It's a combination that probably seemed irresistible for this season of the California State University Summer Arts program in Fresno: The words of of Fresno native son William Saroyan, in this centennial year celebrating his birth, and the acting talents of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, one of the country's most respected thespian groups.

Whoever thought of it had a pretty nifty idea.

Five fine actors, most with Steppenwolf ties, took center stage Saturday night to a packed house at the John Wright Theatre at Fresno State. The quintet -- Alexandra Billings, Evelyn Case, David Razowsky, Rick Snyder and Alan Wilder -- sat on high stools, their only "props" tall music easels to hold their scripts. Behind them was a large screen and, soon into the performance, it became clear a sixth "actor" would be participating -- Saroyan himself through his voice and black-and-white photographs of the writer projected on the screen. The only other connective element in this show was music from the era when Saroyan was at his most robust, the 1930s and 1940s (plus the obvious inclusion of the Rosemary Clooney's 1951 hit, co-written by Saroyan, "Come On-a My House.")

This kind of presentation breaks down words to their core. There is no eye-popping set, no dramatic lighting or special effects, no magnificent costumes to bolster the actors' performances. This was all about the actors' ability to bring Saroyan's ideas to life.

More than that, it was an opportunity to introduce Saroyan to those who have not read his stories or seen his plays or other works. You left the evening with a greater appreciation for his humor and insight, especially in intimate matters of everyday lives.

Steppenwolf, of course, is coming off another banner season. Just last month, its production of "August: Osage County" won five Tony Awards, including Best Play. (And Saroyan, for those who don't know, earned a Pulitzer Prize and an Academy Award, among other accolades.) By the way, Steppenwolf presented its version of Saroyan's "The Time of Your Life" in 2002.

The show mixed narrative about Saroyan -- for example, his young years in Fresno and his thoughts about being a writer -- with excerpts from his work.

The highlights included Billings' reading from the short story "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse," about two young poor Armenian cousins who long to ride a horse when, one day, cousin Mourad shows up with a white one. It's a story of yearning and dreams, and Billings' dramatic interpretation was captivating. (And, this despite a malfunctioning microphone that thankfully was fixed during intermission -- I was aghast that the problem wasn't caught before showtime.)

Razowsky, a veteran of The Second City troupe, wittily provided Saroyan's thoughts about being a writer, including the directive to eat richly, sleep deeply and laugh loudly: "Try to be alive. You'll be dead soon enough." (A note here: the other non-Steppenwolf participant was Case, who teaches at CSU Fullerton.)

Saroyan -- with his own dramatic staccato of a voice -- himself got a lengthy segment from a piece contemplating life as an American and an Armenian, his thoughts of what makes up a country and his defiant and proud espousal of the survival of the Armenian people.

And then, after intermission, the actors performed excerpts from "The Time of Your Life," the 1939 play set in a rundown San Francisco bar just before the start of World War II. It's peppered with losers and eccentrics who try to connect to each other. But it also has the humor in life that cushions the bittersweet. The actors imbued their roles with verve, whether it was with a defensive sadness (Billings as Kitty Duval) or hilarious balderdash (a wonderful Wilder as a guy who acts like Kit Carson).

The evening's conclusion, fittingly enough, was Saroyan's prologue for the play that includes this line: "In the time of your life, live -- so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it."

And Summer Arts fans take note: lauded actor Gary Sinise, co-founder of Steppenwolf, will pesent a lecture on July 20, at 7 p.m. in the John Wright Theatre. Tickets are expected to go fast.