Tailored to Americans

The family of a prosperous English manufacturer has gathered for an evening with the daughter’s fiance when the meeting is interrupted by a police detective: A young woman has died, an apparent suicide, and he’d like to ask some questions.

With many of the trappings of a classic British murder mystery, “An Inspector Calls” is much more. For one thing, the entire genre switches at virtually the last minute. But more than that, playwright JB Priestly intended the 1945 piece as a condemnation of the British social system.

A revival of Priestly’s play opened in London in 1992, and from there moved to Australia, Japan and Broadway, gathering Olivier, Drama Desk, Evening Standard and Tony awards.

The Santa Paula Theater Center production, directed by David Ralphe, is significantly different and probably more appealing to an American audience. For one, Priestly’s liberal politics aren’t presented with as heavy a hand, and the comedic aspects are stressed.

Two other differences: The imaginative and expensive stage set of the London revival isn’t duplicated here, and Ralphe has added two intermissions to a one-act play that comes in at just over two hours.

Despite at least two temporary and one permanent cast change since its opening, the Santa Paula production is strong and quite enjoyable.

It’s 1912, roughly the end of the Edwardian era. Arthur Birling (John Masterson) is especially pleased: His daughter, Sheila (Denice Stradling) is engaged to businessman Gerald Croft (John A. Maraffi), and he--Arthur--is about to receive a knighthood.

Other members of the household include wastrel son Eric (Aurick Canate), housekeeper Edna (Kelley Weeks) and Arthur’s wife, Sybil (Virginia Streat). (Stradling was absent last weekend, with Weeks playing Sheila quite nicely, and Adora McDougal stepping in as the maid).

When Inspector Goole (Fred Helsel, in a performance that balances between amusing and threatening) announces the death, nobody in the Birling household appears to know the young woman.

Or do they? Director Ralphe keeps the politics to an undercurrent, though there’s not much that can be done to dampen Goole’s final harangue, and the supporting cast members all turn in worthy performances. While not nearly as ambitious as the professional version, Jeff Rack’s stage set is impressively posh.

* “An Inspector Calls” continues through May 31 at Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 S. 7th St., 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12.50; $10 seniors and students; $6 children 12 and under; (805) 525-4645. From June 5-28, the production moves to Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. (805) 581-9940.

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Back to the area: With a set of habits left over from its recent production of “Nunsense!,” the Camarillo Community Theatre is presenting the first local production of “The Sound of Music” since January, when the Theater League brought the show to Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

This production is attracting large audiences and winning standing ovations, so who’s to argue that it’s a musical defined by, among other characteristics, some of the sloppiest lyrics in the history of musical theater (“Fa, a long, long way to run . . . La, a note that follows So,” indeed)?

Christi Carter and Skip Taylor head the cast as Maria the nanny and Baron von Trapp, with Glenn Campbell (no, different guy) as lovable Nazi sympathizer Max Detweiler; Michelle Erich as von Trapp’s fiancee; and Shyla Erich and Matt Laubacher featured as von Trapp children (several others are double-cast).

Karen Sonnenschein, Vanessa Poorboy, Linda Colon and Remi Enobakhare head the nuns. Robert Dantona plays Rolf, the young romantic interest with a strong sense of duty.

Susan Wiltfang directed, efficiently. The notable musical accompaniment was arranged and pre-taped by Kevin Parcher.

* “The Sound of Music” concludes May 31 at Camarillo Community Theatre, 330 Skyway Drive on the Camarillo Airport grounds. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12.50; $10 students, seniors and military; $8 children. A special “family” package admits two adults and up to three children for $30; group rates are also available; (805) 388-5716.