'TICK ... TICK' FILLS EVERY MINUTE WITH MEANING.

Byline: - Evan Henerson

HAD HE LIVED to reap the fame and awards of his rock opera ``Rent,'' Jonathan Larson might not have seen the necessity of trotting out ``tick ... tick ... BOOM!'' - a trunk musical monologue about a crossroads-stranded composer who is paralyzed at the prospect of turning 30.

But ``tick ... tick ...'' - which became a three-character musical - does have a life. And if you can get past the whimpery over-self-indulgence of a hero who is terrified (cue the cliched angst) he won't be famous, you'll find that Larson's music (and, yes, sometime even his themes) finds a way to soar.

Director Scott Schwartz, who polished ``tick ... tick ...'' with ``Proof'' playwright David Auburn, directs the terrific West Coast premiere of the musical at Ventura's Rubicon Theatre. His production, an intimate but from-the-gut chamber piece set against the backdrop of Larson's lower-rent New York, is an electric 90 minutes. One pass through Larson's score makes you hope the legions of Rentheads will get behind ``tick ... tick's'' dozen songs as well. They - like this musical - should be heard.

Andrew Samonsky, singing the role of Jonathan, emphasizes the character's fear over the petulance. If this struggling artist is a little bit neurotic, a little bit insensitive to the needs of girlfriend Susan (Nastascia Diaz) and best friend Michael (Wilson Cruz), that's OK. Because when that fateful birthday arrives, Jonathan's SoHo walk-up will be filled with friends. The anthem ``Johnny Can't Decide'' turns - like so many of the other numbers, into a three-parter, with Susan and Michael getting their say as well.

Diaz, alternately sexy and vulnerable, is a knockout. Belting the song `Come to Your Senses'' during a workshop of Larson's musical ``Superbia,'' she'll make you forget that the song has no real place in the advancement of ``tick ... tick's'' story. That's cool, too. ``Sugar,'' the anthem to a sweet-tooth high, is the same way. Cruz, who, like Diaz, has performed in ``tick ... tick'' before, is versatile and strong of voice in a variety of roles.

The Rubicon, a converted church, could use some acoustical sprucing up if the company plans to keep staging mini rock operas. Music director/keyboardist Brent Crayon and his three fellow musicians occasionally drown out the singers (who are miked). Touring versions of the over- loud and bombastic ``Rent'' occasionally suffer the same fate.

The thing is, by now, the songs of Jonathan Larson, insecure artist, should be of more interest than those of Jonathan Larson, Bohemian spokesman. If it accomplishes nothing else, ``tick ... tick ... BOOM!'' demonstrates that its composer - who worshipped Stephen Sondheim - had songs of his own to sing.

TICK ... TICK ... BOOM! - Three and one half stars

Where: Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura.

When: 8 tonight and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through Sunday.

Tickets: $34 to $49. Call [phone].

In a nutshell: The composer of ``Rent'' unburdens melodically.