Performance Plus

How do you parody something that’s intentionally funny to begin with? Rick Besoyan felt that operettas deserved a sendup, and wrote the music, lyrics and book for “Little Mary Sunshine,” which became a long-running off-Broadway hit and community theater staple. It’s now playing in Simi Valley, under the auspices of operetta-friendly Comedy Tonight Productions; Gilbert & Sullivan is one of their specialties.

G&S; are responsible for at least one of the conventions used here--the chorus of naive schoolgirls. But Besoyan’s piece is set in the Colorado mountains, patrolled by U.S. Forest Rangers in what appear to be Royal Canadian Mounted Police uniforms, headed by Capt. Big Jim Warington (Brian Donahue) and Cpl. Billy Jester (Tyler Wright).

The plot, such as it is, isn’t worth getting into here, but it involves the rapidly shrinking tribe of Kadota Indians (Steven Brown as Chief Brown Bear; John Bravos, very funny as the guide Fleet Foot); a slightly faded opera singer (LaVerne Kauffmann); a similarly faded diplomat (Arnold Fadden); Mary herself (Deirdre Fisher), proprietor of the local inn; her flirtatious maid (Kim Coger); and the aforementioned “young ladies” (Courtney Andresen, Heidi Neilson, Katy Wright and Brittany Gaiten) and Rangers (Arryck Adams, Michael Ramirez, Stephen Giboney and Patty Foy).

Overall, the performances and Zachary Spencer’s direction (six choreographers are credited) are more impressive than the original material, and--at well over 2 1/2 hours--the show seems quite long. Saturday night’s performance was augmented by a fire drill (a false alarm, evidently), which the cast handled resourcefully and amusingly.

* “Little Mary Sunshine” continues through May 31 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, except May 31, when the show is at 7 p.m. $16; $14, seniors and students; and $9, children 12 and under. (805) 581-9940.

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Something Light With Dinner: Seemingly moments after Sam and Betty Jackson have checked into a Catskills vacation cabin, hoping to reenergize their long marriage over a three-day weekend, they’re surprised to learn that another, younger couple, have also rented the cabin for the same period. And there’s no telephone, television or even a newspaper to distract the four from one another. It’s the Marquie Dinner Theatre, so predictably good times ensue.

A collaboration between veteran playwright Sam Bobrick (“Norman, Is that You?,” “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s,” “Hamlet II”) and his wife, Jeanne, “Weekend Comedy” is nothing if not lightweight. Many television sitcoms have more substance. Well, a few sitcoms do. Still, the show, directed by Rex Waggoner, does have its share of laughs, and even a little insight as the two couples--who have decided to share the cabin--learn to adjust to each other’s idiosyncrasies. It’s Neil Simon without nearly so much of the angst with which he so often burdens his plays.

Matt Sand, in his first Marquie appearance, plays Frank with an appealing bluster: Imagine Rodney Dangerfield or Jackie Gleason with a Boston accent. He’s nicely matched by Lynn Sherman, most recently seen at the Marquie in “I’m Not Rappaport.” The appealing and amorous young couple are played by Mark Sawyer, who’s spent more time on the Marquie stage than most of the furniture, and Leigh Sandness, a veteran of several local college and community theater productions.

* “Weekend Comedy” continues Thursday through Saturday through June 13 at the Marquie Dinner Theatre, 340 N. Mobil Ave., Camarillo. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; buffet dinner is served at 6:45, and the show begins at 8:15. $33; $30, seniors; and $28, children under 12, which includes dinner, nonalcoholic beverages, tax and tip. (805) 484-9909.

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Script Revisions: Moorpark Melodrama’s production of “Rockin’ Ricky vs. the Glob of Grease,” scheduled to open last weekend, has been postponed to May 22 due to the extension of “Ragtime Joe.” That show now ends Sunday.

* “Ragtime Joe” concludes Sunday at the Moorpark Melodrama, 45 E. High St., Moorpark. 8 p.m. tonight through Saturday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $12; $9.50, seniors and children. (805) 529-1212.

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In last week’s reporting of the last-minute cancellation of a performance of “An Inspector Calls,” no implication of unprofessionalism by the Santa Paula Theater Center was intended.

* “An Inspector Calls” continues through May 31 at the Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 S. Seventh St. in Santa Paula. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets to all performances are $12.50; $10, seniors and students; and $6 for children 12 and under. (805) 525-4645. From June 5-28, the production moves to the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. (805) 581-9940.