THEATER REVIEW : Russian Story Offers Kids Important Lessons : ‘The Overcoat,’ the political satire about a poor clerk who needs warmer garb, should appeal to parents too.

Russian literature made simple: an impossible task? Not in the hands of the Conejo Players, who are staging an adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s short story “The Overcoat” on weekends for their Conejo Afternoon Theater. The show is aimed at a young audience, and a crowd of kids who seemed to be 4 to 7 years old were laughing throughout Sunday’s opening performance. Unlike most children’s theater, though, “The Overcoat”--a political satire--should prove appealing to parents as well.

Gogol’s story, adapted for the stage by Tom and Frank Torok, tells of a minor clerk in St. Petersburg whose overcoat is too threadbare to face the worst winter in eons. He can’t afford to buy a new overcoat, but may freeze if he doesn’t.

During the adventure, youngsters will learn many valuable lessons--among them, the effectiveness of flattery (always a marketable commodity, well into adulthood), the frustrations of dealing with a bureaucracy, and the inadvisability of wearing fancy new clothes on The Wrong Side of Town.

Playing the clerk Akaky Akakyavich is Jason Narvy, who may be known to youngsters for his portrayal of Skull on the afternoon TV adventure series “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.” That’s the show whose quick-selling action figures were last Christmas’ version of the Cabbage Patch Doll phenomenon. Narvy turns in a skilled and attractive performance here, one that depends as much on pantomime as speech.

Gabriel de la Vega, one of Ventura County’s most talented character actors, is featured as Gogol, introducing and narrating the story and then stepping in to play a number of characters--a tailor and a medium-ranking bureaucrat among them.

Also playing a multitude of parts are Brett Golov, Jeff Scott, Melissa Wotkyns and Sara Quick, with Carol Barker appearing as Akakyavich’s landlady. All are fine, though Golov gets to shine, especially, as the hero’s godfather.

The Toroks’ script has fun with the Russian names (though the set designer shies away from the Cyrillic alphabet), but shouldn’t offend the culturally sensitive. Georgeanne Lees’ direction is on the spot, with help from Yokav Noy, whose name is listed deep in the production staff credits as “mime humorist,” and Linda Strangio-Hedberg as choreographer. Chad Smith’s set design makes good use of the stage used for the Players’ current evening production of “A View From the Bridge,” and Elizabeth Holthofer has come up with some nice costumes.

The play lasts 68 minutes without an intermission--just on the outer limit of what youngsters will tolerate without getting antsy.

Details

* WHAT: “The Overcoat.”

* WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through Feb. 20.

* WHERE: Conejo Players Theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks.

* COST: All tickets $5.

* FYI: Note addition of Saturday afternoon performances to Conejo Afternoon Theater schedule. All seats are on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations accepted. For further information, call 495-3715.