Plenty of a Good Thing

Ventura County theater fans may recall the great “Nunsense!” scare of 1993-94, when local companies--seemingly oblivious to one another--mounted four productions of that musical within eight months.

Though local groups still occasionally duplicate shows within a time span that seems counterproductive, there hasn’t been such a cluster since 1997, when productions of “The Pirates of Penzance” opened in Moorpark and Simi Valley.

It’s happening again. Last weekend, companies in Camarillo and Ojai opened simultaneous productions of “Godspell”; another Camarillo company is set to premiere its own version next month.

John-Michael Tebelak, credited with conceiving the musical, left plenty of room for directors to add their own imprint.

The show, which reconstructs Jesus’ parables and sermons from the Book of Matthew, is far from solemn until the end.

But the Camarillo version, as befits a production presented in a church, is relatively conservative.

The Ojai production is far looser and more fun.

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Both casts consist of actors from their late teens through mid-30s, and most of the words are the same, but the Camarillo production takes place in an indefinite time (the players are dressed in garb that’s roughly medieval), and the Ojai show is set in the present, with Jesus wearing a baseball cap backward.

Other players in the Ojai version carry, variously, a surfboard, a skateboard and a basketball.

One character shouts out--doubtless for the first time by anybody in local theater--”Yo! Is the east side of Ojai in the house?”

In a musical sense, the Ojai production (directed by Krista Neumann) is more conservative, sticking to the opening number, “Tower of Babble,” written by Stephen Schwartz.

It features the cast singing words of philosophers ranging from Socrates to Nietzsche. Camarillo director Michael Voll substitutes the Latin hymn “O Magnum Mysterium.”

Both casts are excellent. The Camarillo production is headed by Paul Formanek as Jesus, Robert Alumbaugh as John the Baptist, Lorraine MacDonald as the single-named Spanky, and Dana M. Crooks, Lora Marsh, Jill Valenzuela, Megan Pryor and Christ Vasquez in various supporting roles. Musical director Penny Puente heads the band.

The Ojai cast is slightly larger, with Zachary Pugh as Jesus, Armando Hernandez as John the Baptist and Shana Manion, Paul Sust, Erin Young, Adryon Gross, Nancy Byrd, Michael Shuman and Vivian Harvey in supporting roles.

Dillon Kenyon, Tara Inden and Jessica Braun are background singers led by musical director Bill Wagner.

The two productions are different enough, and good enough, that it’s enjoyable to see both.

Since few people will be able to make that effort, either is a good bet.

DETAILS

Camarillo’s “Godspell” continues Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Camarillo United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. For further information, call 449-1153.

Ojai’s “Godspell” continues Thursdays-Sundays, 8 p.m., through Sept. 5, at Libbey Bowl, Libbey Park, Ojai Avenue in downtown Ojai. Tickets are $15, adult; $10, senior; and $7.50, 17 and under; there is a special package price of $40 per family of four or more. For further information, call 654-4189.

New Twist at Moorpark Melodrama: Only a few days into a run that began Aug. 4 and was to continue through September, Gold Coast Plays pulled its professional production of “Forever Plaid” from the Moorpark Playhouse.

In an interview last week, Gold Coast managing director Laura Lorona-Kays blamed poor advance ticket sales for the decision.

“We just looked at the budgets and had to make the fiscally responsible solution to cut our budgets now,” she said.

Moorpark Playhouse owner Linda Bredemann had counted on the production to help allay the theater’s debt. She wonders why the acting company abruptly shut down on a Friday.

“Why didn’t they get that weekend’s receipts?” Bredemann said.

Bredemann said she had been paid first and last week’s rent and a small security deposit. Gold Coast had substantially revamped the theater, adding lights and sound and removing curtains, for the production.

Both men who signed the contract with Bredemann were out of town when the show was canceled, she said. Producer Kevin Traxler affirms that he was on the East Coast and not consulted; Gold Coast executive Lawrence Janss did not return a call, nor had Bredemann received a promised payment by Wednesday.

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Todd Everett can be reached at teverett@concentric.net.