Thursday, January 21, 1993
Ventura County Edition
Section: Ventura County Life
THEATER REVIEW / 'NEWSCAST MURDER';
Played to a Pulp;
The Moorpark Melodrama comedy is punctuated by musical numbers
and performed by an energetic young cast.
By: TODD EVERETT
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Six o'clock news anchor Cassandra Dumont has been murdered, and the suspects include
just about everybody she met while clawing her way to her exalted position. So begins
"Newscast Murder," the present production of the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama &
Vaudeville Company.
Among the possible culprits: fellow reporter Luther Preston, Stan Van the Weather Man,
consumer reporter Jeannie, the town mayor, and arch-villainess Mrs. Big. The private eye in
the case is Mavis Davis, brought in by one of the suspects to clear him with the police in this
musical parody of pulp mysteries and film noir.
It's the usual Moorpark Melodrama stuff and nonsense, broad comedy
punctuated by musical numbers and performed by an energetic young cast for a family
audience.
Kimberly Decker stars as Mavis. Her gumshoes may sport high heels, but the wisecracking
dame is the match of any private eye in the works of Raymond Chandler or Dashiell
Hammett. And, she sings better than Robert Mitchum or Humphrey Bogart, if not Dick
Powell.
Scott MacGregor and Jana Kovalivker play tough cops Slack and Bronski, James Harlow is
Mayor Nelson, and Jackie Hendrickson plays Mrs. Big with particular relish (perhaps
obtained from the Melodrama's snack bar). The news desk includes Darrin Ingram as Luther
Preston, Terese Noel as Jeannie, Robin Murphy as Jimmy and Robert Craig as effete Stan
Van. Erin Appling is the crafty Cassandra.
Joy Enright directed and choreographed this production, which is notable for more
ambitious--and better-realized-- dancing than many of the Melodrama's shows. Singing is
about par. Tim King is the musical director, and Chadwick Lourtie supplies some smoky
saxophone work.
The post-show "Vaudeville" presents members of the cast in a salute to
Ed Sullivan's old TV variety show.