Holiday Traditions

If there’s going to be only one version of “A Christmas Carol” mounted in Ventura County this year--and there evidently is--it’s just as well that it will be the annual production of the Santa Susana Repertory Company.

The eighth annual (with one interruption) edition of George T. Mitchell’s original adaptation is playing at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Forum Theatre under the direction of John Garrick.

Hamilton Camp stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in a cast that includes Anne Lockhart in the role of Mrs. Cratchit, Allan Hunt as Bob Cratchit, and Stu Levin as Jacob Marley. Befitting an annual tradition, the cast members (some of whom have been in the show for several years) work smoothly together.

And even though Scrooge is clearly the leading role, several other characters give colorful, three-dimensional performances. In fact, one of Friday night’s biggest laughs went to Richard Harwood, in the relatively minor role of a charwoman--you can give a show all the credit you like for sophistication; but, for laughs, it’s still hard to top a large man in a dress.

Veteran character actor Camp gives Scrooge a strong persona, surmounting the fact that the Forum’s apparent lack of follow spots keeps his character in a shadow for much of the show. By the end of Act II, when Scrooge has accepted the spirit of Christmas, he’s dazzlingly energetic. Due in part to Camp’s early career as a singer, he’s been given a song of his own, written for the show by Rick Rhodes; there are two additional musical numbers, written by director Garrick.

* “A Christmas Carol” continues through Dec. 21 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Forum Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday evenings, with matinees at 2:30 Sunday afternoons. No performance Friday night, and an extra offering at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $25; $22 seniors; and $15 children 5-16 and may be purchased in person at the Civic Arts Plaza box office, through any Ticketmaster outlet, or charged by telephone from Ticketmaster at 583-8700 or (213) 480-3232. For group discounts (12 or more) or further information, call 497-8616.

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Togetherness: One might not think of “Little Women” as a Christmas story, but it begins at the end of the year, and certainly espouses family togetherness. So the version now playing at the Arts Council Center is a nice choice for the holidays.

Director Toni Frisk has adapted the semi-autobiographical Louisa May Alcott classic, which follows the four March sisters for a three-year period beginning at about the time of the Civil War. Before Alcott’s story is over, two of the March girls are married and one has died.

Shanna Roddy plays the intellectual Jo, the Alcott surrogate (why do writers find writers to be such fascinating subjects? Dumb question, right?); with Georgia Nicole Lange as musical Beth; Marisa Karl as sickly Meg; and Randi A. Saxer and Rachel Valadez portraying Amy as a youngster and teenager, respectively.

Charlie Jourdan and Maureen Dempsey play the March parents, with Ryan Mills, Albert Barrientos and Lee Altmar as the men who come into the young women’s lives. Michael Jordan appears as the Mills character’s grandfather, with Ivy Ratafia as the Marches’ maid, more than a little reminiscent of the Brady Bunch’s “Alice.”

Acting in the larger parts is fine; more variable down the line. And there are times, even in the small center, when an audience member might be moved to demand that one actor or another speak up.

Still, it’s a pleasant show, a worthy effort whose nearly three-hour length should be considered when deciding whether to take a young child.

* “Little Women” continues at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 21 at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Drive (off Moorpark) in Thousand Oaks. Tickets to all performances are $10; $8, students and seniors. For reservations or further information, call 579-8163.

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Casting Call: Cabrillo Music Theatre is holding open auditions by appointment only on Saturday and Monday for its production of “Ain’t Misbehavin,’ ” to be presented at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Forum Theatre from Feb. 6 through March 1. Equity contracts are available for all roles, though nonunion performers will be considered. For further information, call 497-8613.

The Oxnard College Drama Department will hold auditions Monday and Tuesday for its Spring production of “Paper Doll Dreams,” an original script by director Javier Gomez. The cast includes 10 females and six males, 12 to 70 years old; some bilingual ability is required for some parts. For further information, call 486-7063 or 486-7458.