love the way that we can gel together."

The play, which started as a simple party skit in Austin, turned into a popularly produced play of the '80s, with its eclectic collection of citizens.

Duesler said "Greater Tuna's" storyline and flow keep viewers guessing and laughing all the while the town's oddballs progress through the satire's funny points.

"It's set back in the '70s before Internet and before everyone was as connected as they are today. These people live in the boonies, and they make their own rules. They're so disconnected, but they're content in being so disconnected - I think it's hilarious," Duesler said. "It's like Mayberry 2008."

Although the show is a challenge to perform, Lopez said he enjoys the variety of characters and their dilemmas - from a young girl upset about not becoming a cheerleader to a group called the Smut Snatchers that wants to ban certain books and words from the town library.

"I think it's more character-driven than joke-driven," he said. "It's not just a bunch of random scenes, but it's this complete day in this little town where the Tuna football team always loses, but the whole town still turns out to see them anyway."

Lopez said he would like to see play writers Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard update "Greater Tuna" with more modern references, but at the same time, he's impressed with the story's longevity and underlying subplots.

"I've noticed there are lots of little things throughout the play that you might not notice while it's happening," he said. "I think there's elements of most of small-town Texas in it."

WANT TO GO?
>> ‘Greater Tuna,' by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard, takes center stage tonight and runs through Oct. 12 at the  Permian Playhouse, 310 W. 42nd St.
>> Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 Sundays.
>> Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and $7 for children 12 and younger.
>> Call  362-2329 or 550-5456.

ON THE NET:
>> The Home of ‘Greater Tuna': greatertuna.com
>> Permian Playhouse: www.permianplayhouse.websitewizard.com