THEATER:Golden West had plenty of highlights

Golden West College has offered some impressive student theater productions over the past few years under the direction of Tom Amen, and now musical theater specialist Martie Ramm also is in the faculty fold.

Ramm’s production of the vintage musical comedy “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” topped the Golden West chart in 2006, earning the following accolade from this column: “Director-choreographer Martie Ramm has pulled all the stops out in her immensely enjoyable, though overly lengthy, production of the Frank Loesser-Abe Burrows spoof of life and untrammeled ambition in the corporate world of 1962. Ramm has amassed some winning performers and superior ensemble voices for this energetic revival.”

Two productions of vastly contrasting flavor, both directed by Amen, finished in a virtual dead heat for runner-up honors. They were the madcap Italian comedy “The Liar” and Sophocles’ electrifying Greek tragedy “Medea.”

Of “The Liar,” this column wrote: “Carlo Goldoni’s ancient comedy takes on a fiercely fresh attitude at Golden West. The plot lines may be vaguely familiar — and the Venice of the Sixties may bear little resemblance to Goldoni’s original concept (a monetary unit is called a ‘zucchini’) — but the pacing is paramount here, and it’s accomplished with indefatigable glee.”

These observations were offered on “Medea”: “A compelling production … one that is starkly accessible in a modern translation by Robinson Jeffers.”

Amen’s Golden West College production amplifies its robust emotional content and gives us a classic drama that speaks mightily to modern audiences.

One might expect the actress playing Medea to stand out among individual performers — and one would be quite correct.

Jill Cary Martin “succeeds in bringing the essence of Medea into the 21st century with a startling, and often quite eerie, portrayal,” this column declared. “Martin is guided by cool, calculating reason as she plots her horrific final act.”

As for best actor, the liar of “The Liar,” Mark Bedard, nails this award, prompting this columnist to observe: “Not many actors could match the frenetic pace required to sell this chronic prevaricator, but Bedard revels in his nefarious schemes, always keeping one step ahead of the truth. Were he playing Pinocchio, his nose would have long since extended to the third row. Simply stated, it’s difficult to watch anyone else when Bedard is on stage.”

Other impressive portrayals — all from “How to Succeed” — were turned in by Jason Green, Eric Bugosh and Rachel Pfeifer Green. Bugosh also excelled in the fourth Golden West production, “Red Noses.”

Elsewhere on the local theater scene, the Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School offered a pair of splendid musical productions in 2006, both from the fertile mind of Stephen Sondheim — “Company” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” — directed by Tim Nelson. Of “Company,” we observed: “The APA’s young, enthusiastic talent tackles this show with demonstrable glee.” The production of “Forum” demonstrated “fervent comic enthusiasm.”

Freshman Alex Syiek — in a “terrific performance” — helped make “Company” memorable, while Brian Wessels was “screamingly funny” as the slave Hysterium in “Forum.”

Other notable performances in the Academy for the Performing Arts shows included, from “Company,” Erin Bull, Katie Ulrich, Sally Blotzer and Arroya Karian (an impressive understudy). High marks for “Forum” go to Neil Starkenberg, Carie Millard and, again, Syiek, a glorious “Gloriosis.”