It's Eating Dis Order, Eating Dat Order, billed by its writer and producer, Saratogan Gary A. DeMattei, as "a deliciously funny play in two appetizing acts." And it's running through Jan. 31—perhaps even longer, he says—at San Jose's Theatre on San Pedro Square, a professional theatrical company begun in 2000 by DeMattei, his wife, Lisa Pontier DeMattei, and their friend Michael Smythe of Los Gatos.

"The main character is this wild, wacky chef named Bobo A La Oboe. Bobo is the eating disorders chef because he's had every disorder known to man. It's all done in the spirit of a farce," DeMattei explains.

"It's a theatrical version of a cooking show. The most non-theatergoing person and the most dedicated theatergoer will both enjoy it," he adds.

According to DeMattei, Bobo's background is that of "a dot-com guy who lost it all"—particularly his investments in Webvan, the grocery-shopping service. Bobo's psychologist, the audience learns, encouraged him to pursue his dream of being a celebrity chef, which hopefully will also help him recoup some of his losses. Unfortunately for the idealistic Bobo, no TV network is interested in his show, except for a small cable-access channel based in Lompico.

What DeMattei likes about this storyline is that his Eating Dis Order audience also doubles as the fictional Lompico residents attending a filming of Bobo's show. That makes for a different performance every night. He's even had local "guest chefs" from the community join him onstage from time to time, including politicians, radio personalities, firefighters and law enforcement personnel.

"There's a script, but I depart from it from time to time, depending on the mood of Bobo and the audience. I do a lot of ad-libbing at times," says DeMattei, who, in true TV-chef fashion, invites random audience members onstage to help him with recipes. And, since he prepares real food, audiences get to help him eat it afterwards.

"They really like the food I cook onstage. They might not think they're going to, but they do," he says with a laugh.

It's no surprise to those who know DeMattei well, seeing as he's always liked to cook. In fact, he says, it's one of the few instances in his life when he feels truly comfortable and in control. "With all the different things going on, it somehow keeps me grounded!" he says.

When he has time, DeMattei also loves watching "celebrity chefs" on TV like Emeril Lagasse, Jacques Pepin and Julia Child. He says Eating Dis Order, Eating Dat Order had its genesis a year or so ago, when he realized how much show business is involved in these shows. On the flip side of the coin, he also thought about how commercialized many diet plans have become.

"You write about what you know. I'm overweight, and I've been on different diets most of my life. I've been dieting and watching cooking shows for as long as I can remember," DeMattei says, chuckling. "My wife, Lisa, said, 'I have to hear about this all the time, so why don't you do a play on it?' "

'Eating Dis Order, Eating Dat Order' runs Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $25; group discounts are available. For additional information, call the Theatre on San Pedro Square Box Office at 408.283.0200 or visit www.tosps.com.