They’re doing it for the laughs

NOT many people would dare to make Genghis Khan the spokesman of a condom ad. But in Burbank, the leader of the Golden Horde is one of dozens of characters employed by four of Southern California’s most prominent Asian American theatrical troupes to make a point: Asians can do comedy.

“TeleMongol” is the story of a fictitious Asian American network whose executives are given the chance to program shows by Asian Americans, for Asian Americans. They want to smash stereotypes, comment on pop culture and educate their audience, but they also need to make money for their primary investor -- which leads to experiments in programming, as shown through various sketches.

“I wanted something kind of thematic tying the show together,” says Philip Chung, a founding member of Lodestone Theatre Ensemble. He hatched the idea for the production after a season that wrapped with three dramatic plays in a row. A friend suggested that Chung seek comic relief, which Chung says seemed a brilliant idea, particularly since there’s a “perception that Asian people really aren’t funny.... I really think that this is a show that can stand on its own with any comedy show, whether it’s Asian comedy or not.”

He approached the troupes Cold Tofu, OPM and 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors because they were the best-known in town, and decided that a collaboration by such disparate groups would work best if it established a framework for a series of comedy sketches, much like “SCTV.”

By doing so, “we would kind of have a better shot at putting together a cohesive whole, but you still get to do whatever you want,” Chung says.

The show, which unites the four troupes for the first time, took shape during the course of nearly a year. Each group is represented by a producer, and each submitted sketches that were read, workshopped and approved with guidance from director Henry Chan, whose sitcom credits include “Moesha,” “The King of Queens,” “Scrubs” and “ ‘Til Death.”

Chan is proud of his Chinese heritage, but when he was asked to direct “TeleMongol,” he made his position clear: “The first thing I said is, ‘I don’t want us to get on a soapbox to preach,’ because I never believed that was an effective way to do anything. First and foremost, we want to be funny,” he says. “People always look at Asian American theater: ‘You guys have a message.’ ... I don’t feel like we have to do anything. Let’s just have fun.”

Fun, of course, is one goal of comedy, but when it comes from ethnic ensembles, there’s an expectation of purpose as well. “Asian Americans doing comedy is kind of political,” says Greg Watanabe, of 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors. “Part of the reason Asian American theater even exists is because there’s an absence of representation, or misrepresentation.”

Chan adds that the show is “our way of poking at television in general, and Asian television in particular.” Sometimes, the director says, the shows “are so self-righteous.” By contrast, he describes “TeleMongol” as “funny, sexy, irreverent, insensitive.” In other words, if you’re still living at home, or you’re tied to that invisible leash that some parents seem to have on their adult children, you are hereby warned: Your mom’s not going to like your seeing this show.

There are 18 sketches in 70 minutes, and 14 cast members. With so many people involved, the writers must have wondered: Would too many comics spoil the punch lines?

“It’s been a great experience, considering you have four groups, four different ways of working, four possibilities for disaster,” says Chung. “The hardest thing has been coordination: Setting up meetings has been the toughest. Creativity has been the easiest.”

All of the sketches were written expressly for “TeleMongol,” but fans of the four ensembles will be familiar with some of the characters, such as nail salon owner cum relationship expert Dr. Pho, whose thickly accented “What’s your problem!” had the audience at Saturday’s premiere shrieking with laughter.

The part, created and played by Cold Tofu member Wanru Tseng, is a stereotype. But it’s also a touchstone -- anyone who’s ever had his or her nails done at one of the many shops in town has probably been given advice by the manicurist, most likely a Vietnamese woman, whether asked for or not.

“TeleMongol” also has something you don’t see often in mainstream media: hot Asian guys.

“It’s always bad when a costumer comes up and asks you, ‘Are you comfortable in a thong?’ ” jokes Watanabe, who plays an adult-film star in the sketch “Project Apple: (PSA).” The piece is a public service announcement that plays on the dichotomous stereotypes of Asians as sex objects and Asians as highly educated people.

Ewan Chung, looking buff in a Chippendales-style outfit, plays the model in “Date or No Date,” written by Cold Tofu cast member Denise Iketani, in a twist on the TV game show “Deal or No Deal.” Though Chung’s role is to be eye candy, the sketch itself examines the “issues women in general have to face looking for a guy these days,” Iketani says. Even if people don’t admit it, looks, income and job prestige matter when it comes to seeking a mate. But the sketch points out that it’s unwise to make assumptions based on these criteria alone. “There’s definitely commentary, there’s many layers to what’s going on -- not just ethnically, but gender-wise, even perhaps sexual preference.”

In “Asian Surreal Life,” Cold Tofu member Corinne Chooey does a sendup of Bai Ling, while Watanabe and OPM member Charles Kim do impressions of George Takei and Sammo Hung, respectively. A slightly deeper-than-average knowledge about Asian movie and TV actors will help audiences get more out of it. (Hint: Before going to the show, do a Web search for Rick Yune and read the entries about Bai Ling on GoFugYourself.com.)

But the idea behind “TeleMongol” tries to reinforce a universal truth of comedy: When done well, it transcends barriers and makes audiences see the world in a different way.

“People should go to this show because it’s funny,” Iketani says. “I think it’s a little bit different -- I think, if we’re talking about a multiracial audience, they’re going to be seeing Asians doing things they don’t usually see us do.”

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‘TeleMongol’

Where: GTC Burbank (inside George Izay Park), 1111-B W. Olive Ave., Burbank

When: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays; no show next Thursday

Ends: Dec. 17

Price: $15; Sundays, except Dec. 17, pay what you can

Info: (323) 993-7245, www.lodestonetheatre.org