Standing the Test of Time : New version

Cal Lutheran University has a nice theater space, recently converted from an auditorium in the library. But when it’s time to do big musicals, the school hasn’t the facilities of Ventura College, let alone the modern, professional-caliber Moorpark College Performing Arts Center.

So what do they do to (1) compete for audience size, (2) give the actors enough space for singing and dancing and (3) give their stage crew a real theater to deal with? They simply move the whole production to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Forum Theatre.

Sure, the Forum isn’t altogether a “real” theater, unless you count the City Council, which meets there during the week, as a performing group. But, at least from the audience’s point of view, its size, sound, lighting and overall cachet probably repay the extra expense required for the university to mount an impressive production of “West Side Story” there.

Now more than 40 years old, “West Side Story” shows its age only in small ways--with the street gangs portrayed in Arthur Laurents’ book, the possibility of firearms at a rumble is remote. And surely if written today, the show would have been rife with foul language. Leonard Bernstein’s score and Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics may not come from the street. The real-life Sharks and Jets would have been singing doo-wop, rather than the composer’s Broadway-jazz-pop amalgam--but they probably would have enjoyed the big ballads, “Tonight” and “Maria.”

Director Michael Arndt hasn’t taken many chances with “West Side Story,” which is proper when dealing with what’s pretty darned close to a perfect musical. Maybe the most noticeable change is that, while the Act II “Somewhere” ballet is often danced by ringers for Tony and Maria (like the dream ballet in “Oklahoma!”), here, the leading actors themselves dance, and quite adequately.

Actors in major roles are all quite good, with Tony (Jeremy Schrock) and Maria (Maegan McConnell) fine singers. Other principals include Rachel Oliveros-Larsen as Anita, Edgar Aguirre as Bernardo, Scott Brodie as Riff, Fred Bowman as Doc and Charles Hall as Lt. Shrank. Jonathan Steepee is particularly amusing--especially, it seemed opening night, to his students--as Glad Hand, emcee of the Dance at the Gym. Lesley Almer sings “Somewhere.”

(Casting may seem strange in some cases, with the gang members’ ethnicities not necessarily corresponding with Cal Lutheran students. But Bernstein himself cast Jose Carreras, whose grasp of the English language and American accent is somewhat slippery, as the Polish-American Tony in what might otherwise have been a definitive recording; there’s nothing nearly so odd here).

Dancing, which is where many nonprofessional productions lag, is better than usual here, thanks to both the cast and choreographer Barbara Wegher-Thompson. Daniel Geeting is the musical director and conductor, with Diann Alexander the vocal music director.

DETAILS

“West Side Story” concludes Sunday at the Civic Arts Plaza’s Forum Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with matinees at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets to all shows are $10 or $15, available at the Civic Arts Center box office or through Ticketmaster at 583-8700.

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Casting Call: Cabrillo Music Theatre will hold auditions May 8-9 by appointment only for its upcoming production of “The Pirates of Penzance,” to play at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza from July 23 through Aug. 1.

Two Actors’ Equity guest artist contracts are available for the roles of the Pirate King, Frederick, Mabel, the Sergeant and Major-General; the rest of those parts and all others are open to non-Equity performers.

Those wishing to audition should prepare a song appropriate to the role desired and no longer than one minute and bring a photograph, resume, and sheet music in the proper key.

To schedule an audition, call 497-8615.