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CONEJO TROUPE GIVES ROUSING PERFORMANCE IN `MAME' : FACTS.


Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News

The Conejo Players have gone Broadway with their ambitious production of ``Mame.'' It's a big musical with a large cast and lots of production numbers, a solid entertainment value for the whole family.

Veteran Eleanor Brand handles the character of Mame with great panache and an energetic style all her own, capping a grand performance with her solo ``If He Walked Into My Life.''

Brand is ably supported by the droll droll  
adj. droll·er, droll·est
Amusingly odd or whimsically comical.

n. Archaic
A buffoon.



[French drôle, buffoon, droll, from Old French drolle
 nanny, Agnes Gooch (a priceless performance by Pamela Matheson) and the vamping Broadway actress Vera Charles (the irresistible Deanna Lynn Milsap).

The madcap Mame is leading a Bohemian lifestyle in 1920s New York New York, state, United States
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of
 when she is left in charge of her orphaned 10-year-old nephew Patrick (the engaging Randi Saxer, who alternates roles with Nick Marinoff) and his nanny, Agnes. Mame is delighted with Patrick and is determined to bring him up defying convention and teaching him to live and let live, which brings her into conflict with the pompous banker/guardian Dwight Babcock (strongly played by Doug Matheson).

Babcock finally manages to have his way, and Patrick is shipped off to boarding school. The stock market crash of 1929 changes many lives, including Mame's, but her spirit is indomitable in·dom·i·ta·ble  
adj.
Incapable of being overcome, subdued, or vanquished; unconquerable.



[Late Latin indomit
. She tries Broadway, but ruins her friend Vera's performance.

Mame makes an attempt at manicuring in a hilarious little scene with the very funny Madame Branislowski (Laverne Kaufmann) and Gregor (James Kaspert) and in the process meets a new boyfriend, Beauregard, a charming rich Southerner played with warmth and humor by Lloyd Allen Lloyd Cecil Allen (born May 8, 1950 in Merced, California) was a pitcher for the California Angels (1969-73), Texas Rangers (1973-74), and Chicago White Sox (1974-75). .

Beauregard brings Mame home to meet the family, a comic passel of Southern caricatures highlighted by the dominating Mother Burnside (Cheryl Talbot) and scheming former girlfriend Sally Cato (played by a beguiling Lady Jan Faulkner). Marriage and new riches are inevitable for the deserving and persevering Mame.

Meanwhile, Patrick is growing up and the talented Thomas Cunningham takes over the role. He falls in love with Gloria (amusingly portrayed by Annie Sullivan), whose social climbing parents (Ruth Brott and Ed Weinberg) can't wait to enlist a now widowed Mame and her money in their snobbish snob·bish  
adj.
Of, befitting, or resembling a snob; pretentious.



snobbish·ly adv.
 and prejudicial prej·u·di·cial  
adj.
1. Detrimental; injurious.

2. Causing or tending to preconceived judgment or convictions:
 schemes.

Mame's influence and early teaching make Patrick come to his senses and he falls for Pegeen (Deborah Huber), who has looks and a brain. And the cycle of life starts all over again when they have a son, Peter (played by Clayton Robertson alternating with Tracy Faulkner), another young life for Mame to influence.

Other members in the talented cast include: Ito (the entertaining Paul Roache), Lou Buchignani portrays Ralph Devine and Charles Coffey Charles Coffey (died 1745) was an Irish playwright and composer.

His better known operas are:
  • The Beggar’s Wedding (1729)
  • Devil Upon Two Sticks, or the Country Beau (1728)
His best music includes:
, who plays M. Lindsay Woolsey. David Friel portrays the doorman and Jeff. David Person tackles the role of the elevator boy and Rob Schnider plays a messenger and Junior Babcock. Patti Scott is an art model and Cousin Fan, portrayed by Ken Endress is the stage manager, while Madeline Adinoff is the dance teacher.

The Ensemble includes: Patty Foy, Christina Cox, Murl Caswell, Sandi Richards, Lenore Silva, Beau Gamble and John Bravos. The Dancers are: Christina Wondka, Deborah Huber and David Person.

WHAT: ``Mame,'' book by Jerome Lawrence Jerome Lawrence (July 14, 1915 - February 29, 2004) was an American playwright and author.

Born Jerome Schwartz in Cleveland, Ohio, he worked for several small newspapers as a reporter/editor before moving into radio as a writer for CBS.
 and Robert E. Lee, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman Jerry Herman (born Gerald Herman on July 10, 1931 in New York City) is an American composer/lyricist of the Broadway musical theater. He composed the scores for the hit Broadway musicals Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles. .

WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, through Dec. 14.

WHERE: The Conejo Players, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. .

COST: $8-$12 per person.

INFORMATION: (805) 495-3715.
COPYRIGHT 1996 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1996, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Article Type:Theater Review
Date:Nov 29, 1996
Words:564
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