Children’s Book-Turned-Play Is a Very Good ‘Very Bad Day’

He wakes up with gum in his hair, drops his sweater in a wet sink, gets dumped by his best friend, discovers that his mom forgot to put dessert in his lunch--and everything goes downhill from there. Any grade-school kid can relate, and that’s why Judith Viorst’s funny children’s book “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” continues to be a bestselling, rib-tickling favorite.

That delighted jolt of recognition was palpable at the Haugh Performing Arts Center at Citrus College at a recent performance of the Kennedy Center’s modest but ebullient “Imagination Celebration on Tour” production, adapted by Viorst herself.

Professionally staged, performed by an adult cast, with lyrics by Viorst and tuneful music by veteran TV and stage musician-conductor-composer Shelly Markham, the show will be at Southland venues through Jan. 23.

Whoops of laughter from young theatergoers greeted Alexander (Mauricio Alexander) when he burrowed under the blankets and pretended not to hear Mom’s repeated calls to get up in the morning, when his reluctant visit to the dental office turned out more painful for the dentist, and when he played with the copy machine in his dad’s office, with predictable results.

By the time Alexander found loathsome lima beans on the dinner menu, got soap in his eyes at bath time, had to wear those yucky pajamas with the trains on them, and then discovered his night light didn’t work, audience members were experts at roaring out the show’s mantra: “It’s been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!”

The songs, in various pop, jazz and reggae rhythms, enhance the action; actor-director Nick Olcott has provided crisp direction; and the actors playing children--Hal Friedman, Andrew Price, Lynne Streeter and Colette Williams--do so uncloyingly, while Caren L. Hearne and Jefferson A. Russell are convincingly stressed but loving parents.

Hearne, with her clear vocals, does a lovely job with the family-affirming musical finale, soothing Alexander’s ruffled feelings in a song of loving reassurance.

* “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu; Saturday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m; $15; (310) 456-4522, (213) 365-3500. California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido; (760) 738-4138; Sunday, 1 p.m.; $9.50. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Cal State Long Beach; (562) 985-7000; Jan. 23, 2 p.m.; $12 to $15.