Mildly Entertaining Comedy Puts Troupe Back on the Boards

The apparent demise of Ventura County’s oldest community theater group, on the verge of its 50th anniversary, was cause for special lamentation. Earlier this year, the Plaza Players’ missing-in-action status was noted in these pages. Within days, though, came an announcement that the Players’ first production in a year would open this month.

It did. The Players’ production of “Travels With My Aunt” begins the group’s second half-century under the stewardship of artistic director Michael Maynez.

Would that the show, based on the comic novel by Graham Greene, were the kind of ambitious production that draws a huge, enthusiastic audience. The cast is enthusiastic enough, with four actors performing multiple roles each. But the play is the kind of smallish, Anglophile piece that the Elite Theatre Company has been producing in Oxnard.

Adapted for the stage by Giles Havergal, “Travels” is a sort of ‘60s English counterpart to “Auntie Mame,” telling the story of a young man, orphaned and entrusted to the care of his late mother’s 75-year-old sister.

Robert Reilly, James Thompson, Dan Beightol and Judy Walters all portray Henry at various times--occasionally changing actors in midspeech. It sounds confusing, but helps keep attention throughout what is, essentially, a radio play: One could sit through it blindfolded and not miss much.

The actors try hard but are flummoxed by the accents and (Walters excepted) aren’t very convincing as English gentlepeople. Stereotypes abound, with Beightol playing a black servant from “Freetown”--either the Caribbean or Africa, it isn’t specified--as a caricature. His Arabian official is reminiscent of Peter Lorre in “Casablanca.” Reilly’s Henry Pulling and Aunt Agatha both sound like Inspector Fenwick from “Dudley Do-Right.” And so on.

Still, the play is amusing in an understated, British kind of way, and might motivate those who see it to read Greene’s book.

* “Travels With My Aunt” continues through March 1 at Ventura Elks Lodge, 11 S. Ash St., Ventura. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets for all performances are $10; $8, seniors and students. (805) 653-2378.

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Buck Rogers Cloned: “Zip Moniker--Space Cadet,” the Moorpark Melodrama’s latest offering, is an original parody of the early movie serials that recounted the adventures of Buck Rogers and his crew fighting interplanetary arch-villain Ming the Merciless. For those who remember the original, recreations of the Rogers characters are evident here. But the script, by Tom Biener and director Bob Fraser, doesn’t require familiarity with the original for patrons to enjoy the fun.

Jeremy DiPaolo stars as the straight-faced, not-too-bright title character, abetted by David Petty as the resident wacky scientist, Dr. Barcode; and Katie Fraser as Barcode’s niece and Moniker’s love interest. Chris Carnicelli is very funny hamming it up as the evil Emperor Mongo, with Beth Fraser as femme fatale Vavoom.

* “Zip Moniker, Space Cadet” continues through March 22 at Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Company, 45 E. High St. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, with matinees at 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission to all performances is $12, adults; $9.50, children and seniors, with discounts for groups of 15 or more. (805) 529-1212.