Having miraculously recovered from a debauched, three-hour, Manhattan-drenched dinner at our favorite restaurant the night before, The Swede and I met up outside the Geary Theater to get a few laughs from the incredibly well-reviewed Scapin now currently on offer from American Conservatory Theater, which the Chronicle calls "The Funniest Show of the Year." There were indeed many people laughing, but we didn't think it was all that funny. Sure, Bill Irwin is a great physical comedian, but the whole thing felt like an old Abbott and Costello routine and Moliere's play is as silly as a Mozart opera.

Know that we are of the minority opinion on this show because most of the audience  truly seemed to be enjoying it. If the second half was any better I'll never know. We left at intermission, me with a horrible headache- a gift from the woman seated next to me who was drenched in horrible cheap perfume. The Swede actually called it "terrible." I wouldn't go that far, but when he suggested leaving I felt no compulsion to protest and stay for more.

As for the funniest show of the year, hurry up and go see Jerry Springer, the Opera before its run ends. That is the funniest show of the year. Get tickets for it from Goldstar.