THEATER REVIEW / ‘THE LITTLE MOORMAID’ : Moorpark’s Disney-Inspired Show Stands On Its Own : * It’s Areo instead of Ariel and there’s a witch in seaweed instead of an octopus. You get the idea.

“Moormaid” has more to do with Disney’s “Mermaid” than Hans Christian Andersen’s original, or, for that matter, than it has to do with Moorpark.

Like previous incarnations, Moormaid makes a deal with the Dark Force and trades her voice for a pair of human legs. Thus the Prince she has set her eyes upon winds up with a beautiful girl with great legs and no voice.

This version, written by Brian Antalora, is set in the West Indies like Disney’s. The Magic Kingdom’s ever-alert copyright attorneys should note that the main character here is named Areo instead of Ariel, and there’s no singing crab--though there is a singing Jamaican, whose hearty personality has a lot in common with Sebastian’s. And there’s a witch covered in seaweed instead of an octopus--you get the idea.

Instead of the Howard Ashman-Alan Menken songs of the Disney movie, “Moormaid” is peppered with all manner of pop songs from the last several decades; it includes much more music than the typical Melodrama production.

Jaime Ruben and Brian La Spada form a handsome couple as Areo and Prince Russett, and--as Areo’s father, King Crouton-- Lanny Brannan wears a bigger-than-life artificial chest reminiscent of the one that Peter Gabriel was wearing for his Grammy show performance (see--the Melodrama isn’t the only place to mix weird cultural references!).

Jason Rasmussen and Sheryl Hammer-Swedlove are featured as a pair of sharks, and Fae Simmons is the evil witch. Hiram T. Johnson is especially effective and is the show’s strongest singer, as the Jamaican whose repertoire extends through the Harry Belafonte songbook.

It should be noted that many of the cast members are making their Moorpark Melodrama debuts.

As usual, the costumes are witty, colorful and imaginative. The Melodrama’s Linda Bredemann, who designed them, also directed this production.

Every Melodrama show is aimed at a family audience. This show, though, should hold particular appeal to younger children.

* WHERE AND WHEN

“The Little Moormaid” continues through May 29 at the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Company, 45 E. High St., in Moorpark. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. matinees Saturdays. Tickets are $12, with group rates available for every performance except Saturday evenings. For reservations or further information, call 529-1212 or (800) 597-1210 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.