Out & About / Ventura County : Theater Notes : Making Marriage Sing : Attractive cast does fine version of underrated ‘70s musical comedy.

The musical “I Love My Wife,” now playing weekend matinees at the Conejo Players Theater, is a delightful surprise and one of the year’s highlights.

The show is hardly as well known as it deserves to be--the Broadway version earned Tony Award nominations for Michael Stewart’s book and Cy Coleman’s music but lost to “Annie.”

It’s a tuneful comedy about two married men who, though young, are a bit bored with their sex lives. Wally (Don Stewart), the more worldly, convinces his naive friend Alvin (Phil Otte) that he should involve his wife, Cleo (Deidre Fisher) in a menage a trois. At first reluctant, Alvin brightens when he decides on the perfect third partner--Wally’s wife, Monica (Diedra Dane). High jinks ensue.

Firmly set in a ‘70s sensibility, the plot centers on the possibility and ramifications of group sex. Hashish figures in there, too, prompting one of the liveliest songs. For those not put off by the subject matter--please, don’t take the kids--or the men’s sideburns and leisure suits, the jokes work; Coleman’s songs (with lyrics by Stewart) are in a variety of musical styles and never less than hummable; and the cast is attractive and quick-witted. And all the sexual shenanigans notwithstanding, the play is at the core quite sweet--keep the title in mind.

On Broadway, several supporting roles were played by members of the onstage band (which collectively won a Drama Desk award as “Best Supporting Actor”). That’s impractical here, so the musicians are seated somewhat inaudibly toward the rear of the stage, with Aaryck Adams, Brian Bookbinder and Michael L. Ramirez playing the supporting roles.

The sprightly direction is by Celeste Russi, with choreography by Fisher and Tami Moore. Charles Padilla leads the five-piece band.

DETAILS

“I Love My Wife” continues Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through Sept. 25 at the Conejo Players Theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. All tickets are $7. For reservations or more information, call 495-3715. Neil Simon’s “California Suite” continues Thursday-Saturday evenings at the same venue.

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ACTING THEIR AGE: Bunny Savage, president of the Ventura Senior Drama Troupe, checked in to let us know that she’s auditioning for the group’s upcoming revue, “Holiday Madness,” which will be performed at the Senior Center in mid-November.

The group has about 20 active members, she said, although as many as 50 have been involved at one time. “You have to be 50 years or older to be a ‘star,’ ” she said, although she’ll accept those as young as 30 for stagehand, stand-in or understudy roles. “We added up everybody at last year’s show,” she said, “and our total age was 1,099 years--our average age is 73, but two are 87 and we’ve had older.”

Savage, who began acting as a young child and retired in her 50s, is 73.

Certain hazards come with the actors’ age, she noted. One member, Gwen Baker, had hip surgery two years ago; another, Susan Davis, had a stroke. “But as soon as they were well, they were up and dancing again.”

Troupe alumna Betty Taffert is co-starring in the production of “Moon Over Buffalo” that recently moved from Santa Paula to Simi Valley; her first acting experience was with the Ventura Troupe. LaVerne Beckmann, on the other hand, lists dancing in actress Eleanor Powell’s ensemble among her credits.

This year’s musical revue will cover holidays from Halloween through Hanukkah and Christmas, with a nod to the upcoming Y2K madness. Savage wrote the script, as she did last year.

“We’ve done regular plays in the past,” she explained, “but only when we had enough people who could remember their lines.”

Seniors who wish to audition may call Savage at 643-8159 after 6 p.m.

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