Stages of Learning : Three local college productions, each a distinct genre, will close this weekend.

The year-end onslaught of plays throughout Ventura County continues with three college productions, all concluding their runs this weekend: a neglected musical, a classic farce and a powerful piece of contemporary social commentary with half the cast made up of actresses named “Jennifer.” Something, it would seem, for everybody.

Based on the classic by French author Voltaire that everybody used to have to read in school, “Candide” was given the Broadway musical treatment by Leonard Bernstein in 1956; it was the show he scored between “On the Town” and “West Side Story.” Marilyn Anderson directed the current Moorpark College production.

It’s the story of a naive young man and young woman who, their love thwarted by her parents (not so much because Candide is Cunegonde’s cousin as because he was born out of wedlock), take off, separately, for adventures around the world. Hugh Wheeler’s book is amusing; the lyrics, by Richard Wilbur, John Latouche and Stephen Sondheim, less so. Two of the numbers stand out: “Glitter and Be Gay,” a real show-off piece for the soprano who plays Cunegonde, and “Easily Assimilated,” a catchy, comic number for a supporting player, which Carmen Recker here does to a fare-thee-well.

Jeremiah Shoop is the engaging Candide, with a pop-sounding voice that serves him well here and cries for him to be cast in one of those biblical rock operas. Sara Ford is sensational as Cunegonde, easily able to navigate the precarious twists of her spotlight number. John Kolodziej is featured as Voltaire, the couple’s tutor Pangloss and a couple of other supporting roles; and there’s a large number of additional singers, dancers (choreographed by Denise Gibson) and members of Dean Mora’s plucky orchestra. It’s a capable and entertaining production of a show that isn’t done very often, winning extra points on that count.

DETAILS

“Candide” concludes this weekend at the Moorpark College Performing Arts Center, on Collins Road off California 118 in Moorpark. Performances are today at 1:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets for evening performances are $10; $8, seniors and students; and $6, children. Matinee tickets are $5, with the caveat that campus parking is nearly impossible on weekday afternoons. For more information, call 378-1485.

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Ventura College’s drama department reaches back to the turn of the century for “Charley’s Aunt,” written by Brandon Thomas and first produced in London in 1892.

Set in part in an Oxford dormitory, it’s one of those stories that feature a fairly clueless upper-class twit and his snickering but capable butler--Dorothy Sayers and P.G. Wodehouse specialized in writing about them.

As the play begins, friends and students Jack Chesney (Joshua Collins) and Charley Wyckham (Justin R. Pool) are preparing for a long-anticipated luncheon with the objects of their respective desires, Kitty (Claire Culver) and Amy (Amber Landis). When Charley’s aunt--who will be the necessary chaperon--fails to arrive from Brazil, the lads need to recruit a woman, fast. Why, there’s old pal Lord Fancoury Babberley (Bill George), preparing to portray a woman in a college play! High jinks, needless to add, ensue.

The action becomes progressively furious as characters including Jack’s father (Marco Hildago), Amy’s father (the very funny Mark Arucan) and--you knew it would happen--Charley’s real aunt (Heather Pirtle) and her niece (Nisia Gil) arrive. And, oh yes, Lawrence C. Menasco III plays the butler.

Director Jay Varela makes much of his capable cast--much of the humor coming from contrasting physical types. It’s to everybody’s credit that the play seems less creaky here than it often does, although if those accents were softened a little the dialogue might be a bit more understandable.

DETAILS

“Charley’s Aunt” concludes this weekend at the Ventura College Theater on Loma Vista Road between Ashwood Avenue and Day Road in Ventura. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets to all shows are 7; $5, students, staff and seniors. For more information, call 654-6397.

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Jane Martin’s “Mr. Bundy,” playing in repertory at Cal Lutheran University with another farce, “A Flea in her Ear” (reviewed last week) is an off-putting little piece of social drama. Catherine (Jennifer Rogers), Robert (Anthony Peniston) and their young daughter, Cassidy (Jennifer Fedato), are living a relatively idyllic life when it’s brought to their attention that their elderly neighbor of two years, Mr. Bundy (Robert Nairn) is a convicted child molester. Should they panic? Alert the neighborhood? Or take even stronger action? Or--as Mr. Bundy seems totally benign and it’s been many years since he was released from prison--leave him be, although under stronger scrutiny? Arguments are made on all sides, though the playwright’s position is hardly concealed.

There’s nothing wrong with the provocative subject matter--isn’t art occasionally supposed to challenge one’s perspective? But Martin’s script too frequently resorts to cultural stereotypes (particularly the pair of neighbors here played by Andrew Gratt and Jennifer Bolieu) and cliches, and the actors at opening night’s performance sounded as though they could use another few rehearsals with director Kenneth Gardner--unless, of course, those repetitive readings are supposed to sound natural.

DETAILS

“Mr. Bundy” concludes this weekend at Cal Lutheran University’s Little Theater, 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 general; free to Cal Lutheran students. For more information and directions, call 493-3151.

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