'Is He Dead?' a fun comedy

"IS HE DEAD? " Pioneer Theatre Company, through Nov. 14, Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre (801-581-6961); running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes (one intermission)

French painter Jean-Francois Millet (1814-1875) was best known for his scenes of peasants and workers, and it might not hurt to hop online and familiarize yourself with a handful of his paintings before seeing Pioneer Theatre Company's latest production, "Is He Dead?"

Though most of the comedy's details about the painter are fictional, the referenced works of art are real — and you'll get more out of it if you're familiar with them.

This play by Mark Twain isn't something you get to see every day. Scholar Shelley Fisher Fishkin found the script among the novelist's papers and was delighted with it. Though not produced in Twain's lifetime, the material, adapted and updated by David Ives, has plenty of Twain's wit and wisdom.

Struggling to sell a painting, Millet is in debt and starving. One of his friends suggests that if he were dead, he would finally be acknowledged as a great master and his work would be worth a fortune.

So, Millet comes down with an awful illness and subsequently dons a corset and dress to pose as his widow sister.

As is always the case with farce, identities are mistaken, doors are slammed and high jinks ensue.

The play starts out a bit slow, but once Millet puts on the dress, things start to clip along at a more entertaining pace.

Actor Michael Keyloun plays Millet. His lanky, lithe build lends itself to the humor of the show, as well as his wide eyes and facial expressions.

Keyloun is surrounded by a solid supporting cast, including David Graham Jones, Graham Rowat and Paul Kiernan as his partners-in-crime. And Greg Thornton is the wonderfully sinister "bad guy," Bastien Andre.

Under the direction of Charles Morey, this regional premiere clips along, but there are times when the comedy feels forced and looks unnatural — even for a farce. Perhaps some of that will settle as the run continues.

James Wolk's sets are outstanding, as usual, as are Carol Wells-Day's costumes.

Overall, it's a fun night of theater. The audience left chuckling, and many folks were overheard saying they wanted to learn more about both Twain and Millet.

Sensitivity rating: Cigar smoking, sexual gestures.

e-mail: ehansen@desnews.com