Have you heard the one about David Ives' "Polish Joke"? It's obviously not politically correct to tell Polish jokes, which is precisely why the playwright lets so many fly in this mildly amusing production at the Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre.

Although it isn't as consistently loony as Ives' "All in the Timing," this 2001 play has just enough silliness to keep you smiling. It also has its share of material that is just plain dumb, but even this has a goofy sweetness that'll generally keep you entertained.

To the extent that it has a serious purpose, "Polish Joke" concerns a young Polish-American man, Jasiu (John Dickson), who learns about his Polish heritage from his beer-drinking, joke-telling relatives. Dickson is the only actor who plays a single character, because Fred Nelson, Brian Douglas, Mary Schmidt and Jill Vanderweit are busy playing a host of family members, a doctor, a cop, a priest, a florist, a stewardess, a nurse and others.

Almost every short scene involves Jasiu confronting an array of different people, which seems appropriate for a playwright who works best in a sketch format; indeed, some of his plays actually are compilations of distinct short plays. Although "Polish Joke" is a single play with a standard two-act structure, it often resembles a TV show that just happens to be on a stage instead.

"Polish Joke" has plenty of ethnic consistency in its scenes set in America and Poland over a 21-year period to make these segments hold together like, well, links of Polish sausage, but it's not exactly a well-made play by conventional standards. Funny routines get tossed in for their own sake, and the writing varies wildly in its level of wit.

If the ethnic texture fortunately holding everything together has a lived-in quality, surely it's because David Ives entered the world as a Polish Catholic child named David Roszkowski in a working-class neighborhood in Chicago. It also probably explains why he's able to get away with so much self-deprecating humor, and also why there's an underlying pride behind all the ribbing.

The presumably semi-autobiographical Jasiu tries to become a completely assimilated American, but ultimately must acknowledge that his identity is something to be accepted. Meanwhile, his inner debates, frequent changes in occupation and his relationship with a sophisticated girlfriend pay off in numerous comic situations.

Arguably the funniest scene involves a doctor's office visit in which Ives' knack for absurd comedy is on fast-paced display. It's too bad the play doesn't contain more such scenes.

More typical is a funny but overly long scene concerning Jasiu Sadlowski's decision to change his name to Michael Flanagan and take a one-way flight to Ireland. The Polish jokes are given a rest as Ives indulges in Irish jokes, many of them concerning Irish characters with nearly identical names and blazingly green outfits.

An indication that "Polish Joke" is one of the playwright's lesser efforts is that even this funny Irish scene wears out its welcome. Much of the ethnic humor in the play -- Polish, Irish and even Jewish -- is belabored. The Spotlighters' cast under director John Sadowsky often milks these jokes for more than they're worth, so it'd be a good idea for everybody to tighten the pacing and race through the so-so material.

"Polish Joke" runs through Sunday at the Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre, at 817 St. Paul St., in Baltimore. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. There also is a performance June 26 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18, $15 for seniors and students. Call 410-752-1225 or go to www.spotlighters.org.

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