The 'Real' deal: Signal sniffs out humor in sly 'Inspector Hound'

At one point during Tom Stoppard's "The Real Inspector Hound," a character inquires, "does this play know where it's going?"

His question refers to the play-within-a-play, an Agatha Christie-inspired thriller involving upper-crust visitors to an isolated British country estate. But the question also applies to the entirety of Stoppard's sly 1968 farce about a pair of drama critics who breach the fourth wall to insert themselves into the play they're reviewing.

The answer to the question is yes, Stoppard - a former critic himself - knows exactly where he's going in his well-crafted comedy skewering manor house murder mysteries and the writers who critique them.

And so does director Ronan Marra, whose pleasantly entertaining revival for the ever-solid Signal Ensemble Theatre marks the inauguration of that company's comfortable new home. Incorporating amusing, often broadly comic bits of stage business, Marra imagines Stoppard's play-within-a-play being staged by a second-rate acting company, whose clunky, melodramatic performances suit the timeworn whodunit.

The story unfolds in set designer Melania Lancy's prim drawing room where a very visible body (Charles Schoenherr) lies undetected by the Muldoon Manor residents for the better part of the play.

The action begins with the arrival of the critics. Moon (the always watchable, nicely dour Philip Winston) is an embittered, second-stringer who dreams of ascending to the top post. The womanizing Birdboot (the comically charismatic Jon Steinhagen), a master of the quotable quip, uses his position and the promise of glowing reviews to obtain sexual favors from young actresses.

The evening's entertainment consists of a murder mystery set against a love triangle involving comely widow Cynthia Muldoon (Meredith Bell Alvarez), dashing newcomer Simon (John Blick) and young Felicity (Katie Genualdi). Also on hand is Cynthia's mysterious brother-in-law Magnus (Colby Sellers) and housekeeper Mrs. Drudge (a very funny Mary O'Dowd), who provides exposition while she tidies the parlor. Last to arrive is the titular inspector (Joseph Stearns), hot on the trail of an escaped madman. Shortly thereafter, a ringing phone lures Moon and Birdboot from their box onto the stage and into the action. Meanwhile Simon and Hound take over as critics (roles they take to easily and well), suggesting that it isn't just the reviewers who wish for a change of scene.

The show has a couple of weak spots, the interminable tea drinking scene comes immediately to mind. But Winston and Steinhagen are spot on, navigating that fine line between pretension and insecurity where the likes of Moon and Birdboot dwell.