Before the opening Friday night, director Caleb McEwen described the latest Brave New Workshop production, "Brave New Workshop Saves the Planet; or yes WE Can, but Do We Have To?" as taking a "shotgun" approach to comedy. That ends up being true not just in the content -- which attempts to tackle every crisis facing the earth at present -- but also in execution. Some of the jokes hit the target square on, while others just glance the intended victim or strike completely off.

As you may surmise by the title, "Saves the Planet" takes a long, hard look at the varied crisis that we’re all facing, both from without (renegade world leaders, environmental collapse) and within (celebrity-obsessed culture). There’s a plot moving through all of this of sorts, involving evil world leaders and a pair of superheroes who are trying to stop their efforts, but this is really about the individual sketches.

When "Saves the Planet" hits, it hits hard, from a twist on Old MacDonald to a string of news reports (including one on keeping your job that includes the key point "actually do your job"). One moment where it all comes together is where some guilt-wracked folks try to assuage their feelings by cleaning off an oil-covered seal (a show-stealing Josh Eakright), who is interested in more than just being cleaned. All five performers get their moments, though the best moment -- apart from Eakright -- is when Bobby Gardner dons a shapeless dress to become Susan Boyle.

Other parts don’t work as well, and the show in general -- apart from the aforementioned seal bit -- loses steam by the second act. Part of the problem is that moments that could be both epically funny and offensive don’t go the extra mile. Having the leader of Iran call his "friend" Sen. (and BNW alum) Al Franken has plenty of potential, but is only used once in the whole show. While the act-one closer needs to take its concept (a blame game with a historic scapegoat, all set to song) a few steps further before it really crosses over to something great. Or, to keep the gun analogy going, sometimes a sniper rifle would have been a better option than the shotgun.

"Brave New Workshop Saves the Planet; or yes WE Can, but Do We Have To?" runs through Oct. 31. Tickets are $24-$27. For information, call (612) 332-6620 or visit online.