A Holy Alliance

A lighthearted look at the last days of Jesus’ life on Earth, “Godspell” has become a staple of community and youth theater since its Broadway debut--several months before “Jesus Christ, Superstar”--in 1971. A professional version came to Thousand Oaks last year.

The edition now playing at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center features a young, attractive and enthusiastic cast under the direction of Comedy Tonight Productions’ Rebecca Hanes and Zachary Spencer.

Beset by backstage intrigue, including the last-minute defection of the original director and leading actor, the production gets points for existing at all, if not yet as a “Godspell” for the ages.

Seth Allen, who has starred in a couple of local youth theater rock operas, takes over the lead here, and he’s a charismatic Jesus, tossing out parables with genial aplomb.

Surrounding him are a troupe of young men and women playing several roles each, including the exciting Marisabel Viramontes; Kim Coger, who sings the show’s hit song, “Day by Day”; and Terrie Benton, playing assorted vamps. Tedd Szeto is notable as Judas, among others, and the band plays nicely under Spencer’s direction.

The production is a repository of pop-cultural references, as widespread and occasionally obscure as a Dennis Miller monologue: from the Three Stooges to Pink Floyd, many are quite dated and a few show pertinence to the story being told.

This “Godspell” was probably a lot of fun to conceive and perform.

* “Godspell” concludes Oct. 25 at Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $15, $12 for students and seniors, $8 for children under 12. (805) 581-9940.

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Monsters at Melodrama: Under its new management team, Moorpark Melodrama’s “The Road to Transylvania,” is exactly what it sounds like--a gloss of the Hope-Crosby “Road” movies. It’s as much fun as previous Melodrama shows have been, and regular audience members will recognize such actors as Damian Gravino as Count Dracula and Amy Sullivan as the Bride of Frankenstein, among others.

Wakai Jasso and “George Spelvin” (a pseudonym for new proprietor and co-writer Bob Fraser) co-star as the hapless, semi-talented song-and-dance team who find themselves in monster land.

Production values are somewhat less than usual, and the post-show “vaudeville” has been shortened and moved to intermission. Marlon Devereaux Washington’s two cabaret-style songs are almost worth the price of admission.

* “The Road to Transylvania” continues through Nov. 16 at Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Company, 45 E. High St., Moorpark. Shows are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $12, $9.50 for seniors and children; group discounts available. (805) 529-1212.

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‘Flute’ Toots: With a fairy-tale plot and numerous charms, and despite a three-hour running time, “The Magic Flute” stands as an ideal classical piece to bring the not-too-young children to. It’s playing through this weekend at Moorpark College, under the capable direction of Marilyn Anderson.

The story (libretto by Emanuel Schickaneder, English translation uncredited, music by Mozart) tells of a handsome prince who is rescued from a dragon, and subsequently forced to face a series of challenges before winning release of the fair princess from her kidnappers.

The twist is that the captors turn out to be the Good Guys. Though it needn’t weigh too strongly with present-day audiences, “The Brotherhood” is a barely disguised representation of Freemasons, a secret organization to which the composer belonged.

Monica Williams is terrific as Pamina, the princess, with Christopher Fuelling perhaps a little wooden as Tamino, the Prince. Greg Wood stands out as the comic lead, Tamino’s sidekick the bird catcher Papageno (he’s spelled by Eric Sheeler tonight and Saturday), with Wes Morrow as Pamina’s captor, the wizard Sarastro; and Justin McQueen as his (truly) evil henchman, Monastatos.

The singing of the Three Spirits (Karin Valdez, Stephanie Rumpelt and Allison Lowry) is especially fetching, and Monastatos’ troops have moments as amusing as Papageno’s. Darryl Archibald conducts a fine-sounding 30-piece orchestra.

* “The Magic Flute” concludes Sunday at Moorpark College Performing Arts Center, on Collins Drive off the Simi Freeway, Moorpark. Performances are at 7:30 tonight, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. $10, $8 for students and seniors. (805) 378-1485.