David Mandel's Xenamenofrito, a comedy as unusual as its name, will have its world premiere March 29 at Los Angeles' Met Theatre downstairs in its Great Scott Cabaret. Mandel, Shiloh Levine and Courtney Scrabeck star in the show, which has been directed by Don Stroud and has choreography by Kitty McNamee, music by Michael John Porter, Dax van Aalten with Big N' Yerp, and Kevin Beyers & Ryan Engler.

Described as "Ionesco meets 'Friends,'" the play, running through May 7, finds the humor in the things people say in ordinary relationships, private, public and professional. The episodic narrative follows the adventures of a man named Meno and the two women, Xena and Frito, whom he keeps encountering in odd, diverse situations,

Following the lead of the Hollywood marketeers, there will be a full line of Xenomenofrito merchandise available after each performance. Items include coffee mugs, ashtrays, pocket editions of the script, bumper stickers and signed cast photos.

Great Scott Cabaret (at the Met) is located at 1089 Oxford Ave. For tickets and information call (323) 957-1152 or visit www.theMETtheatre.com

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent