DIRK Like the book on which it’s based, the plot in this stage adaptation of Douglas Adams’ novel Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is nigh impossible to follow — but what fun it is to try. Adapted by James Goss and Arvind Ethan David, and innovatively staged by director Jeff Griffith, Dirk features a labyrinthine storyline embracing aspects of both 19th-century ghost stories and 21st-century science fiction. The title character, oddball detective Dirk Gently (Scott Burkin), speaks in clipped tones, often musing on matters like telekinesis and quantum mechanics that have only a tenuous connection to the already convoluted plot. This involves the inexplicable shooting death of a software company entrepreneur (Daniel R. Vasquez); suspicion falls on a naive former school chum of Dirk’s named Richard (Tripp Pickell), a swain of the dead man’s sister (Heather Williams). Besides the spot-on performances, the production is distinguished by its digital scenography (designer Anaitte Vacarro) adroitly interwoven with live action — one minute you see the characters on the screen and the next minute on stage — and by elaborate sound effects (David Marling and Lee Osteen) that underscore the bedlam. As a dotty professor, Carl J. Johnson stands out within an accomplished ensemble. ROAD THEATRE COMPANY, Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 N. Lankershim Blvd., N. Hlywd.; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru Dec. 2 (no perf Nov. 23). (866) 8... More >>>