Theater -- Tom Titus

Time was when I went to see Estancia High School plays and musicals

because one of my kids was performing in them. Well, the kids are both

grown, graduated from UC Irvine and married, but I still find myself

dropping in on an Estancia show now and again, simply because the

productions generally are quite impressive.

When longtime drama teacher Barbara Van Holt retired and newcomer

Pauline Maranian stepped in to guide the student actors, the quality of

the shows hardly slipped a notch. On the contrary, Maranian’s first

musical, “Carnival,” captured the MACY award for best production among

all the local high schools.

This time around, the spring musical may be a bit foreign to teenagers

who’ve never heard of a telephone answering service. It’s the early 1950s

once again, and the Estancia thespians are reviving the musical comedy

“Bells Are Ringing,” opening tonight for three performances in the

auditorium of Newport Harbor High School.

Somewhat like “Wonderful Town,” another charmer from that bygone era,

“Bells Are Ringing” is a feel-good comic confection about a young lady

working for an answering service who takes her job to heart and falls for

one of her unseen clients. Some readers a bit advanced in years might

remember the movie version with Judy Holliday and Dean Martin. More

recently, the Newport Theater Arts Center revived the show with the

estimable Adriana Sanchez in the spotlight.

At Estancia, the roles of the “Suesanswerphone lady” and the

struggling writer will be taken by Jessica Arias and Tim Zimmer, with

juicy supporting assignments filled by Joe Rios, Aaron Van Geem, Tonya

Narvaez, Raymond Mills and Ken Wilson. “It really is an ensemble piece,

with great bit parts,” Maranian declares.

“I came upon this show at a friend’s suggestion and instantly fell in

love with the sweet songs, goofy characters and the overall

lightheartedness of the story,” the director says. “After months of

searching for the perfect show for my students, ‘Bells Are Ringing’ had

all the right qualities and seemed to fit their talents.”

Maranian admits to more than the usual “birthing pains” to get the

musical on the boards, but has only high praise for her students on and

off the stage. “So many students and adults really proved the mettle of

their character in the way they approached this production,” she says.

“It may be hard for us to relate, in our world of cell phones,

beepers, instant messaging and Palm Pilots, but I think we can all

appreciate this era for its simplicity and innocence,” Maranian notes.

“So relax and enjoy as we transport you to New York in the early ‘50s, to

a time when answering services were great inventions and could change

your life.”

“Bells Are Ringing” -- featuring songs like “Long Before I Knew You”

and “The Party’s Over” -- will be presented tonight through Saturday at

7:30 p.m. at the Norman Loats Auditorium at Newport Harbor High. Tickets

are $8 presale and $10 at the door, and may be reserved by calling (949)

515-6537.

Check it out. And to get into the right mood, leave your cell phones

and beepers in the car.

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

Pilot. His stories appear Thursdays and Saturdays.