THEATER PREVIEW:

Devotees of vintage movies have found much to admire in Golden West College’s 2007-08 season. First there was “A Few Good Men,” upcoming is “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and in the wings, opening in two weeks, is another property heretofore known primarily for its cinematic treatment.

This would be “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” B. Craven’s epic tale of gold prospectors in the Mexican hills circa 1930s, brought to the screen quite memorably by director John Huston in 1948.

Movie buffs will recall the brutal character of Fred C. Dobbs, brilliantly projected by Humphrey Bogart, as well as the more humanitarian sidekick (Tim Holt) and the garrulous old prospector — Huston’s father, Walter, who won an Oscar for his performance.

Author Traven, however, was not among those impressed with the movie. In fact, according to GWC director Tom Amen, he had jealously guarded his novel from any further attempts at adaptation.

“It was not until the early 1990s that his widow finally granted permission for a new stage adaptation,” Amen revealed. “The resulting script by playwright Herb Robins represents perhaps the most faithful retelling of the original story.”

Bringing this version to the stage, Amen found, would be a formidable task.

“Given that the play takes place in multiple locations in the towns, deserts and mountains of Mexico, I knew that I would need an exceptional scenic designer to meet the physical demands of this script,” Amen said. “I was fortunate that veteran scenic designer Herbert Camburn was interested in the project.

“I am also fortunate to have lighting designer Michele Jones and costume designer Susan Thomas Babb on the design team,” he noted. “Working together, we have managed to create an evocative theatrical environment that will give our audience a sense of the vast physical space and isolation of the Sierra Madre range and the deprivations that the characters endure in this harsh, primitive and unforgiving landscape.”

Like the season opener, “A Few Good Men,” Golden West is faced with the task of reproducing a story many audience members have not only seen but absorbed into memory (Remember the line “Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges?”).

“I knew I needed some exceptional actors to overcome audience expectations and, as was the case with ‘A Few Good Men,’ we’ve been exceedingly lucky — we’ve struck gold. The cast we’ve assembled includes some outstanding veteran actors, along with some talented newcomers, who are working very hard to create wholly original characters out of the raw material of Traven’s novel.”

The GWC cast features Michael Bielitz, Cazimir Milostan, Lawrence Hemingway, Eric Davis, Christian Navarro, Tony Torrico and others. The production opens March 7 and will run through March 16 in the college’s Mainstage Theater.

“It’s a tremendous challenge, but that’s really what theater is all about,” Amen said. “And we’re looking forward to sharing this production with those who are familiar with the original story, as well as those who will be encountering it for the first time. Either way, the audience is in for an adventure.”

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.