Youngsters just love a melodrama

Originality is one of the principal elements of Orange Coast College’s theater program, particularly during the holiday season when the college presents a home-grown melodrama written by its longtime set designer David Scaglione.

This year, Scaglione has come up with two themes that may seem mutually exclusive -- Christmas and piracy -- and melded them into a cornily entertaining show for family consumption entitled “Bootsie and the Christmas Pirates,” which bears more than a passing resemblance to Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance.”

There is a lovely heroine (Fiona Wynder), a dastardly pirate villain (Daniel Barnard), his goofy sidekick (Sean Coutu), a dashing hero (Trenton Smith) and a sort of wild card character (James Barrett) who spends much of the show in drag. And, as in “Penzance,” we have a collection of parasol-twirling young ladies and a trip of English bobbies.

Director Rick Golson incorporates the traditional over-the-top melodrama staging, including characters playing full front and illustrating their dialogue with overt hand gestures. Hisses, boos and cheers are, of course, encouraged.

Barnard, whose comically evil antics evoke visions of Tim Curry, and Wynder, a blond beauty well versed in physical appeal, enrich the show considerably. Barrett has the most difficult assignment, repelling Barnard’s advances (in frilly disguise) while keeping the audience updated on the plot and pursuing the leader of the young maidens (Jill Prout).

Emcee Vincent Torres Jr. and pianist Terrence Aleric keep the tempo comically upbeat, and the OCC ensemble of beauties and buccaneers fills the stage colorfully.

The climactic duels are intentionally hokey and the humor is geared toward the youngest audience members, who are rewarded with a children’s joke “contest” and a visit from Santa Claus following the show.

OCC’s theater department has followed this traditional melodramatic format for many Christmas seasons and “Bootsie” is an entertaining, if somewhat derivative, addition to the program. It’s a lot of fun for the youngsters and even a chuckle or two for the older audience members, with free ice cream dished out at intermission.

IF YOU GO

* WHAT: “Bootsie and the Christmas Pirates”

* WHERE: Orange Coast College Drama Lab Theater

* WHEN: Closing performances tonight at 7 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

* COST: $5 to $7 in advance, $8 at the door

* INFO: (714) 432-5880

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot.

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