In most cases my reviews of Bob Frame's Harlequin productions mention a playwright whose work has not been produced regionally.

But in “Hooks, Lines and Sinkers” Frame has turned to new work by an author he has staged before. The three plays that make up the evening are all comedies by Jay Huling, a Florida writer responsible for two segments in last season's “Gender Wars” at Cayuga Community College.

In every one of the three one-act plays there is one common thread - the cast is having a very good time with the material and with each other. This is a more experienced cast than is usually seen in Harlequin shows, only one of the seven actors, Corinne Aviles, is new to the group, and she has no trouble at all once she gets rolling.

In “The Wily Ray Riley,” Tim Monnin plays a psychic who may or may not be the real thing, and is consulted by a young woman (Aviles) and a preacher (Matthew Crawford). Monnin has some inspired moments here, and Crawford does some nice work as well, but both might profit from playing it straighter.

It's a clever little piece, but there are some gaping holes in the logic.

The second piece making up the first act is “Bonjour Raconteur,” and it profits mightily from a very good performance by Jeff Knight as a genie and an outstanding performance by Joe Pine as a nerd who just can't decide what to wish for.

Knight has grown considerably as an actor over the last two seasons, and here he plays the part with confidence and aplomb. Pine is one of the best actors Harlequin has produced in several years, and his characterization is marvelous, consistent, focused and exceptionally believable in a completely unbelievable situation.

The second act is a longer play called “Runs, Drips and Errors” and begins with a hysterical rendition of the National Anthem by Courtney Johnston, who then proceeds to the bleachers to heckle the remainder of the cast throughout the play. Monnin, Knight and Crawford return as an umpire, catcher and batter, respectively, and all do nice work. Crawford has the funniest moment in the evening's funniest of the three plays with his phone call from the batter's box to order flowers for the umpire.

As good as all four are, it's the performance of Mike DeForrest that steals the limelight as a manager eager to be tossed from the game to attend a wedding. DeForrest is a consummate professional and his work here is a delight.

Frame has his actors enjoying themselves and has paced the show briskly enough that the holes in the plots don't have much time to register.

His decision to stage the plays broadly helps the actors a good deal, but may not have challenged them sufficiently.

Virginia Fennessy and Brad McLean do their usual yeoman's work with the sets and lighting, and Elizabeth Estabrook's sound is excellent, particularly the opening of act two.

Grade: B

If you go

What: “Hook, Lines and Sinkers”

When: 8 tonight, Friday and

Saturday

Where: Cayuga Community College theater, Franklin Street, Auburn

Cost: $5, $1 for CCC students with ID

For details: Call 255-1743