THEATER REVIEW : Light Opera for Romberg Lovers and the Stouthearted

The Orange County Civic Light Opera Company staged its first production, “The Mikado,” in February with a worthy aim: to provide quality light opera at reasonable prices.

While you need to be a Sigmund Romberg fan to appreciate its second production, “Lovely Ladies and Stouthearted Men,” an original revue culled from the works of the turn-of-the-century composer, the overall ability of the performers augurs well for future shows.

That’s not to say that there aren’t perilous moments on the upper registers, for both the tenors and sopranos. But it is also clear that most of the performers--whose bios list their current teachers--offer the pleasures of trained voices with a genuine love and understanding of their art.

Not bad for $10 a ticket ($8 for seniors and students).

Still, you’ve got to love Romberg to appreciate this particular show--and unless you have a taste for sentimental, cliched lyrics about “elfin gleaming” that makes a lover “lose myself in dreaming”--this stuff can grate long before the 1 hour, 45-minute performance comes to an end.

Marti Klein conceived and directed and has the lead singing role in six of the 23 numbers drawn from Romberg’s “The Student Prince,” “The New Moon,” “Maytime, “Viennese Nights” and “The Desert Song.”

Klein is an attractive performer, but this seems to be a classic case of taking on too many jobs.

Her voice falters, and her direction is excessively stiff and lacking in imagination. All of the songs are presented in essentially the same formal style by women in fancy dresses and men in bow ties.

Most critically, she neglects every opportunity to look at Romberg’s work in a fresh way. Take the song “Lover, Come Back to Me,” which was transformed by Billie Holiday into a bluesy masterpiece: Klein and James Miller sing it so blandly that it’s hard to recognize its passionate potential.

Oddly, too, some of the best performers have the fewest songs. Jill Van Velzer infuses her one number, “I Bring a Love Song” (from “Viennese Nights”), with a tender, magical glow. David Peake delivers a supple, satisfying rendition of his single, emotionally complex solo, “Softly, As in A Morning Sunrise” (from “The New Moon”).

*

The uncredited set is a simple backdrop of lattices and artificial flowers--which works just fine. The three-person orchestra of Randy Woltz on piano, Larry Nolte on percussion and Kieran Bergin on guitar supports the singers professionally without being flashy.

The company’s next project is Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore” in September. A survey was also passed out during performances requesting the audience’s interest in everything from Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” to Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music.”

Now, if the Orange County Light Opera Company audience nudges it in a more adventurous direction, that would be good news indeed.

* “Lovely Ladies and Stouthearted Men,” Westminster Community Theatre, 7272 Maple Ave., Westminster. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Also at the Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, June 26, 8 p.m., and June 27, 2:30 p.m. $8-$10. (714) 261-7870. Running time: 1 hour, 45 minutes. An Orange County Civic Light Opera presentation. An original revue of the works of Sigmund Romberg, conceived and directed by Marti Klein. Producer: James Klein. With Michael Van Velzer, Joanne Lapointe, David Peake, Marti Klein, Jim Miller, James Klein, Rebecca Semanie, Jill Van Velzer and Dan Gonzalez. Technical director: Kent Johnson. Light board: Alan Bernath, Jeremy Gonzalez. Orchestra: Randy Woltz, Larry Nolte, Kieran Bergin.