Remember how your mother warned you to stay away from the cute irresistible bad boy?

She was talking about John Leguizamo; and if you played it safe and married the good guy, Ghetto Klown is your chance to step over to the dark side for an evening.

Unlike his other one man shows, this one focuses largely on the movie career of the Columbian born actor, who’s known much more for his comedy than for his serious roles and heavy duty training. Who even knew he studied with Lee Strasberg at The Actor’s Studio?

Pacing back and forth across the stage like a Latino Chris Rock, one moment Leguizamo is bragging to the audience about his many female conquests, and making jokes about his less than steller first marriage. Then he deftly switches gears, and has us close to tears as we all try to figure out his complicated and sometimes abusive father. What kind of dad advises his kid “Don’t be a sucker like Jesus,” anyway?

The high point of the evening is undoubtedly Leguizamo’s dead on impersonations, not only of the actors whose voices we recognize, but also of director Brian de Palma. We get a glimpse of the over the top intensity of Sean Penn, who insisted on slapping John in the face as hard as he could during the making of Casualties of War. The scene is played out several times; each time, de Palma coos for just one more take, while John becomes ever more fearful. If you can stop laughing, remember to note the extraordinary comedy timing.

Kurt Russell, Don Johnson, and Steven Seagal mainly come across as jerks, and this show features a decidedly different take on the now nearly sainted Patrick Swayze.

The De Niro squint is done to perfection. But the best impression of all has to be Al Pacino, who inadvertently provided the name for the show. Hoo-ah!

Just a few caveats: Don’t heckle JL from the house. He’s lightning fast, and loaded with put downs. Don’t bring anyone who’s easily shocked, or not that bright. The show, at two and half hours long, should have been cut; the second act tends to get repetitious. And guys, this is probably not the greatest first date evening for you to plan.

But for an opportunity to catch a brilliant performer at his off-color best, this is the show; oh Johnny, oh.

Come on, baby, you know you want to.

Ghetto Klown
Lyceum Theater
149 West 45th Street
Limited run