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BENTONVILLE — In their touring show, Tim Conway and Harvey Korman: Together Again, the comic legends couldn't even get through their introduction without a joke.

One of them poked his hand and tuxedo sleeve through the curtain, getting a laugh in the first of two sold-out shows Sunday. For the next 90 minutes, they and guest comedienne Louise DuArt inspired laughs and knowing smiles from the audience at Bentonville High School's Arend Arts Center.

Although these septuagenarians are moving at a slower pace, their instincts for comic timing remain sharp. They've worked together for nearly 40 years, including a decade in the 1960 s and 1970 s on television's The Carol Burnett Show.

When Korman recently drew lines to connect the age spots on his hand, they spelled "old fart." Even going to the bathroom has become a "major adventure." First, he wonders, "will I, or won't I ?" And then, "Where's it going to go this time ?"

Korman garnered fervent applause when he told the crowd he sometimes talks to his lower half to convince himself to pee. His wife will ask: "Who the hell are you talking to ?" He'll answer her, "Nobody you'd remember."

Conway, 72, marveled at the peculiarities of air travel. Despite flight-attendant directions, he doubts he'll be breathing normally if his oxygen mask drops. And he said surely a pricey airplane could afford a quality sound system where the pilot could be understood.

Korman and Conway moved at a leisurely pace, and they interspersed their skits around Du-Art's songs and impersonations. The spotlights were staggered on the yellow curtain behind the men, accentuating their height difference — Conway's the short one.

After DuArt sang her own cheesy introduction song, she did a skit about different celebrities stuck in an elevator together. She was a perfect Edith Bunker from the All in the Family TV show, then Jane Fonda, leading everyone in "claustrophobic aerobics."

DuArt was quick, clever and showed impressively versatile vocal chords. She ranged from Joan Rivers, Barbra Streisand, Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Judge Judy to Bart and Marge Simpson, Popeye and Ernestine, the last being Lily Tomlin's snorting, nasal-voiced telephone operator character.

DuArt later returned as Cher, nailing the singer's reverberating voice as she wore a sequined, midriff-baring top, tight bell-bottom pants and a curly black wig. She also captured the gravelly voice of the late George Burns and substituted w's for r's in her mockery of Barbara Walters' speech. She even had the late Katharine Hepburn telling stand-up jokes, and she perfectly depicted Fran Dresher's character from The Nanny.

While one never knows where their ad libs will take them, Conway and Korman are often funniest when they don't say a thing. The visual of their comedy — their facial expressions, their exaggerated sight gags — is the very best.

During Korman's boring speech on corn storage, Conway sat at a nearly table and entertained the crowd with his reactions. About to fall asleep, Conway swayed to the side, then he fell backward in his chair. When his face fell in his plate, he raised up to show food stuck to his eye. He dropped his lighted cigar, finding it aflame in his lap.

Later, Korman was the impatient traveler to Conway's Old Man character, as Korman tried to catch a noon flight to New York. After his trademark shuffle to the counter, Conway repeated what Korman said in different ways, took his time processing the credit card, and took a break to make unclear announcements on the microphone. He fell asleep while standing there.

Korman told Conway he couldn't eat lamb for his onflight meal because an allergy to the meat runs in his family. "It's genital," he said, as the audience laughed.

During a short question-andanswer session with the audience, Conway said his favorite movies were The Apple Dumpling Gang films with the late Don Knotts. Korman said he enjoyed his work on Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles.

At the crowd's request, they made the dentist skit — Korman's favorite — their finale. They asked DuArt to mimic Burnett's voice for the intro. She hit the Tarzan call and Burnett's speaking voice dead on.

For the skit, Korman arrived at the dentist's office to be greeted by Conway, who's still learning the profession. Conway referred to his Dentistry for Dummies book.

Preparing to inject Korman with anesthesia, Conway instead stabbed the needle in his own hand. It went numb, and as he tried to stick Korman, he instead wound his arm around to poke the needle in his right leg. Then, he stuck his forehead, and his butt.

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