MELODRAMA CARRIES FUN INTO 1998; NEWEST SHOW IS FAMILY FARE FROM THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION.Byline: P. Catherine Shanks
The shanks and tattlers are wading bird species in a number of genera characterised by a medium length bill and long, often brightly coloured legs. Daily News Staff Writer Two singing vulture vulture, common name for large birds of prey of temperate and tropical regions. The Old World vultures (family Accipitridae) are allied to hawks and eagles; the more ancient American vultures and condors are of a different family (Cathartidae) with distant links to puppets, Chirp See chirped pulse and CHRP. and Burp, are diligently practicing scales in preparation for their debut between acts of the newest Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville vaudeville (vôd`vĭl), originally a light song, derived from the drinking and love songs formerly attributed to Olivier Basselin and called Vau, or Vaux, de Vire. Company production, ``Fenster of the French Foreign Legion Foreign Legion, French volunteer armed force composed chiefly, in its enlisted ranks, of foreigners. Its international character and the tradition of not revealing enlistees' backgrounds have helped to surround the Foreign Legion with an aura of mystery and romance. .'' The company's new owners, Bob and Beverly Fraser, are always on the lookout for in search of; looking for. See also: Lookout clowns, jugglers, magicians, singers and other specialty performers for the vaudeville part of the productions. It follows from the Frasers' motto: ``An empty seat is not a good seat.'' For seven decades, the theater that was once a silent picture house has honored early American theatrical traditions by presenting a bounty of musical comedies, variety acts and melodramatic plays. For the past 10 years, under the ownership of Harv and Linda Bredemann, the theater has solidified a reputation for presenting good, clean family entertainment and some of the best mystery, music and melodrama to be found anywhere. Last year, Linda Bredemann sold the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama to the Frasers. The seasoned team of actors, writers and producers has been charged with carrying on Bredemann's melodramatic mission, and seeing to it that the villain never triumphs over good. ``There will always be a villain,'' said Beverly Fraser. ``He won't always be the standard Snidely Whiplash Snidely Whiplash is the cartoon villain who is archnemesis to Dudley Do-Right in the tongue-in-cheek series The Dudley Do-Right Show by American animation pioneer Jay Ward. villain, though. One of our bad guys is a take-off on James Bond,'' said Fraser. She was speaking of the evil agent in the theater's most recent production, ``Goldthumb - The Spy Who Stole Christmas.'' Fraser made it clear that the expected elements of the genre would remain intact. ``There will always be a heroine, whether or not she is perceived as such,'' she said. ``We will always have a vamp and there will always be a comic sidekick.'' The more than 700 season ticket holders and faithful Moorpark Melodrama audiences will be pleased to know that little has changed under the new proprietorship. Theater-goers can look forward to the same Friday, Saturday and Sunday matinee performances, as well as two added performance nights. This season, Thursday and Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. shows are added to the schedule. A reduction in concession prices is another new highlight. ``We're gearing shows even more toward the family,'' said Fraser. In previous seasons, performances ran up to three hours and ended after 11 p.m. Productions have been trimmed to run approximately two hours. The vaudeville, featuring an array of unique novelty acts, has been sandwiched between the first and second acts of the play. In an effort to make the melodrama more accessible to an expanded audience, the Frasers have continued the practice of offering low-cost admission to low-income groups. Between 25 and 50 tickets also are distributed each month to charitable organizations. A new logo shows a villain in top hat from whose mad visage emanates characteristic evil laughter. ``Kids'' from five to 80 years of age will enjoy every thrilling, bone-chilling scene and each sentimental interlude of the 1997-98 season. ``Fenster of the French Foreign Legion'' will open today for a six-week run ending Feb. 8. Tickets are priced at $12 for adults and $9.50 for children and seniors. Adam Finlay stars in the musical story of a mysterious American who joins the Legion to forget about a love gone bad. Other members of the cast are Christine Kitchenmaster, Melissa Medrick, Cathy Deobler, Wakai Jasso, Jeremy DiPaolo, Scott Fraser Scott Fraser relates to one of the following:
The Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama & Vaudeville Company is at 45 E. High Street in Moorpark. For reservations and information, call (805) 529-1212 or (800) 597-1210. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1) Actors, from left, Scott Fraser, Jeremy DiPaolo, Cathy Deobler, Adam Finlay and Bob Fraser For the Due South character, see . Bob Fraser is an American television producer, writer, and actor. Fraser's most notable work is on the TV show Benson rehearse at the Moorpark Melodrama. (2) Wakai Jasso, left, and Melissa Medrick act out a scene from ``Fenster of the Foreign Legion'' at the Moorpark Melodrama. Tom Mendoza/Daily News |
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