STAGE REVIEW : ‘IMAGINE’ A MUSICAL JOURNEY INTO THE MIND

When he was younger, Tim’s mother reminds him, his imagination soared: “Once, when you saw a sunset, you said it looked like an upside-down golden river.”

But, now a school writing assignment has Tim stumped for ideas. Has his imagination gone for good?

South Coast Repertory’s 1986 Educational Touring Production “Imagine That!” written by Jerry Patch and Diane King and crisply directed by John-David Keller, is a musical quest into the mind--a celebration of creativity in both theme and execution.

Performed for an invited audience Tuesday, the show is a colorful meld of bright, snappy music and humor, with an underlying subtlety to lock in a thoughtful message.

Tim discovers that his imagination, languishing from lack of use, is not a thing but an action, the result of all the parts of the mind working smoothly together and not being afraid “of what comes out.”

An accomplished cast cavorts on Dwight Richard Odle’s flashy orange jungle-gym set. Tim (Christopher Carothers) meets Mysterioso (Steve Beazley, a pink-wigged clown), hard-working Lub-Dub (Tom Flynn and Steve Patterson) and charming Sara Bellum (Susan Hoffman), who maintains harmony--with the help of message carrier Pinball (Patterson in a purple zoot suit).

Old Grand Memory (Hoffman) is wrapped in a quilt embroidered with memories from Tim’s past, including his golden sunset. (Odle scores again for the richly comic costume design.)

Logical Dr. Gray Matter (Patterson) works in tandem with emotional Feeler (Flynn).

Flynn and Patterson are perfect complements: Patterson, the straight man with impeccable timing, and Flynn, beruffled and beribboned, deftly turning a variety of emotions on and off with riotously funny results.

“Celebrate the wonders of your mind,” sings the cast.

The message is clear: A healthy imagination is a vital resource.

SCR’s artistic director David Emmes estimates that 70,000 schoolchildren will see “Imagine That!” during the next five months, but the public has a chance to catch the show, too.

Free performances will be held at SCR at 9:30 and 11 a.m. March 8; reservations are a must. (714) 957-2602.