‘Oedipus’ Gets Modern Treatment at Moorpark

The idea of actually viewing an ancient Greek tragedy may be off-putting to some people, but there is much to enjoy in “Oedipus Rex,” continuing through Saturday at Moorpark College’s big new theater.

Katherine Lewis, the director and a professor at the college, is using Luci Berkowitz’s and Theodore F. Brunner’s 1984 modern English translation in a production incorporating elements of music and dance. This makes the 2,400-year-old play easy to understand, without jazzing it up unnecessarily or distracting from Sophocles’ compelling storytelling.

Which is just as well, as the story is (or should be) well known to anybody with even a mediocre education: Learning that the catastrophe plaguing his city is the gods’ punishment for an unavenged murder, King Oedipus (it means “club-foot,” by the way) of Thebes vows to find and bring the killer to justice. He’s not going to like what he discovers.

There’s also a dark secret in his past, resulting from a prophecy that caused him to flee his hometown of Corinth.

Lewis’ production is formal, though hardly stiff. The large cast includes Rich Scheirmann as Oedipus; Barbara Arnello as his wife, Jocasta; Jeremy Crockett as brother-in-law and “trusted friend” Creon; and Evan Mackay as a priest.

They are aided immeasurably by musicians under the direction of composer Paul Bonn, dancers choreographed by James Jensen, and the uncredited elegant scenic design. Likewise, Mickey Howell’s lighting design (using the center’s spiffy new system) is very effective.

* “Oedipus Rex” continues through Saturday at Moorpark College Performing Arts Center on Collins Drive in Moorpark. Performances are at 1:30 p.m. today, and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A brief discussion period is promised following today’s and Friday night’s performances. General admission tickets are $10; students, $8; seniors (55 and older), children under 12 and Moorpark College ASB, faculty and staff $6; group rates (12 or more) are available. For reservations, call 378-1485.

Melodrama Reignites Atlanta: Always ripe for parody, the classic 1939 film “Gone With the Wind” is getting it big-time from Moorpark Melodrama. Directed by the Melodrama’s Elaine Raleigh and co-written with her husband, Darren, the show incites constant laughter. Moreover, the Raleighs have brought to “Gone with the Gust” what the original so sorely lacked--several disco-music production numbers.

Lisa Bohn stars as Scandal O’Hara, a spoiled Southern belle with a seemingly unlimited wardrobe. She’s in love with effete Ashley Wilt (Alan Price), who loves the comely but vapid Misery Hamilton (Gina Jaxx). Enter handsome playboy Rhett Studler (Rick Meyer), whose vanity is matched only by Scandal’s, and sparks fly. So, unfortunately, does Studler, when Scandal insists on marriage before he takes her to Paris.

Somewhere toward the middle of the show, the Civil War intrudes. Misery tries hard to support her husband, knitting him a gun-cozy, but Scandal is in a snit because all eligible men are off fighting. By the time the war is over (the North won), Scandal’s home (Terra Firma, the largest potato plantation in the South) is in ruins, and the O’Hara family is so poverty-stricken that they’re forced to drink Tater-Ade.

The performers are fine, and you can add Lacy Rumley as Mammy, and Jack McGee, as Scandal’s drunken father, to the list. But one stands well above the rest--figuratively speaking, at least. That’s Rick Meyer, whose caricature of Clark Gable is one of the funniest portrayals in the Melodrama’s last several years.

Last weekend’s performances featured choreographer Jason Prince as one of Scandal’s sisters. That was priceless in its own right, but from this week on, the part will be played by Melissa Mednick. She doubtless will be amusing, too, but she ain’t no fella.

* “Gone With the Gust” continues through April 7 at Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Co., 45 E. High St. in Moorpark. Performances are 7 p.m. Thursdays (call for dates), 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; with 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees. General admission is $12; seniors 55 and older, children 11 and under $9.50 on Thursday nights and matinee performances only. For reservations (recommended) or information, call 529-1212.

Very Secret Garden: The first of two productions of the musical “The Secret Garden” announced for this year crashed and burned last week. The Simi Valley-based Soap Box Players closed theirs at virtually the last minute, citing insufficient funds. The company says that advance ticket holders will be contacted by phone or mail “within the next two weeks” to discuss refund or exchange options. The Conejo Players’ production of the same show is scheduled to open April 5.