CONEJO PLAYERS DO SHOW WITHIN SHOW.

Byline: Angela Randazzo Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - The showbiz types in ``It's Only A Play'' may utter those dismissive words, but they don't mean it.

The Terrence McNally satirical comedy takes place on the opening night of a Broadway show, ``The Golden Egg,'' and raw nerves are exposed as the company flies into fits of egotism, jealous rage and despair awaiting the reviews.

``All I want for Christmas is a big fat hit,'' says the producer of ``The Golden Egg,'' whose husband has just been mugged in the men's room at Sardi's restaurant, and whose dog has just bitten Joan Rivers.

The producer is played by Pearl Solomon, a newcomer to the Conejo Players family. Her real-life husband, Gene, portrays a mean-spirited critic with a play of his own he wants produced.

The couple recently moved from the Palm Desert area to the Conejo Valley to be near their first grandson, they said.

While the Conejo Players cast may not be going through as much angst as the characters in the play, there are some similarities.

Westlake Village resident Christina LaForgia plays the character Virginia Noyes, whose Broadway comeback means life or death - LaForgia, though not in that make-or-break situation, has returned to the theater after a 10-year absence.

``I was home getting dressed tonight, and I was pretending I was Virginia,'' said LaForgia during last week's opening. ``I realized I was doing the same thing as Virginia. Virginia had an opening night tonight, and I had an opening night.''

``It's Only a Play'' is directed by Mark Robley Johnson, who said he appreciates the creative labors of both the cast and characters in the play.

``I like the free flowing of creative ideas, so you have the blending of a collaborative effort,'' Johnson said. ``It's really what theater is all about, sharing each other's ideas, time and efforts.'' When he's not directing, Johnson is a water polo coach at Newbury Park High School. He made his Conejo Players directorial debut in last year's original work ``Those Strange and Glorious Years.''

Johnson is a methodical director, unlike the off-the-wall director Frank Finger of ``The Golden Egg,'' played by Northridge resident William Masters.

``We're both psychotic and overly energetic,'' said Masters about his character, who has a string of 17 hits and is begging for a flop.

Making his Conejo Players debut is Keith Moreton of Agoura Hills, as the playwright debating whether his play will be a golden egg or not.

Another Conejo Player newcomer, Steven Rogers, plays an actor with a broad range of commentary. Joe Kozak used comic abilities to play an eager-to-break-into-show-biz bellhop and Celeste Russi won applause from the audience for her role as a smart-alecky New York cabbie.

THE FACTS

--``It's Only a Play''

--8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays andSaturdays through Feb. 19

--Conejo Players Theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks

--Tickets: $12 Thursday and Friday; $14 Saturday

--Information: [phone].

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Box: The Facts (see text)