Short Works Exploring Dangerous Devotion is about as straightforward a title as you could imagine for the three short plays being presented on the Woolly Mammoth stage. Dangerous devotion, indeed: The first piece toys with fascism, the second with love and the third with religion.

Ionesco's "The Leader" isn't too complex a work, but is appealing in its exaggerated absurdity. This play belongs to Katie Atkinson, the ringleader of a group of disciplies to some sort of guru: whether he's a cult figure, a religious prophet or a political maven never is fully explained. Atinkson's wild-eyed, frighteningly fervent performance has us all a little wary, as she truly appears about to become unhinged. The play's statement-of-the-obvious closing (when the leader eventually shows up) has us cracking up as the lights go dark.

Maria Irene Fornes' "Springtime", the second piece, is a more meditative play. In brief vignettes, we see the story of two lovers in Germany. The contrast between Rainbow (Elizabeth Jernigan), spontaneous and vivacious, and Greta (Tina Renay Fulp), an invalid with her own sort of subdued strength, makes for an interesting romance, one in which we're invested as cirumstances try the couple. Fulp and Jernigan portray a palpable, pure affection for each other that drives this work.

Short Works ends with its funniest piece, The Book of Leviticus Show: here, we have a cable access show hosted by some born-again West Virginians intent on bringing the Bible's literal translation to their audience. Fulp, truly a talent to watch, this time is hilariously manic (and even maniacal) as the show's host, Lettie Lu, whose southern charm has something sinister behind it. Daniel Eichner earns some chuckles as her hillbilly husband Tommy, and Atkinson displays some real physical comedy chops as the first-oblivious, then drunken grandmother. The extreme lengths their television show goes to are perhaps a little predictable in an age where reality TV parodies are not exactly rare, but the chaos that ensues by the show's closing is pretty damn funny regardless if you saw it coming.

Catch one of Short Works' final four performances: July 24 (5 p.m.), July 26 (7:45 p.m.), July 28 (5 p.m.) and July 30 (11 a.m.). It plays at the Woolly Mammoth Theater. Tickets are available online.