Chemistry and comedy were MIA until the third act in the Ventura College Theatre Arts Departments production of the 1910 Carl Sternheim play “The Underpants,” adapted in 2002 by Steve Martin.

The play’s original theme delves into the always-murky waters of political and marital undercurrents.

The young wife of a sexually naive husband, Louise (played by Elyse Sinklier) experiences a Freudian slip literally as her panties slip down to her ankles at a parade held for the Kaiser of Germany. Theo, her husband, takes advantage of his wife’s newfound popularity, since he himself does not enjoy her panties. He then rents room and board to the first two horn dogs to walk through the door.

Versati (played by James Culbertson) and Cohen (Kevin Bass) are the tenants who play up the sexual tension in the small flat. Encouraged by nosy neighbor and hot under the collar herself, Gertrude (Dayna Miles) raises the stakes in more ways than one, as she lives vicariously through Louise and her panties.

Underpants of the female variety has such draw that Klinglehoff (TJ Mora) and even the Kaiser (Drew Davenport) make their way to the apartment of the couple, bringing the hijinks to a climatic conclusion.

The production was directed by Jay Varela, who coaxed his actors into giving a performance that really started hitting on all comedic cylinders in the third act. Comedy is hard to do well, with the magic happening in unexpected moments. Steve Martin probably would need a little more comedic timing in the first two acts, as the laughs were forced by some in the audience. The student actors mustered a good first showing, however, and should be more relaxed for the final shows this weekend.

The show will play May 2 and 3 in the Ventura College Theatre at 8 p.m. with a matinee show May 4 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $9 general admission and $7 students, staff and senior citizens. For more information call (805) 654-6392.