Triad of weekend plays is no dilemma

readyNormally, when two or more stage productions open on the same weekend, prospective playgoers are faced with a choice if they only have room for one night at the theater on their schedule.

This weekend, however, though it is a busy one, shouldn’t pose that much of a dilemma. The three productions opening in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and UC Irvine are unlikely to draw from the same fan base. One is a classic drama, another a western-flavored melodrama and the third a musical adaptation of a noted Fellini movie

“A Doll’s House,” Henrik Ibsen’s tale of repressed individualism in a marriage, is the fare at the Newport Theater Arts Center. While an acknowledged classic, the play hasn’t been performed locally since 1978 when South Coast Repertory staged it at its old Third Step Theater in downtown Costa Mesa -- one of the repertory’s last productions at that venue before relocating to South Coast Town Center.

Meanwhile, Costa Mesa’s Vanguard University has something decidedly different on its menu. “Blazing Guns at Roaring Gulch” is a comic western melodrama which culminates in a gunfight between twin brothers, played by the same actor.

UCI, in contrast to both other productions, is mounting “Nine,” Mario Fratti’s musical adaptation of the classic Fellini movie “8 1/2 .” This Tony-winning show has been lauded for its imaginative score complementing the story of an Italian filmmaker and the many women in his life.

David Colley is directing Ibsen’s “Doll’s House,” which will feature performances by Nakiska Aschtiani, Bianca Leichnitz, Gabriela Leichnitz, Della Lisi, Darren Nash, Joy Nussen, Brian Page, David Rousseve and Stephanie Schulz. The drama will be presented weekends through Feb. 26 at the NTAC theater, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach. Reservations are taken at (949) 631-0288.

Vanguard’s “Guns” will be blazing for two weekends, under the direction of students Mark Parker and Andrew Levy, closing Feb. 5, in the Lyceum Theater on the college campus. Playgoers may reserve tickets by calling the college at (714) 668-6145.

Trevor Biship is directing “Nine,” which will be presented in UCI’s Winifred Smith Hall for one weekend only, at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday. The choreographer is Amy Sennett, with musical direction by Dennis Castellano. Call (949) 824-2787 for ticket information.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Fridays.

20060127gzgnh2ke(LA)