Category: Reviews

Show reviews from local media

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Reviews of Legally Blonde the Musical

Critics are raving about our production of Legally Blonde! Check out reviews on The Joyous Living blog and in the VC Reporter.

The Joyous Living came to see the show and gave it high praise, listing the show as a “must-see in 2026”; “If you’re looking for a lively, fun, and heartwarming theatre experience in Thousand Oaks, Legally Blonde at Conejo Players delivers all that and more. This community theatre production brings the story of Elle Woods to life with humor, charm, and polished performances that will leave you smiling. ”

Tim Pompey from the VC Reporter came to opening night and reviewed the show; “So it’s spring, and you’re looking for something cheerful to entertain you? How about bright, bouncy, upbeat? Something like “Legally Blonde” (based on the motion picture, reimagined for the stage as a musical) now showing at the Conejo Players Theatre. We’re talking a double-shot-of-espresso kind of upbeat. ”

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Reviews of Lend Me A Tenor

Our 2026 season opening play, Lend Me A Tenor, is a hit with the critics! Check out these reviews:

The Joyous Living reviewed the show positively saying; “This is community theatre doing what it does best- bringing people together for shared laughter.”

Tim Pompey of the VC Reporter joined us on opening night; “Conejo Players Theatre presents a mashup of sex, identity confusion and clowns, all baked into a single night of hilarity… the chaos is well-timed and pretty darn funny.”

Cary Ginell of The Acorn praises Lend Me A Tenor, “It’s all about pace, timing and the actors’ ability to play their roles just short of overplaying them, and CPT’s production, under John Eslick’s skilled direction, does just that with a fine cast of talented actors… A great exclamation point to the evening is the post-curtain “megamix,” in which the cast pantomimes, at breakneck speed, the play’s key plot elements in a New York minute, set to the final galop from Jacques Ibert’s suite Divertissement.”

Ventura Breeze gives the play a very positive review; “Now on stage at the Conejo Players Theatre in Thousand Oaks is a barrel of laughs mixed with Italian opera, physical hijinks… The play is well directed by John Eslick who is also credited with the beautiful set design.”

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Critics are Raving About ‘Murder’!

Critics have been raving about our latest play, Murder on the Orient Express, directed by Alan Waserman and produced by Beth Eslick and Kristin Krause. Check out what critic’s are saying:


“All aboard: Conejo Players Theatre’s take on Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express (adapted by Ken Ludwig) is nimble, stylish, and proudly homegrown exactly the kind of community-theatre triumph that makes Thousand Oaks’ scene feel bigger than its footprint… Sleek design, a sure hand on pace, and a savvy volunteer ensemble make Conejo Players Orient Express a gratifying night out one that proves, again, just how much artistry a community can summon when it pulls in the same direction.”

“This is an outstanding cast for a community theater production. Mastrovito is the master clue bender — sly, humorous, humble and yet sharply observant. He is Christie’s version of Sherlock Holmes. Miller is his Dr. Watson. The humor and hubris of the show are captured by Potter, who is reminiscent of Madeline Kahn. And Latham’s performance as an imperious Russian royal is a perfect foil for Poirot’s gentle, polite persona… This production proves once and for all that Christie is the master, and Poirot is her genius.”

“The cast is solid throughout… The clever revolving set designed by Conejo mainstay Rick Steinberg illuminates aspects of the train interior, all well-appointed to highlight the sumptuous feel of the 1930’s era… Delicious period costuming appeals to the eye and accents the various characters in fine form… All the characters are excellently played, forming a tight ensemble to move the mystery along… the mystery prevails and holds the audience to the end… It is time well spent. ”

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VC Reporter: Where There’s a Will…: Conejo Players Theatre presents ‘The Book of Will’

The VC Reporter’s Tim Pompey attended The Book of Will and shared his thoughts.

“The Book of Will is about William Shakespeare. Or rather, the gathering posthumously of Shakespeare’s writings into the first official printed volume of his plays.

In The Book of Will, we have a play that is well acted and thoroughly professional, entertaining, dramatic and comedic… The highlight of the show is the dialogue between John and his just-departed wife, Rebecca. In their brief and final encounter, you get a sense of what real Shakespeare is like.

If you’re a Shakespeare buff, this play will appeal to you based on the performances of Shakespeare given in the show. If you’re unacquainted with Shakespeare, this might be a good place to start.”

The Book of Will is directed by Dana Marley-Kolb and produced by Priscilla Losey and Wendy Babb.

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Ventura Breeze: Glass Menagerie Classic Endures

Shirley Lorraine from the Ventura Breeze gave The Glass Menagerie a glowing review!

“Director Elena Mills has assembled a quite capable cast to bring this classic to life. The setting is impeccable, employing clever scrims to highlight certain memories. All four of the actors are excellent in their roles. Pacing is rapid and dialogue is crisp. The tone of frustration, anger and impatience bubbles to the surface throughout. Even the gentleman caller, who is often seen as the most empathetic character in his gentle approach to Laura’s shy demeanor, is played with an abundance of bravado”

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VC Reporter: Deadly good fun: ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder’ at Conejo Players Theatre

Tim Pompey from the VC Reporter calls A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder “good, dark fun” in his review of our musical comedy.

“Suppose you love British comedy, especially the cheeky kind. In that case, you’ll quickly fall in love with this Tony-award-winning musical that is the complete package of jokes, sex, men in dresses, upper-class snobbery, murder and lively chorus lines — light opera, to be more accurate. The chorus warns the audience of what’s to come in the prologue. They aren’t kidding. But still, it’s like a glorious train wreck. You can’t stop watching.”

 

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The Acorn: A song in his heart, poison in his pocket

The Thousand Oaks Acorn came to our opening night of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder and critic Cary Ginell gave the show high praise!

“The story is Gilbert and Sullivan meets-Monty Python, a delightful blend of comic patter songs and tragically funny “accidents” perpetrated by Monty on the members of the D’Ysquith family who stand between him and his ultimate goal…  This irresistible, delightfully mad musical is the cure for anyone’s ills.”

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The Acorn: ‘Outrageous’ play will have you in stiches

The Thousand Oaks Acorn visited ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ recently, and the critics are raving!

“The outrageous humor in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ isn’t as much in the pratfalls and missteps as in how the cast feebly tries to deal with them as they occur,” said theatre critic Cary Ginell. “Thinking (or hoping) the audience won’t notice, they gamely proceed with the story with straight faces all around, which results in them compounding their humiliation. The more deliberate the pacing, the funnier it gets, and the show is a laugh riot from start to finish.”

“’The Play That Goes Wrong’ is comic mayhem at its best and is not to be missed.”

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The Acorn: Laughs rain down in latest play

The Thousand Oaks Acorn came out to see Don’t Drink the Water, now through Feb. 4, and the reviews are in!

“Fortunately, CPT director John Eslick settled on the brilliant Kelly Green to play the part of harried American tourist Walter Hollander, who finds himself in a quagmire of trouble after he innocently takes photographs of an Iron Curtain missile site and takes refuge in an American embassy … The result is a comic tour de force as Green bumbles, blusters and bloviates while trying to come up with a way to escape the embassy while avoiding the encroaching police.”

“Character actor chameleon Raymond Mastrovito delivers one of his best performances ever as the lovable Father Drobney, a priest who has been hiding in the embassy for six years, trying out his magic act on anyone who will listen. Mastrovito, an amateur magician himself who delights in affecting foreign accents, steals every scene he is in, and even brought in some of his own magic props from home to use in the show.”

Tickets are now on sale, don’t miss it!

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Ventura Breeze: A View from House Seats

The reviews are in for 9 to 5, and it’s a hit!

Strong performances abound in CPT’ s leading quartet of characters, led by Dana Kolb in the Tomlin character of Violet,” said Cary Ginell in the Acorn. “As she did this past summer in CPT’s “The Sound of Music,” Katie McTyre makes everyone around her better through her superlative performance as Doralee. Mary Grace Zehnpfennig is equally excellent as Judy (played in the film by Fonda), a mousy housewife new to the workplace who shows the greatest growth of any character in the story.”

“Director Erin Fagundes has assembled a huge cast and has skillfully mounted a technically demanding production filled with engaging characterizations, familiar situations (sadly, many that are still in play even today) and high-spirited action,” said the Ventura Breeze’s Shirley Lorraine. “The less than PC boss, Franklin Hart, Jr., is played to the comedic hilt by Scott Quintard. He embodies fully the character everyone loves to hate. He is often backed up by a capable cadre of yes-men dancers who are a delight to watch as they move set pieces into place.”

Read the stories in the Thousand Oaks Acorn and the Ventura Breeze, and get your tickets today!