THEATER REVIEW ‘BUS STOP’ : The Comic Route : Cal Lutheran production of William Inge’s play succeeds by taking the road to a lighter interpretation.

William Inge’s 1955 play “Bus Stop” can be played two ways. On Broadway, it was a somewhat earnest drama; in the film version, the tone was lightened up, thanks in part to Marilyn Monroe’s performance as the small-town showgirl, Cherie.

In the new Cal Lutheran University production of the show, Leigh Sandress takes the Monroe interpretation and runs with it. Her performance in the all-student production, under the direction of Karen C. Fodrea, is highly comedic in the best possible sense. And the rest of the cast has no trouble establishing a consistent tone and keeping up with Sandress’ loopy characterization.

Inge’s play suffers not a bit, and the opening night audience last Thursday had a terrific time. This production sings. The play is currently being presented in repertory with the less comic “Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” using the same stage set but a different cast and crew, with the exception of shared scenic designer Michael Roehr.

In “Bus Stop,” inclement weather has forced the driver and four passengers of an interstate bus to stay over in a Kansas roadside cafe. Cherie, a self-styled chanteuse from the Ozarks, takes the opportunity to escape a kidnaping, she says, by Bo Decker. A well-meaning but somewhat thickheaded young man, Decker is a spiritual ancestor to Joe Buck of “Midnight Cowboy,” and just about as likely to wind up in some sort of trouble. He’s in love with Cherie, he explains, and simply wants to take her back to his ranch in Montana.

Rangy actor Kelly Foran plays Decker with just the right degree of bewildered innocence; he can’t understand why Cherie doesn’t return his love. After all, he’s a man of means and accomplishment (as a rodeo cowboy), and she has already slept with him.

Cody Hartley is seen as Virgil Blessing, Bo’s laconically wise mentor. Michael A. Fodrea is the other bus passenger, the alcoholic academic Dr. Gerald Lyman. (When someone suggests that the cafe staff and customers put on a show to pass the time, Lyman enthuses, “It’s a brilliant idea--straight from Chaucer!”)

Bus driver Carl (Loren Geeting) has been this way before; he’s interested in striking up a relationship with flirtatious bus stop owner Grace Hoylard (a rich performance by Wendy Steiner). Jennifer Goldberg supplies just the right tone as Hoylard’s naive young niece, and in her own quiet way gets a couple of the evening’s biggest laughs. Tommy Bynes plays the town’s sheriff, a strong, silent type who in many ways holds the whole show together.

The cast and director Fodrea show a keen eye for physical comedy and details, from Cherie checking her reflection in a chromed napkin holder to Bo’s careful adjustment of his belt buckle. The sound, by Michael B. Torgerson, and Michael Roehr’s lighting and set design are excellent. Cheryllynn Carter’s costumes are fine, though some of the blue jeans might be a bit too clean, under the circumstances.

* WHERE AND WHEN

“Bus Stop” is performed Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and closes Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Cal Lutheran University Little Theater, 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. “Come Back to the 5 and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” closes tonight at 8 p.m. General admission is $5; free with CLU identification. For reservations or further information, call 493-3410.