THEATER REVIEW / ‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, REALLY’ : It’s Not Disney : Moorpark Melodrama’s production is, however, fun, hip, silly and surprising.

Fans of the Disney version of “Beauty and the Beast” won’t find much to recognize in Rick Abbott’s comic musical “Beauty and the Beast, Really,” now playing at the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Co. Which is not to say that this live-action version, directed by Linda Bredemann, isn’t a lot of fun in its own silly right.

There is a beauty, of course. Her name is even Beauty, so we won’t confuse her with any of the other characters. This Beauty is blond, lazy and vain, set upon marrying a rich Prince and not out to improve herself with book learning like the Disney version. And you will find no dancing teapots or candelabrum at the Melodrama.

What you will find is an enormous dog (no, not the Beast), a hard-working and sincere brunet stepsister, and two parents who are all too happy when Beauty is out of their way. There are singing flowers, a tap-dancer and a vaudeville impresario. And, of course, there’s the Beast, a tragic figure who bears the most resemblance of any of this show’s characters to the one from the Disney film.

Abbott’s original score has been augmented, per Melodrama custom, by several vintage pop favorites, including “Yakety Yak” and Redbone’s seldom-revived “Witch Queen of New Orleans.” The script is hip enough to bring in references to Spanish ventriloquist Senor Wences and the Broadway musical “Annie” within 30 seconds of one another.

Max Pemberton, a newcomer to the Melodrama, stars as Beauty, and--don’t worry--Max is a woman. Erin Appling is sincere sister Lulu, and the pair’s parents are played by Lloyd D. Allen and Elaine Reed. Wendy Malloy, the show’s choreographer, puts in double duty as tap-dancer Maxine, who goes onstage to distract the audience during set changes. (Some in the crowd may wish that the scenery switches lasted longer and occurred more often.)

Further casting credits would give away some of the show’s surprises, so let it be said here only that Damian Gravino (possibly the show’s best singer) and Aaron Craig provide versatile performances.

The Melodrama’s post-show “vaudeville” this time around features the cast in a half-hour program that starts off as non-rock love songs from the ‘50s--”Teach Me Tonight,” “Unforgettable” and the like.

The program then takes off into wider territory, including “Tequila” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” And there is an abbreviated version of the Four Preps’ “More Money for You and Me” medley, parodying several groups of the era. Allen’s imitation of the Preps’ Glen Larson imitating the Platters’ Tony Williams singing “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” is a highlight here.

* WHERE AND WHEN

“Beauty and the Beast, Really” continues through May 30 at the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Co., 45 E. High St. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays, and 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays. Tickets are $12 for all performances, or $9.50 for children and senior citizens Thursdays, Saturday matinees and Sunday shows only. For information or reservations, call the box office at 529-1212 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.