Deborah not Debbie --- Shall She Dance?

The reinvention of one time pop songstress Debbie Gibson into Deborah Gibson _ musical theatre actress _ continues as Gibson opens up in Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of "The King and I." Gibson will play schoolmarm Anna who travels to Siam to tutor the King's progeny and ends up giving the monarch a few lessons as well.

Perhaps you've heard the song "Whistle a Happy Tune" or "Hello Young Lovers" and "Getting to Know You." Gibson, who once sang bubble gummy pop numbers like "Out of the Blue" and "Foolish Beat" will sing 'em. You've got to work a bit at the CMT Website (www.cabrillomusictheatre.com) to learn that the role of the King _ which was once played ONLY by Yul Brynner _ will fall to Daniel Guzman.

But with Gibson aboard, this is clearly supposed to be Anna's play. Fer enough. Gibson has been working the southland musical theatre circuit rather successfully over the past few years: most notably in "Company" and "Brigadoon" at Reprise! She's got a bunch of Broadway credits and national tour credits, too, everything from "Les Miz" to "Beauty and the Beast," "Chicago" and "Cabaret." Everything, not surprising, is musical. I interviewed her back in 2004 when she was doing a character role in "Brigadoon." Cool lady. Very little ego.

When I heard about the Anna gig, I kinda suspected that Ms. G. was being shoehorned into a role for which she was still a bit too young. You know, you expect the 40 or thereabouts schoolmarm to be played by people like Donna Murphy, Marie Osmond, Faith Prince. Deborah Kerr was 35 when the movie came out.

Shows you that perceptions are meant to be toppled, and that 80s popsters don't age in my mind. Deborah Gibson is 38.

"The King and I" runs through Oct. 26. at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Info: www.cabrillomusictheatre.com, www.civicartsplaza.com.