Review:

Audience amused, enchanted by ‘Time Out of Rhyme’

By Tim Chaparro  and Kelsey Campbell

VCNC reporters

The Ventura College Opera and Musical Theatre was filled with old childhood characters the first two weekends of April, as the cast and crew of “A Time Out of Rhyme” entranced audiences with a story about Mother Goose Land and the characters within.

Audience members were amused by the fragile Humpty Dumpty and his "Egg-citing" use of words, the sing-along antics of Tweedledee and Tweedledum and the growing-up story of Jack Horner in this modern-day mix of childhood tales.

The sets filled the theater with colors and shapes from Mother Goose Land and enhanced the adventure filled with riddles and rhymes. A very talented cast delivered high vocals and great lines. The orchestra filled the air with shoe-tapping beats that carried many of the listeners back to when they were kids. Judging by the range of generations in the audience, age was of no matter during this production. The child in everyone came out and enjoyed.

This musical kept the audience laughing with a modern take on nursery rhymes. It also gave a variety of messages that made Simple Simon just a little more complex – ideas of love, responsibility, friends, loss and, of course, growing up.

"It was wildly entertaining," said VC student Yamina Mayta. "My favorite character was Snee; he was hilarious!" Snee, henchman to Captain Hook, gave the crowd plenty to laugh about, including his very modern comment to Mistress Mary: "Back off, Girlfriend.”

Christine Capsuto, who played Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary, praised the director, cast and crew. "(They) worked so hard to get it where it has gone," she said.

Capsuto, who has been acting professionally for a year, said it is "still a challenge." And yet, in character she noted, "All the world is a stage."

“ A Time Out of Rhyme: Part 2” may be in the minds of the director. Though there is no official notice that Part 2 is in the making, there was a bit of foreshadowing at the end of the show and a mention to go see Part 2.

For information about future projects, visit the VC Opera and Musical Theatre Web site at www.operaworkshop.info.