Theater

The Tangled Snarl and Murder Me Once: John Rustan and Frank Semerano’s fractured film noir productions are delightfully flat-footed satire. James Reynolds, who directed “Snarl’s” 1981 premiere, helms it here with the new companion piece “Murder,” both starring an inspired Todd Babcock as Spuds Idaho. They make a knee-slapping double feature. “Snarl” suggests Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon” as rewritten by Carl Reiner. The fierce farceurs commit first-degree hilarity, spurred by Babcock’s bazooka-powered vocal attack and terrific timing.

-- David C. Nichols

Ends Sunday at the Fremont Centre Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena. (626) 441-5977