THEATER REVIEW : ‘Godspell,’ Minus ‘60s Trappings, Revisited : Updated for this Camarillo production, the show holds up surprisingly well; better, certainly, than bell-bottoms.

A recent professional revival of “Hair” hits London, and bus-and-truck companies of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” are touring the United States. The hippie musical seems to be joining bell-bottom trousers and the Village People as artifacts that once seemed so much of their own time to defy revival.

Add to that list “Godspell,” the 1971 musical based on the biblical Book of Matthew. It’s back, and in the hands of the Camarillo Community Theater. Updated for this production by director Michael Voll, the show holds up surprisingly well; better, certainly, than those bell-bottoms.

Of course, a lot of the ‘60s trappings are gone--Jesus, for instance, no longer wears the painted face of a clown, and the Apostles are no longer, quite, flower children. Also, Voll has peppered the script with current social and cultural touchstones, including Reebok sneakers, H. Ross Perot, and “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.”

Voll has assembled a generally top-notch cast, featuring Gabriel Arciniega as Jesus, Jeff Hall as John the Baptist and Judas, and Jerry Baldonado, Melora Dacayana, Heidi Goodspeed, Jenna Greenberg, Jayme Housh, Ron Rogers and “Spanky” as the Apostles. Each gets a moment in the spotlight. Spanky is the group’s comedian, but Rogers shines as the pig in an enactment of one of Jesus’s parables.

The songs were never the strong points of “Godspell,” though “Day by Day” (the show’s one sort-of hit) is pleasant enough. “Beautiful City” deserves more attention, and the one song not written by Stephen Schwartz--Jay Hamburger and Peggy Gordon’s “Side by Side”--is another standout.

Scott Allan choreographed the show, and musical director Penny Puente leads a band that includes Kevin Parcher, Art Gibson, Larry J. English and Bill Hillstrom. Ronda Borgwardt sings “On the Willows” offstage; the show’s overture is prerecorded. The live singing is generally quite good, with the choral work particularly stirring.

The script (“conceived by John-Michael Tebelak”) has fun with the biblical stories without making fun of them. His is a show that might particularly, but not exclusively, appeal to Sunday school groups as it humanizes Jesus and his teachings.

Details

* WHAT: Godspell

* WHEN: Friday and Saturday evenings at 8; Sundays at 7 p.m., through March 5.

* WHERE: Camarillo Airport Theater, 330 Skyway Drive, on the grounds of the Camarillo Airport.

* COST: $10 general admission; $8 students, seniors and active military; $5 children under 12. A special “family package”--two adult and up to four children’s admissions--is available for $25.

* FYI: For reservations or further information, call 388-5716. The performance on Feb. 27 only will be signed for the hearing-impaired by Mary Cancilla. The performance this Sunday will in part benefit the American Red Cross’ Ventura earthquake relief program. Regular ticket prices prevail at both special performances.