THEATER / NOTES : ‘Fantasticks’ Blends Whimsy and Romance : A cast of versatile soap stars hams it up in the Santa Susana Rep version of the lyrical musical.

The Santa Susana Repertory Company’s version of the long-running off-Broadway hit “The Fantasticks” is now at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Forum Theatre.

As with most Santa Susana productions, the cast features performers known to viewers of TV soap operas--Terry Lester from “As the World Turns,” “The Days of Our Lives” and “Santa Barbara”; Sabrina Lu from “The Young and the Restless”; and Barry Cutler from “The Days of Our Lives.” The audience might also recognize Mark Blankfield from various films and the old ABC comedy-variety series “Fridays.”

One’s reaction to the show will depend on one’s enthusiasm (or tolerance) for whimsy, which is plentiful in “The Fantasticks”--a musical view of young romance adapted from a play by 19th-Century French playwright Edmond Rostand.

Hammy actors Cutler and Greg Gron liven up every scene they’re in; Heather Halley is a mime who may even enchant those who fancy themselves mime-proof, and Lu is an attractive ingenue whose only detriment is that her clear soprano is too strong, obliterating the pleasant-voiced Lester and just about anybody else who sings with her.

Director Allan Hunt gives the troupe lots of physical gags, most of them--including the introductory episode where the actors suit up for the play--as entertaining as anything in “The Fantasticks” itself.

On the next two Sundays, the production will be followed by a period in which audience members may question cast members Lester and Cutler, as well as Santa Susana Rep artistic director Lane Davies, who originated the character of Mason Capwell in “Santa Barbara,” followed in that role by Lester.

* “The Fantasticks,” 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Closes Oct. 29. General admission, $25; students and seniors, $22. Available at the box office, or charged through Ticketmaster at 583-8700. Call 449-ARTS (2787).

Cinderella vs. Monster: Just as Walt Disney’s animated “Cinderella” hits the home video racks, the Moorpark Melodrama opens its final production of a season reviving favorite shows from the company’s past: This time it’s “Cinderella Meets the Wolfman.”

Tim Kelly’s script, adapted by Steve Robertson and co-director Linda Bredemann, finds Vestigia, the tiny kingdom run by King and Queen Charming, abutting a forest inhabited by Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster.

Annoyingly, the Charmings’ son, Prince Vlad, turns into a werewolf with each full moon. Although the various creatures seem to get along well enough, the Charmings fear that Vlad’s monthly bad hair days will disincline any prospective bride. Enter grimy beauty Cinderella, followed by her evil stepmother and two ugly stepsisters. Hilarity ensues.

This is a particularly sparkling Melodrama production (Kevin P. Kern is the co-director), with plenty of good gags, some amusing choreography by Adrea Gibbs, and a large cast headed by Deborah Webster and Jason Rasmussen as Cinderella and Prince Vlad; Damian Gravino as Dracula; Chris Carnicelli and Carla Jimenez as the Charmings; and Amy Sullivan, Lacy Rumley and Kathi Janca Sowell as the step-family.

Most of the cast are Melodrama regulars, but watch for bright newcomer Michelle Plaisance--making, she says, her theatrical debut--a standout in two supporting roles.

* “Cinderella Meets the Wolfman,” 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays. Call for dates of Thursday performances. Runs through Nov. 11. All seats for all shows, $12. Reservations recommended. Call 529-1212.

Opening This Week: Agatha Christie’s venerable mystery “The Mouse Trap” opens Friday night at Ottavio’s Dinner Theater in Camarillo (call 484-9909). Appropriately enough for Friday the 13th, the new Gypsy Players debut with Ron Cowen’s interactive (that means, the audience participates) mystery, “The Book of Murder,” at the Court Theater in Simi Valley. Call 522-0449 for information.

Casting Call: Auditions for “To Kill a Mockingbird” will be held Oct. 21 at the Arts Council Center in Thousand Oaks. Georgeanne Lees of the newly formed Standing Oh Productions is looking for actors of all ages who must perform a monologue of their choice for the audition. The production will run weekends from Jan. 12-28 at the center. Call 499-4355 during working hours for an audition appointment.