ONE-WOMAN SHOW TO EXPLORE HUMANITY, HUMOR.

Byline: P. Catherine Shanks Community Columnist

Twice the Child'' is the name of the one-woman show opening tonight in Ojai, the most recent installment in the Theater 150 Solo Series, performed by actress, model and comedienne Cheryl Hunter and continuing for the next two weekends.

The partially autobiographical monologue samples selected moments from the lives of people who have influenced the actress. Employing humor and a healthy bit of pathos to move her stage vehicle, Hunter guides the action and the audience through her personal quest for meaning in life.

``My hope is that the material relates to people, wherever they're at,'' Hunter said. ``I think that search for the ideal in life, whatever that means to any individual, is a very common part of the human experience.''

For Hunter, whose face has graced magazine pages and whose talents have contributed to films, television and stage productions in the United States and abroad, the search for significance has been both elusive and fruitful.

Even as a young person, she knew her direction was destined to be divergent, recalling a pivotal revelation.

``I saw this Christmas movie with an island of misfit toys,'' said the actress, laughing as she recalled the collection of slightly irregular dolls and unpopular playthings sequestered in Santa's alternative workshop. ``I felt like that.''

It was during her teen years that Hunter determined she could play her storytelling prowess into an acting career. She skipped school one day to put together a plan for her life.

``I thought school was going too slow,'' Hunter said. ``I needed to regroup.''

The neighborhood magazine stand provided her with the information she sought. ``I read in Glamour magazine about solo shows, and that they were looking for people who were attractive. And, if they were a model, they could break into acting.''

Hunter took the bait and embarked on a modeling career. She saw modeling as a stepping stone to her ultimate goal.

Along her life journey, the model-turned-actress befriended an 89-year-old woman named Lulu. She found the experience of knowing and helping the woman so rewarding that she began volunteering with elderly people. It was through Lulu that the actress met Evelyn, a retired actress who had performed in old time radio and on Broadway.

``Evelyn is really the star of the show,'' said Hunter, who borrowed from the real-life Evelyn to create the character of a star-struck and somewhat debilitated dilettante for ``Twice the Child.''

In one part of the monologue, a humorous and slightly surreal parallel is drawn between Hunter the ingenue and Evelyn the former ingenue. Hunter takes Evelyn along to an audition. Once again in her element, Evelyn is transformed into career adviser - she tells Hunter to be a star player so that she will be the obvious choice when a star is needed.

``Her advice seems so completely irrelevant at the time,'' Hunter said was her character's response to Evelyn. However, her character decides to heed the words of the thespian and work toward stardom. ``What she proposes is so much better than the direction I'm going, anyway.''

Twisting and turning and taking a number of detours along its way, ``Twice the Child,'' finally results in resolution. According to Hunter, the performance closes with a certain satisfaction and sense of redemption.

``The message is one of coming to terms with and being pleased with whatever we've got,'' said the actress. She said the play is an entertainment and that it is not intended to be interpreted as a life lesson.

Kim Maxwell-Brown and Dwier Brown are co-producing this production of ``Twice the Child.'' The husband-and-wife producers are also the founders and owners of Theater 150.

``The performance is touching, it's funny, it's self-deprecating,'' said Maxwell-Brown of the production. ``She is unbelievably charming and a joy to watch.''

The Solo Series at Theater 150 wraps in July, with the presentation of Peter Dennis in his one-man theater show titled, ``Bother!'' The play has received a number of awards and honors, including the Drama-Logue Critics Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theatre-Concept and Performance and the L.A. Weekly theater award for Performance in a One-Character Show.

Following the Solo Series, Theater 150 will host the annual Playwright's Conference. The conference showcases the works of some of today's most prolific and prestigious playwrights.

``Twice the Child,'' will be playing at 8 p.m. tonight through Sunday and June 25-27 at Theater 150, 918 East Ojai Ave., Ojai. Tickets are $20. Reservations are strongly recommended, as seating is limited. For information, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Cheryl Hunter

Felt like misfit toy

(2) Peter Dennis

Star of ``Bother!''