The perils of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival production of "Pericles" are potentially pandemic.

"Pericles" debuts at PSF to conclude the 2015 season in a production said to be similar in concept to the way plays were presented in Shakespeare's day: no lighting designer, no set designer, no costume designer and no director. Call it Camp Shakespeare.

The set and lighting for "Around The World In 80 Days," which concluded July 12, and "Rapunzel," through Aug. 1, is used for "Pericles," through Aug. 2, Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center For The Performing Arts, DeSales University, Center Valley.

Added to the staging challenges are the geographic and plot challenges of "Pericles," a drama-comedy that hopscotches around the Mediterranean Sea propelled by two shipwrecks, kings and daughters that come and go, characters that disappear and reappear, and a central character whose grief over the loss of his wife and daughter is so deep so as to render him mute.

That would be Pericles, who provides Christopher Patrick Mullen a big canvas on which to paint the emotional nuances, vocal range (from confessional to triumphant), and steel-wire physicality of his estimable talent.

Mullen and the other lead actors in "Pericles" rise to the occasion and create the scenes, the travels and the emotional resonances in the imaginations of the audience.

Many scholars believe the first two acts of "Pericles" were written by George Wilkins, with William Shakespeare credited with the last three acts. This makes sense because the first act is slow-going, plot stuffed and lacking in the lofty language one associates with The Bard.

In Act Two, the language bobs to the surface, especially in Act Five, as for one example, when Pericles says to Marina, "For truth can never be confirm'd enough, Though doubts did ever sleep."

Several key scenes transport the audience.

The scene between Mullen and Emiley Kiser (Marina) is particularly satisfying. Kiser is effortless in her light-as-a-feather portrayal of the fresh, fair and chaste Marina.

Also in Act Two, Suzanne O'Donnell (Bawd), Spencer Plachy (Lysimachus), Brad DePlanche (Pandar) and Kiser (Marina) parry where Marina is a woman of virtue in a decidedly nonvirtuous house. The scene is a comedic delight. O'Donnell applies just enough sauciness. Plachy is a wonderful galant. DePlanche inserts his always excellent comic timing.

Gina Lamparella is winsome and impressive as Thaisa, Pericles' wife. Susan Riley Stevens is regal and memorable as Dionyza.

Other standouts in the cast include Richard B. Watson (Cleon), Eric Hissom (Helicanus) and Ally Borgstrom (Daughter).

The cast includes Ian Moody, Peter Danelski, Illa Paulino and Tori Lewis. The ensemble includes Brendan Doyle, Ryan Hagan, Stephanie Hodge and James Sayre.

"Pericles" appears to be great fun for the actors. It is for the audience, as well.

Tickets: pashakespeare.org, 610-282-WILL (9455)