THEATER REVIEW / ‘THE ROAR OF THE TWENTIES’ : Pop From the Past : Bright pacing and terrific vocals make the musical revue at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center sparkle.

Ventura County residents intrigued by the premise of the revue “Stardust”--but not willing to spend the time or money for a big-ticket Los Angeles show--might consider “The Roar of the Twenties,” now playing in Simi Valley.

Like “Stardust,” this show, mounted by the locally based Parcher-Gibson Productions, features a whole bunch of pop songs from America’s past, sung and danced by an enthusiastic cast.

Of course, “The Roar of the Twenties” lacks elaborate sets and costumes, has fewer performers (six, plus a three-piece band) and hasn’t the star power that Hinton Battle and Toni Tennille bring to “Stardust.”

On the other hand, the singer-dancers in this show are just fine, the sets and costumes here don’t overwhelm the music, and the material in the Simi Valley show is probably better than the “Stardust” assemblage, as the L. A. show’s songs are limited to those with lyrics by Mitchell Parish.

Within a brightly paced two hours, the six singer-dancers perform a chorus or two of nearly 60 songs, by dozens of composers and lyricists.

The songs either were written in the ‘20s, or were (like 1916’s “Poor Butterfly”) popular in the ‘20s.

It was an amazing time for pop music, and “The Roar of the Twenties” runs from musical novelties to the deeply sentimental “Am I Blue,” “What’ll I Do?” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

There is no star billing in Simi Valley; the members of the ensemble are listed in alphabetical order: Jim Harlow, Maureen Lovejoy, Jennifer Middleton, David Milligan, Sharon Smithbauer and Greg Stuart.

Middleton and Stuart are students of renowned dance teacher Patsy Swayze, though it was Smithbauer who contributed the show’s snappy choreography--dancing that holds up even when (as was frequently the case during Friday’s performance) someone is out of step.

A routine on “Fidgety Feet,” with everybody dancing while seated, was especially well-done, as was work on its immediate predecessor, “Stumbling,” danced by Harlow and Lovejoy.

The minute Smithbauer steps on stage, it’s obvious that she’s the show’s Betty Boop-style flapper, and indeed it is she who, much later, gets to sing “I Wanna Be Loved By You,” the signature song of Boop’s human prototype, Helen Kane.

Like Kane, Smithbauer captures the humor of the song, but performs it with a giddy innocence, rather than Kane’s teasing sensuousness. It works.

While one or two of the individual voices fight to be heard over the musical instruments, the group singing is terrific, with some excellent uncredited multipart vocal arrangements.

* WHERE AND WHEN

“The Roar of the Twenties” continues through June 28 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3180 Cochran St., Simi Valley. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights, 7 p.m. Sundays, and 2 p.m. on June 28 only. Tickets are $10, with group rates available. For reservations or further information, call 581-5415.