Bring back the melodramas

I read Mark Walsh's editorial about the High Street Arts Center (Jan. 11) and its financial woes. I must agree with him that what the theater needs are shows that pull in the family audience. Moorpark doesn't want eclectic dramas and obscure comedies that don't sell tickets. This area does not have the demographics for those kinds of plays.

Speaking as one that acted in six wonderful years at the old Moorpark Melodrama, I can personally state that in its heyday the theater packed the houses with every show simply because they catered to what the people wanted to see: fun, family, comedymusicals with no "fourth wall." The booing, hissing, and "homminahommina's" were an audience favorite and kept patrons coming back year after year.

An excellent example would be the only two melodramas that were at the High Street Arts Center and produced by Fried-Out Productions: "Sleeping Beauty" and "Aladdin" in 2005/2006. They drew sell-out houses and met with enthusiastic audiences who wanted more.

The Great American Melodrama in Pismo Beach has been doing this audience favorite for 33 years and still continues to do excellent business year after year. Why? Because they give the people what they want to see.

So I say if the theater wants a revitalization, bring back the melodramas to Moorpark. Chris Carnicelli Simi Valley