`DARN DODGERS' SCORES A HOME RUN.

Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News

Taking a leaf from the Broadway classic ``Damn Yankees,'' the Moorpark Melodrama is offering plenty of chuckles and belly laughs with ``Darn Dodgers.''

Lending the play some credibility on the night I attended was former Dodgers third baseman Ron Cey, who was laughing heartily from his front row seat at the foibles of America's favorite pastime and allusions to the Dodgers.

Dodgers part-owner Loreall Allmouth (a sexy, outrageous romp by Aspasia Alexander), spurned by Dodgers manager Johnny LaGordo (a solid, personable performance by Craig Mitchell Vincent), vows revenge on the team and will use black magic to get it.

Reggie Roundtrip (charmingly rendered by Gary Schaffner), the team's superstar, is torn between his love for the game and for his vivacious girlfriend, Casey Lou Garrick (the sparkly Colleen Ogilvie). His vulnerability to the charms of the witchy Loreall threatens to forfeit the team's championship until his talented fiancee saves the game.

The supporting cast is good overall. The likable Carla Jimenez plays Anita, Loreall's browbeaten assistant; James Harlow skillfully portrays the conniving reporter Mel Stats, who will stop at nothing to get his story. Adding humor and energy are the other Dodgers players: John Lordan as Bobby Watt, Scott Caster as Kenny Wu, Ed LaBay as Hideo Idono and Reggie De Leon as Homer Hanson. Character names are a story in themselves.

Playing reporters, ballplayers and parts in the chorus are Cristina Callahan, Angel Harmon and Melissa Mednick.

A new trick was the use of an oversize television on stage to show the gossipy ``news'' of the Dodgers; scenes of LaGordo gorging on Italian food were hilarious.

Clever choreography by Adrea Gibbs, especially for the song ``Hit That Ball,'' added to the play's appeal.

Kudos to the many-talented director Scott Martin, who created the book, music and lyrics for the play.

The baseball theme dominated the night. Before the play, the audience sang ``The Star-Spangled Banner,'' and right after intermission the Melodrama's traditional ``Hokey-Pokey'' was dispensed with in favor of ``Take Me Out to the Ballgame.''

THE FACTS WHAT: ``Darn Dodgers.''

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through July 28.

WHERE: Moorpark Melodrama, 45 E. High St., Moorpark.

COST: $12, or $9.50 for adults over 55 and children 11 and under.

INFORMATION: [phone].

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Photo

Photo: Those ``Darn Dodgers'' mug for the camera: from left , Reggie de Leon, Gary Schaffner, Scott Caster, Craig Mitchell Vincent, Ed LaBay and John Lordan.