‘Pictures’ Perfect

The local, unofficial Neil Simon cavalcade continues this week, as this year’s Shakespeare cycle begins.

Two of Simon’s strongest local proponents--director Don Pearlman and the Marquie Dinner Theatre--come together for a fast and funny production of “I Ought to Be in Pictures.” Martin Horsey stars as Herb Tucker, a not-very-successful television writer living in West Hollywood and in an off-and-on relationship with makeup artist Steffy Blondell (Trish Haight).

The tedium is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Libby (Alyson Schuster), Herb’s teenage daughter, who’s been living with her mother in New York and hasn’t seen him in 16 years. She’s come west, she says, to become a movie star. Warmth, hilarity and excellent performances ensue.

Those who like Neil Simon will certainly enjoy this show; those who feel that he tends to get wrapped up in his middle-aged angst and has no grasp of youth might find that those problems are relatively restrained here. Pearlman, who always has an excellent feel for Simon, has done some minor updating, mainly movie stars’ names, and it doesn’t hurt at all. Do you mind the substitution of Julia Roberts for Jane Fonda as an attractive, youngish actress? Thought not.

DETAILS

“I Ought to Be in Pictures” continues Friday and Saturday nights through Aug. 5 at the Marquie Dinner Theatre, 340 N. Mobil in Camarillo. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; dinner is served from 7 and the play begins about 8 p.m. Tickets are $35, $32 seniors, $28 under 12, and include a full buffet dinner with choice of entrees, nonalcoholic beverages, tax and gratuity. For reservations (required) or further information, call 484-9909.

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Detractors of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” find it too funny, if you can believe that, and lacking a serious subtext. Sounds like a perfect play to produce in various outdoor locations throughout the summer, doesn’t it? So it has occurred to Michael Jordan, whose Classics in the Park is producing “Errors” throughout the area for the next month.

Antipholus and his servant, Dromio, are living a relatively happy and successful life in Ephesus when, suddenly, their world seems to be coming apar: Antipholus sends Dromio on an errand that doesn’t get run, someone gives Dromio a message to Antipholus that never gets delivered--that sort of thing. Error piles upon error until it’s a virtual . . . oh, you know.

As the audience knows from the beginning, Antipholus of Ephesus and his father were separated from Antipholus’ mother and twin brother in a shipwreck many years ago. The two young men had servants, who themselves were twins, both named Dromio. When Antipholus of Syracuse and his Dromio show up in Ephesus, not knowing that at least most of the rest of the family lives there--well, you can just imagine . . .

Will Shupe, often seen locally, is typically terrific as both Antipholuses, and Vivien Latham, who plays the Dromio twins, is a wonderful new find; how great it would be to see her as Kate in “Shrew” a couple of years hence. Among the large cast, Lee Altmar is notable as the father of Antipholus of Ephesus; Bianca Jansen and Kimberly Demery are fine as his wife and her sister; and Theresa Secor is the local abbess, who helps straighten everything out. If there can be comic relief in an out-and-out comedy, that would be Dr. Pinch, a quack psychiatrist played by Sergio Bertolli.

Director Michael Jordan keeps the action moving smoothly and with plenty of physical humor, including the opening puppet show.

DETAILS

“The Comedy of Errors” continues through Aug. 12 at the following locations: July 9, 5 p.m., Borchard Community Center, Reino and Borchard in Newbury Park ($5); July 15, 5:30 p.m., Grape Arbor, Parkville Road and Calamine Drive in Calabasas (free); July 16, 5 p.m., Rancho Simi Park, 1765 Royal Ave. in Simi Valley (free); 7:30 p.m. July 23 at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Road (off Moorpark) in Thousand Oaks ($5); July 30, 5 p.m., Barranca Vista Park, Ralston Street and Johnson Drive in Ventura (free); and Aug. 12, 5:30 p.m., Creekside Park, 3655 Old Topanga Road in Calabasas ($5).

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Remember the recent spates of near-concurrent (one might even charge “redundant”) productions of “1776,” “Godspell” and (a few years back) “Nunsense!”? Here it comes again.

Evidently undaunted by the Elite Theatre Company’s offering of the same show in July and August, Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre Company has announced the John Kander-Fred Ebb revue “The World Goes ‘Round” as its December production. Also slated by the group are “The Rainmaker,” starring Stephanie Zimbalist, for Oct. 12-Nov. 5; and “The Glass Menagerie” and “The Boys Next Door” for 2001--and they haven’t finished their current season yet. For information on any of these or on July-August’s revue of Harry Chapin songs, call 667-2900.

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