Noah’s Ark Foundering

DANA POINT — The Orange County Light Opera Company’s affection for Richard Rodgers’ musical “Two by Two” may be a tad out of proportion to the show’s worth, but it can’t be denied. Originally staged in a cheery outdoor setting at the Santa Ana Zoo, “Two by Two” is back under the company’s aegis at the tiny Maritime Center Theatre. It’s not so cheery this time.

“Two by Two” is the Noah’s Ark story refashioned by Peter Stone into a tale of a squabbling Jewish family, with Noah’s sons offering up more vexing problems than the flood itself. When the company placed the musical outdoors among the animals, it lent an ironic sunniness to the emotional ebbs and flows of this silly family. But in the Maritime Center, the eight-member ensemble looked squeezed.

When director Todd Fuessel and choreographer Marie Madera ask the cast to move, it has no place to go (as in the title song in Act 1). B. Aaron Cogan as Noah even took an accidental bop on the head during Sunday’s performance as actors and props jockeyed for space. Nevertheless, Cogan was a trouper, bouncing right up and delivering a winning portrayal of a Noah bothered from all sides: God up there, sons Japeth (Scott Haring), Shem (Gerard J. Reyes) and Ham (Eldon Callaway) down here, as wife Esther (Christy Laschiver) attempts to keep the peace.

As if the flood isn’t enough to deal with, Japeth rebels against Noah at every chance, falling in love with Ham’s estranged wife, Rachel (Christine DeJohn), while Ham goes after Goldie (Marti Klein), the wild gal intended for Japeth.

Laschiver stands out here as a keen, bright presence, mastering the comic stereotype of the long-suffering Jewish mother. Haring augments his performance with an exceptional voice (especially on “I Do Not Know a Day I Did Not Love You”) in a cast of mostly mediocre ones.

Keyboardist Marnie Cesarini provides good support to the voices, but drummer John Barton’s loud stick work does a more effective job than the flood itself of drowning out the music.

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* “Two by Two,” Dana Point Maritime Center Theatre, 1 Dana Point Harbor Drive. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 p.m. $10-$14. Ends March 29. Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

B. Aaron Cogan: Noah

Christy Laschiver: Esther

Scott Haring: Japeth

Gerard J. Reyes: Shem

Margorie Pringle: Leah

Eldon Callaway: Ham

Christine DeJohn: Rachel

Marti Klein: Goldie

An Orange County Light Opera Company production. Music by Richard Rodgers. Book by Peter Stone. Lyrics by Martin Charnin. Directed by Todd Fuessel. Choreographer: Marie Madera. Music director: Marti Klein. Set: Fuessel. Costumes: John Huntington.