THEATER REVIEW:

Two stage productions local audiences apparently never tire of — “Cats” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and “La Posada Magica” at South Coast Repertory — are back in our midst once again.

In the case of “Cats,” the joyous production now ensconced at the center, but only through Sunday, is the longest continuously touring Broadway musical in history. And you can see why when you experience it.

Andrew Lloyd Weber’s celebrated musical take on a T.S. Eliot conception fills the center’s stage and spills into the aisles. If you go, try for an aisle seat and you may find yourself up close and personal with one of the feline inhabitants.

For this production, Richard Stafford has brilliantly taken over the direction and choreographic responsibilities originally created by Trevor Nunn and Gillian Lynne, respectively. And this is a show that revels in its choreography — ensemble excellence is the order of the evening with the full company of 25 often on stage singing and dancing together.

You expect to get blown away by Grizabella’s rendition of “Memory,” and indeed you do with the haunting vocal stylings of Anastasia Lange. What you don’t expect is the booming voice of Old Deuteronomy (Philip Peterson) bouncing off the rafters.

Triple duty in this production is drawn by Ryan William Bailey, who excels in the dual role of Gus, the theater cat, and his former self, Growltiger, battling Siamese pirates to save a fair lady. Bailey also bulks up to play the corpulent Bustopher Jones, the erudite gourmand who can barely stand.

Jonathan Mercer provides an impressive amount of flash and dash as the magical Mistoffelees, while Danny Beiuruti and Hardy Weaver contribute splendid solo turns as Rum Tum Tugger and Skimbleshanks, respectively.

Technical legerdemain highlights Drew Roelofs’ flashy rendition of McCavity, the cat who lives outside the law. Jonathan Burke and Erica Cenci celebrate the mischievousness of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.

“Cats” indeed has nine lives, at least, with this touring production representing the third or fourth unveiled locally over the last quarter century. It’s feline fun for the family.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: “Cats”

WHERE: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Closing performances at 7:30 tonight and Friday, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday

COST: $20 to $65

CALL: (714) 556-2787

Magical journey into another culture

Across the street at South Coast Repertory, where “A Christmas Carol” is entertaining its 29th set of audiences, “La Posada Magica” also continues its tradition as the Latino-flavored yuletide story enters its 15th season.

Written in 1994 on a South Coast Repertory commission by Octavio Solis, who again directs, and featuring both original and traditional music by Marcos Loya, who appears on stage yet again, “La Posada” is aimed primarily at Mexican American playgoers who are more familiar with the seasonal posada — the recreation of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn.

The show’s centerpiece is Graciela (Gloria Garayua in her second year in the role), devastated over the death of her baby brother to the point that she wants to ruin everyone else’s Christmas by symbolically extinguishing all their candles. This act throws the proceedings into a sort of “Twilight Zone” or, more accurately, the sort of world briefly inhabited by George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Several cast members are familiar returnees, but Denise Blasor takes the prize. This is her 13th season playing Consuelo, one of the two chocoholic ladies (the other being Teresa Velarde, who originated the role of Mom / Mariluz now played by Erica Ortega).

Miguel Najera and Sol Castillo, in their seventh and eighth years, respectively, solidify the show as Horacio, the posada leader and narrator, and Refugio, the would-be pop singer and all-around nuisance. Castillo doubles as the spectral baddie Buzzard, who teams with David DeSantos (Eli/Bones/Lauro), who’s back for a second season of triple duty.

Garayua has grown in her central role, her anguish intensified. Ortega also touches the heart as a modern-day Mary seeking shelter with her prickly husband (Danny Bolero). Loya and Lorenzo Martinez provide background music and gentle humor.

First-time viewers who don’t speak Spanish, however, should attend with a friend who does. An increasing number of laugh lines are delivered in that language, eliciting response from some sections of the audience and bewilderment from the others.

“La Posada Magica” continues to touch the heart and funny bone alike in its 15th season.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: “La Posada Magica”

WHERE: South Coast Repertory’s Julianne Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: 7:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 3 and 7:45 p.m. Saturdays, and 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sundays until Wednesday

COST: $15 to $35

CALL: (714) 708-5555

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