FAMILY : Move Over, Rock ‘n’ Rollers: : Power Rangers Storm the Stage

The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers may be as much a triumph of merchandising as imagination, but there’s no denying that the helmeted, high-flying defenders of goodness are a major hit with the preteen set. Rangers-inspired toys and the Fox TV show are wildly popular, and Tuesday night at the Universal Amphitheatre loyal Morphin fans got to see their heroes in the spandexed flesh at the opening night of the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Live” tour.

This first of 20 shows served as a benefit for DARE, the anti-drug organization that has adopted the Rangers as National Teen Ambassadors. There were some empty seats in the house, but the screams, giggles and excited cries of “Go, go, Power Rangers!” filling the amphitheater prior to show time gave the room a pint-sized rock ‘n’ roll buzz. And, like rock fans hoping to hear favorite songs from a beloved band, the Morphin fans were hoping to see all of their favorite characters in action. Five-year-old Michael Torma and his brother C.J., 4, had a long list of favorites. “We like Billy, Tommy, Trini, Goldar, Squat, Baboo, Zordon and Alpha,” Michael explained.

Many small Ranger devotees came in homemade costumes, and some were already well-schooled in Morphin-style combat. “I like the way they move and the way they fight,” explained 6-year-old Alison Silver, dressed as the Pink Ranger. “I practice it at home with my brother.”

Her friend Andrew Adelman, suited up as the Blue Ranger, was looking forward to an action-packed show. “I want to see the Rangers fight the Putties and the monsters. I want to see them kick Lord Zedd.”

That’s exactly what was on the evening’s program, but opening-night glitches made it hard for the Rangers to get going at first. As a pair of menacing aliens came through the crowd and took the stage, a painted scrim refused to pull away, and the evil, irascible Lord Zedd’s first scene was obscured. The aliens covered for a while with impromptu moonwalks and a bit of soft shoe, but a break was needed for repairs to be made.

When the program started again, things ran smoothly, and fans were treated to a colorful, kinetic spectacle that incorporated laser lights, pyrotechnics, giant video screens, stage illusions and plenty of Ranger-threatening monsters. The 75-minute show is not a musical, but an energetic soundtrack and highly effective sound effects kept the action moving at a brisk pace. The loopy story line offered a mix of Flash Gordon adventure, Three Stooges comedy and Kabuki drama, and had the Rangers relying on the help of the audience to get them out of several tight scrapes.

The Rangers have gotten some heat from parents’ groups that find them too violent, but in the live show the fight scenes played out as a kind of off-kilter ballet and were never brutal or frightening. To make their wholesome nature even more clear, the upstanding Morphin crew delivered a few overtly instructive messages to their fans in the final moments of the show--”Be nice,” “Always try to do the right thing” and “Don’t ever hurt anyone.”

Those maxims, along with the Rangers’ examples of teamwork and self-respect, may offer some laudable lessons to young fans. But even with the White Ranger’s last-minute admonition that martial arts should only be practiced by trained professionals, it’s a safe bet that there will be a lot of little legs launching Mighty Morphin karate kicks while the Rangers are in town.

* “The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Live” continues at the Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. Shows are tonight at 7:15, Friday at 4:15 and 7:15 p.m., and Saturday-Dec. 22 at 12:15, 4:15, and 7:15 p.m. Tickets range from $13.50-$30. (818) 980-9421.