‘Den of Thieves’ darkly funny with fast pace

Playwright and actor (“Law &Order”) Stephen Adly Guirgis takes a darkly funny riff on 12-step programs in “Den of Thieves,” now playing at the Las Vegas Little Theatre’s Fischer Black Box. The fast-paced comedy is well- directed by Ela Rose.

When Maggie, a member of a Kleptomaniacs Anonymous group and her sponsor, Paul, relapse by agreeing to assist her violent ex-boyfriend, Flaco, and Boochie, his topless dancer girlfriend, in ripping off drug money, what could go wrong? As Flaco says, “Only a (expletive) bunch of idiots could mess this up.”

Guirgis pokes fun at 12-step babble, and director Rose makes good use of Deshawn Warr’s limited emotional range as Paul, the 12-step sponsor who recites program slogans like a true believer. Paul uses the Klepto Anonymous program’s first step,

“Reach out and return” to justify the big score, after all, he says, “It’s about progress, not perfection.”

Maggie, played by Abby Dandy, is working a pretty sloppy program as evidenced by the odd assortment of purloined stuff she pulls from her purse after a shoplifting spree. Guirgis gives Maggie a bit more depth than he allows the other characters and

Dandy, while very funny in the role, doesn’t just play it for laughs. She will find true surrender before the end, but not before she hits her bottom.

Flaco is a gangsta wannabe, and it is his harebrained scheme to rip off a disco’s secret drug money that sets the plot in action. Jake Taylor as Flaco is over-the-top funny, and though his character is a deliberate caricature, he manages to wrest some genuinely heartfelt moments in his relationship with his ex, Maggie.

April Sauline as the curvaceous Boochie is a wonderful physical comedian, and she pulls off her character’s numerous malapropisms with hilarious aplomb. She is definitely a “valuable ass to society.”

The first act ends with the characters agreeing to the robbery, and director Rose creates suspense by taking advantage of the curtainless Black Box to have the stage crew set-up four chairs with ropes and black hoods in full view of the audience. We know something is about to go wrong.

Cody Angelo as Little Tuna and Michael DelaRosa Jr. as Sal make a riotous comic duo as a mobster’s son and his muscle. While the two threaten bloody mayhem on our four bungling burglars, they discuss mundane domestic matters like how much butter is needed for dinner. Angelo is a cast standout. Even if you took away Guirgis’ very funny lines, Angelo’s amazingly elastic face would still telegraph to the audience Little Tuna’s every thought. Angelo’s comic talent is so mature it is difficult to believe that he is a Las Vegas Academy student. We are seeing a star in the making.

Michael DelaRosa Jr. as Sal reminded me of Christopher Walken at his most maniacal. He has the audience literally screaming with laughter.

Chris Davies who was a standout in last season’s “Picnic” is equally outstanding here as Big Tuna.