THEATER REVIEW ‘THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN’ : Marriage of Laughs : The hunchback steals the show in The Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Company’s Halloween farce.

The Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Company has resurrected that old movie character “The Bride of Frankenstein” as the group’s Halloween season production.

If you haven’t been to the Melodrama yet, this is probably the time to check the company out--it doesn’t get any better than this.

Typically for the Melodrama, Tim Kelly’s script is a pastiche that borrows from the film version of “Dracula,” ’60s beach movies and even a bit from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Dr. Frankenstein’s son is a leading character, with supporting characters including several surfers, a stranded pair of young honeymooners and Dracula’s mother-in-law.

Into all of this is tossed a fair amount of singing and dancing, often to old Beach Boys’ songs.

Much of the cast seemed surprised on opening night when . . . Igor, Frank Junior’s hunchbacked assistant, stole the show. Aaron Willis, a newcomer to the group, played the nominally minor character with relish.

Which is not to understate the importance or ability of the other players; it’s just that their characters’ callous treatment of Igor and his reaction to it seemed to attract the sympathy of an audience that was especially willing to boo the villains.

This cast includes a number of performers and backstage personnel new to the Melodrama.

Among them are musical director and pianist Nancy Honaker and choreographer Pam Rossi Recupito.

Among the most familiar Melodrama regulars are Tina Nolen as Frankenstein’s housekeeper and partner-in-crime; Wendy Molloy as a ditzy chambermaid, Laura Walker as a stranded bride, Katrina Stovald as a pizza delivery girl and David Barry as a lanky surfer whose brain (such as it is) is on Frank’s shopping list.

A particularly effective device is Kelly and director Scott Martin’s use of a quartet of surfers as all-purpose background singers.

Thanks to set designers Harvey and Linda Bredemann, nobody knows where they’ll pop up next.

The post-show “vaudeville” finds members of the company all decked out for the beach and singing several more Beach Boys and beach-oriented tunes.

The opening night performance was tentative; perhaps the singing and dancing will strengthen as the run continues.

* WHERE AND WHEN

“Bride of Frankenstein” continues Thursdays through Sundays at the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Company, 45 East High St. Shows are 7 p.m. on Thursday and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10; $7.50 for children and seniors on Thursdays, at Saturday matinees and on Sundays only. For further information or reservations, call (805) 529-1212.