It's probably not an easy role for a contemporary youngster. It takes place in 1959, which may well be even before his own parents were born, and I doubt that many teenager today even know who Ed Sullivan is, much less give an impersonation that, even though not dead-on, is at least recognizable.

But even tougher is the crisis of faith that Rudy Pazinski is going through. His parents are certainly not devout Catholics, but father Chet still knows the Catechism (in spite of himself, it seems), and wants his children to go to Catholic school to shield them from the influences of the world (a concept that the may be familiar with since the program tells us he is home-schooled).

But Rudy isn't sure he wants to be the soldier of Christ that Sister Clarissa wants him to be. Indeed, he compares the rules and regulations of the church with what Jesus actually has to say and notices the disconnect. He doesn't share his family's deep-seated fear of hell and damnation because he doesn't believe in it, a bold statement from a 12-year-old in any era, much less the Eisenhower years.

Tom Dudzick's script is almost a no-miss deal. It's funny and insightful and full of quotable lines that you want to jot down and carry around for a while.

It's one of those stories where you don't have to be a Catholic to get the jokes, but the Catholics in the audience may laugh a little louder and a little harder than the rest of us.

For the rest of us, it's loaded not only with a complicated — and very real — family dynamic, but also is a snapshot of the times (apparently based on his own youth). And while it is certainly a comedy both in style and structure, it is also loaded with dramatic conflict.

• how to go
• WHAT: "Over the Tavern"
• WHERE: Human Race Theatre Company, 126 N. Main, Dayton
• WHEN: Through Sept. 21
• COST: $29-$36
• MORE INFO: (937)228-3630; www.humanracetheatre.org