THEATER REVIEW : More Ups Than Downs in ‘Grapes of Wrath’ : Most problems in the stage version of the Steinbeck classic are to be expected in such a mammoth production.

John Steinbeck’s epic novel, “The Grapes of Wrath,” has been brought to the California Lutheran University stage by playwright Frank Galati as a tragedy of epic proportions. Under the direction of Michael Arndt, the production’s virtues far outweigh the problems inherent in a mammoth production in which more than two dozen actors show up for the curtain call.

“The Grapes of Wrath,” as valuable as a lesson in American history and the labor movement as it is a rewarding theatrical piece, dramatizes the move to California from Oklahoma of the fictional Joad family, who are searching for work during the Depression.

Along the way, they run into hardship and death, and things don’t improve once they arrive in California. Yet, there’s that indefatigable spirit that is often invoked as being typically (or at least ideally) American.

All of this is presented on Sharon Yesh’s magnificent abstract wood-and-metal set, with one or two characters moving into the foreground while the others stand around quietly. The result sometimes looks more like a painting than a play. With dialogue delivered earnestly, in a manner that some may regard as stately while others call it stilted, the production sometimes sounds more like a painting than a play.

The effect is more acceptable in this setting than it would be in a more realistic one, and some of the performances are quite good--among them Sam Cooper as Tom Joad; Jack Ledbetter as former preacher Jim Casy; Herby Borde as the “Mayor” of Hooverville (the nickname for any of numerous ramshackle communities thrown together by transients during the era); Kelly Culwell as a religious zealot; and Craig Johnson as Floyd Knowles, another Hooverville resident.

A nice touch finds Jeff Ashbrenner, Rick Anderson, Chad Helmuth and Perry Ursem as a quartet of singing used-car dealers, perhaps inspired by the barbershop-quartet town council in “The Music Man.” There are a couple of good fight scenes, staged by Kelly Foran.

Like the set, the costumes (credited to Lolita Ball) figure strongly in making this production memorable. Atmosphere is also provided by original music, performed on- and off-stage by a live string band.

Details

* WHAT: The Grapes of Wrath

* WHEN: Tomorrow and Saturday night at 8; closes Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

* WHERE: Preus-Brandt Forum, Cal Lutheran University, 60 West Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks.

* HOW MUCH: $5 general admission; free with CLU I.D.

* FYI: For reservations call 493-3410; for further information, call 493-3151