TOM TITUS -- Theater

During its first year and a half in Costa Mesa, the Trilogy Playhouse

has been impressive, if not necessarily unique. Understandably, to catch

an audience’s attention, the new theater in town has to offer something

familiar.

Thus, artistic director Alicia Butler’s Trilogy players have stuck to

the tried and true, alternating between brand name comedies and youth

shows that give the youngsters a chance to try their performing wings.

This weekend, however, the Trilogy will offer something completely

different.

“Ruthless,” which opens Friday in its local premiere, is, in the words

of its director, “a parody of many of the old classics, including ‘The

Bad Seed,’ ‘All About Eve’ and ‘Gypsy.’ It doesn’t leave out any of the

Broadway-show brats.”

Basically, it’s about an 8-year-old girl who’d do anything -- but

anything --to win the leading role in her school musical.

Which, one must assume, must mean she has all the cunning of Eve

Harrington combined with the murderous charm of Rhoda Penmark.

Scriptwriters Joel Paley and Marvin Laird must have spent many hours in

the darkness of an old movie house to hatch this concept.

The central role of the ambitious moppet, Tina Denmark, sounds like a

pretty tough assignment, but Butler will be presenting not one but two

preteen actresses in the juicy part. Emma Degerstedt and Tayler Mettra

will alternate as the “ruthless” little cookie.

Amy Glinskas will be mother to both, but she plays two characters.

Beginning as a devoted 1950s style housewife and mom, she morphs into a

“Mommy Dearest” type in the second act as she turns into a slick New York

actress.

Others in the comical, musical mixture include Chris Scott as a talent

agent and has-been actress; Nanci Fast as an Ethel Merman-type drama

critic, Robin LaValley as a grade school teacher and frustrated actress

and Susie Hall as a no-talent kid who beats Tina out for the part of

Pippi Longstocking -- much, we must assume, to her regret.

“There are surprises around each corner guaranteed to make everybody

laugh,” Butler promises. “It’s a well-written and clever story, and just

when it seems to come together, there’s another twist.”

“Ruthless” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Fridays; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays; and 5 p.m. Sundays at the Trilogy Playhouse, 2930 Bristol St.

in the Lab anti-mall shopping center. For more information, call (714)

957-3347, Ext. 1.

* * *

At Estancia High School, the drama department defines “tradition” as

winning as many MACY awards as possible for its spring musical. This

weekend, the “traditional” definition of the word will be on display in

the Newport Harbor High School auditorium.

The Estancia troupe will present the musical favorite “Fiddler on the

Roof” at 8 p.m. today through Saturday. The show includes such familiar

numbers as “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” the ensemble dance

segment “To Life” and, of course, “Tradition.”

Drama instructor Pauline Maranian directs the musical drama set in

czarist Russia, with Craig Jensen as vocal director. Admission at the

door is $10, but calling (949) 515-6537 will get you a discounted ticket

at $8.

* TOM TITUS writes about and reviews local theater for the Daily

Pilot. His articles appear Thursdays and Saturdays.