VENTURA COUNTY WEEKEND : THEATER NOTES : Conejo Players Rise to the Challenge of ‘City of Angels’ : The show, using flashbacks and dual acting roles, makes the most of detective and backstage genres. Only the score disappoints.

Ventura County theatrical openings last weekend included two musicals: Moorpark College’s production of the venerable operetta “The Desert Song,” and the Conejo Players’ staging of the post-Sondheim Broadway musical, “City of Angels.”

The latter is more notable for its cleverness than anything else. A tribute to ‘40s film noir, the story, written by Larry Gelbart, alternates between the scenario of a hard-boiled detective movie and the life of its author. Stine, the screenwriter, tends to pattern his characters on his friends and acquaintances, so most of the actors play dual roles. Not only that, the story is told (like “Sunset Boulevard”) in flashback.

Occasionally, Stine talks to Stone, his literary creation; more often, Stine is fighting with his producer, the model for the fictional murder victim. The Angel City Four, stylistically similar to Manhattan Transfer, performs as a Greek chorus. The vocalists back up pretty-boy singer Jimmy Powers, played by Gary Saxer, whose character is a nod to Dick Powell.

It’s all a bit disorienting at first, but soon enough makes sense. And it is fun, filled with cross-references and in-jokes for fans of the detective and backstage genres.

Where the show falls short is in the score, with David Zippel and Cy Coleman collaborating on functional but unmemorable lyrics and music. Also, there’s a movie-like underscore that occasionally tends to obliterate the dialogue (though in the Conejo Players’ production it is beautifully played under Zachary Spencer’s direction and conducted by either Dave Pier or Mike Stanley.)

The musical is an ambitious project for the Conejo Players, involving a huge cast under Marjorie Berg’s direction. This is probably one of the shows that the group does every so often, commendably, to stretch themselves as a company, knowing that the shows won’t pull in big crowds like “Oklahoma!” or Neil Simon’s comedies. The Conejo group goes all-out on these relatively uncommercial productions, as anyone who remembers its “Sweeney Todd,” “Big River” or “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” should testify.

Richard Osborne is seen as tough-guy Stone, with Kelly Green notable as the writer Stine. Scott Mansfield plays the producer as Shelly Berman might, and Lady Jan Faulkner and Cathleen McCarthy are the featured femmes fatales.

* “City of Angels” plays at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 16 at Conejo Players Theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Tickets are $8 on Thursday, $10 on Friday evening or Sunday matinees, and $12 for Saturday evenings. For reservations or further information, call 495-3715.

Moorpark College: Things were much simpler in the ‘20s, as evidenced by “The Desert Song,” director Marilyn Anderson’s latest project for Moorpark College. The operetta’s action is part Valentino, part Lawrence of Arabia and part Zorro. The renegade Riffs are led in battle against the French by the mysterious “Red Shadow.” Pierre Birabeau (Raymond Michael Hebel), the effete son of the French general, is enamored of Margot (Julie Robles)--who is swept away by the Red Shadow to a band of rebels led by Assi (Justin McQueen) and ruled by Ali Ben Ali (Gabriel Vega).

Supplying the comic relief are reporter Benjamin Kidd (Greg Wood) and his love-struck secretary, Susan (Gail Reilly); Bob Hope would later play variations of the wisecracking character in many films.

This isn’t Sigmund Romberg’s most distinguished score, nor are the lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein as memorable as others they’d write. Still, the show is a lot of innocent fun, and hardy enough to have been filmed three times.

Director Anderson gets a lot from her talented cast, and pianist/conductor Darryl Archibald leads a good-sounding instrumental ensemble. In addition to those actors noted, watch for Veronica Liu as the temptress Azuri, and Carmen Recker as a Spanish prostitute.

* “The Desert Song” continues through this weekend at Moorpark College’s Forum Theater. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $9; $8 for students and seniors, and $7 for children under 12, with group rates available. For reservations or further information, call 378-1438 or 378-1453.

Casting Call: The Conejo Afternoon Theatre will hold auditions for its production of Jean Kerr’s comedy, “Lunch Hour,” at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Conejo Players theater, 351 S. Moorpark Ave. in Thousand Oaks. The cast includes three men, ages 30-50, and two women, 20-40. The show will play weekend matinees, Jan. 28-Feb. 18. For further information, call Lucien Jervis at 483-1075, Ext. 122, during business hours, or 499-3912 before 10 p.m.