Chuck Lacson as Travis Park. Photo by Anthony Nellon.

“Let’s get to the meat of it. Do you think that I have a small penis?” Stereotyped preconceptions about Asians are typified by that line from Cowboy vs. Samurai, now playing at Thick House. Michael Golamco’s play explores enough aspects of racial interrelationships to occupy at least a semester of upper-level sociology classes. But the play itself is a fast paced, humorous love story which stands on its own as a piece of modern Americana.

Breakneck, Wyoming ain’t big enough for more than two Asian Americans, as Travis (Chuck Lacson) and Chester (Jose Saenz) find out when a third one moves to town, pretty Korean American schoolteacher Veronica (Melissa Navarro). The themes of racial identity and cultural differences play out against a broad western landscape and a quixotic love story. The stage set alternates, with some moveable elements between the classroom and Veronica’s apartment.

The manic Chester and the comparatively sane Travis run the school in this “two-donkey town.” Cowboy Del (Wylie Herman) gives succinct aside observations about their differences. When Veronica moves in from New York to be the new teacher, Travis and Chester are intrigued, but she favors Del. She likes “snowflakes, because that’s my choice,” referring to the color of his skin.

Travis tries to accommodate Veronica and Del’s relationship by writing a love letter for him. Chester, dressed as a ninja warrior, grapple-hooks his way into the classroom, carrying protest signs with such succinct verbiage as “Fuck You.” In an argument with Veronica, he demands of her, “remove the jaundice from your complexion.” Del accuses Travis of coming here to a small town to die, to escape his differences. Del wants to move to Hollywood and become “Captain Rice.” Veronica wants to leave, dismayed at the reception she has received in hick America. In the end, Travis reads her the letters he had written for Del. They manage to connect.

The plot complications serve the overall message of cultural and racial reconciliation well, but the rather thin characterizations tend to distract from the major theme of finding love. In this way, the arc of the story develops irregularly. It’s still a love story, and the actors are charming. Del is too one-dimensional to generate any interest, except as the spoiler of the connection between Veronica and Travis. Melissa Navarro as Veronica uses a variety of techniques to deliver her character. Her facial expressions and bodily posture relate her character far better than does her Val reading of the lines. She is a joy to watch, but not necessarily to listen to. Jose Saenz as the totally misplaced, psychotic Chester, has an intensity of inhabitation that is almost scary. Chuck Lacson’s Travis portrays a sane, level headed person we would presumably like to see as a teacher of our children. The direction by San Francisco Mime Troupe alumna Keiko Shimosato keeps the twenty-one scenes in this two-act piece charging forward with an efficient pace which maintains interest. The insights to feelings of Asians as outsiders are well delineated and not over-hyped. This is more than a treatise on cultural assimilation. It is a humorous romp through the Great Plains with the New Americans.

Asian American Theater Company’s Cowboy vs. Samurai continues through July 22 at Thick House, 1695  18th Street, San Francisco. Tickets ($20) are available by phone at (415) 543-5738 or www.brownpapertickets.com; more info at www.asianamericantheater.org.