GET US OUTTA HERE—Foxhole-bound during World War I are, from left, Will Shupe, Ryan Gesell and James Castle Stevens. "The Complete History of America (Abridged)" is playing at the High Street Arts Center in Moorpark. You know you're in for an evening of anarchy when the three stars of "The Complete History of America (Abridged)" come marching down the High Street Arts Center aisle singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" with the words one note ahead of the music.

From there, things go from a little offkilter to complete insanity, as the talented but crazed trio sets American history back 200 years.

"The Complete History" is a product of the Reduced Shakespeare Company (Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor), whose first production, a 20minute version of "Hamlet," was staged in 1981 at Renaissance fairs, venues where time slots were limited to 30 minutes.

Six years later, the company wrote "The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)," which pared the Bard's 37 plays down to 60 minutes. "America," the company's second stage show, made its debut in 1993 and has been laying audiences in the aisles ever since.

With a cast of three, one set, no music and a warehouse of props, the show spoofs American history as it scurries through the decades, landing on touchstone moments such as the Civil War, the Depression and Watergate, lampooning each and leaving uproarious debris in its wake.

You're not expected to learn anything, but it helps if you have a basic knowledge of major events as the cultural references whiz by. Most of it is just plain silly, and the cast is not above plain ol' slapstick (yes, there is a pie-in-the-face gag) to get laughs.

To give the mania some semblance of structure, segments of the production are themed, such as Lewis and Clark as a vaudeville act, a Depression-era radio drama that is worthy of anything Stan Freberg ever wrote, and the entire post-World War II era played out as a film noir detective story.

The three zanies dashing madly about are Ryan Gesell, Will Shupe and James Castle Stevens, who are as likable as they are accomplished at farce. Shupe, who we saw shuffling off to Buffalo in Cabrillo Music Theater's "42nd Street," is funny without even doing anything.

Short and balding, Shupe wears most of the ridiculous costumes and is the source of many of the onstage sound effects. The lanky Gesell, a Moorpark College graduate, shows his adeptness at voices and accents, with his best moments coming as private eye "Spade Diamond." Stevens, the husband of High Street Arts Center's general manager, L.J. Stevens, shows off a talent for impressions, including a jowl-rattling Richard Nixon.

The lightning-fast blackouts remind one of a live version of the old "Laugh-In" show, and the cast manages to touch on a surprising number of pivotal historical events as they charge through history.

Highlights of the first act include an evangelist's speech at the Salem witch trials, a Colonial sportscast during the Revolutionary War (where the Patriots trounce the Redskins), a stoned Thomas Jefferson (who tokes Monticello Gold), and the purchase of Louisiana, which was, of course, financed by Countrywide. When the cast breaks their slide projector, they have to act out Matthew Brady's photographic impressions of the Civil War, which makes the audience shriek with laughter.

The second act is even sillier. Nothing is sacred, including presidential assassinations, a magic bullet that traverses the centuries, and some really, really bad puns.

If you're depressed by the economic downturn, "The Complete History of America (Abridged)" is a hilarious antidote for your woes. You will laugh and laugh and laugh.

Performances continue through Sun., June 14. For information, call the High Street Arts Center box office at (805) 529-8700.