Free street theater, put on by troupes of travelling actors, is a tradition dating back hundreds of years. It''s all the rage now again, what with slashed arts budgets and agitprop troupes acting out their commitment to environmental and political causes.

Starting this spring, Monterey Peninsula College is making its own dramatic offering to the community: a new Portable Theater outreach troupe, composed of students from the college''s drama department, created to put on free or at-cost shows for local schools, senior homes, juvenile halls, and other such organizations. The program is funded largely by the newly created Morgan Stock Theater Arts Trust, and is its first project.

MPC instructor Ramie Wikdahl, the founder and driving force behind the Portable Theater, says that the group will focus on developing material for the rest of this school year and the fall semester, performing for free in various venues to showcase their offerings to organizations that may want to book them following their official debut at First Night Monterey, on Dec. 31.

This weekend, they continue a two-week showcase gig at MPC''s Studio Theater, with a 1930s radio show, Death Takes a Holiday, featuring MPC student Jacqueline Colon, the first recipient of the Morgan Stock Theater Arts Scholarship. The next big showcase production will be Alice in Wonderland, scheduled for MPC''s Main Stage in October. In addition, the troupe will continue working on its improv skills, Fractured Fairy Tales, and other new works, including a possible 30-minute rendition of Cyrano de Bergerac, and a compilation of well-known Shakespearean speeches. They''ll present these shows an hour before Main Stage matinees throughout the year, and, if all goes well, outside on the deck at Bay Books in downtown Monterey during the weekly Tuesday afternoon street market.

Although MPC''s drama department produces "outreach" shows at Carmel''s Carl Cherry Center, this will be the first time the college has sponsored a real travelling troupe, Wikdahl says. She presently has 24 students enrolled in the program, and she rotates them through performances "so no one gets burned out." She''d like to see the Portable Theater turned into a formal class, with credits offered, "so students can learn about improv, interacting with audiences, playing with masks, and doing body work." It''s the kind of theater that throws actors back on their instincts, she says; "Being portable, we don''t have a lot of props and scenery, so it all lands on the imagination of the actors."

Eventually, Wikdahl plans to back out of the operation, leaving it entirely in the hands of her students, from acting through handling logistics and PR to collecting and making all the props and costumes. "They''ll learn how art and community can work together, and they''ll develop skills they can use later, not only in theater," she says. cw

Theater

Opening

The Pirates of Penzance Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm. Musical. Monterey High School presents the rollicking Gilbert and Sullivan musical treat of a swashbuckling pirate captain, a romantic young hero, and his virginal lady love. Interestingly, the music for this production has been (re)arranged by a former MHS student-- the show formerly known as Pirates? Monterey High School, 101 Herrmann Dr., Monterey. $8/General; $6/Children; $6/Seniors. 649-1004, ext. 233. Through: 5/15.

Closing

Death Takes A Holiday Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm. Dramatic Comedy. MPC''s new Portable Theater troupe showcases a production of the 1930s radio classic Death Takes a Holiday, complete with old-time sound effects. While this weekend''s run is mainly designed to give schools and other local organizations a sampling of what the Portable Theater could bring to their institutions, the general public will be admitted as space is available. Death features Sandy Sidener, Jose Lambert, Jerry deBono, Michael Robbins, Nancy Kocher and Cliff Barry, and stars student Jacqueline Colon, the first recipient of the newly created Morgan Stock Theater Arts Scholarship. Free. SRO Theater at Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. 646-4085. Through: 5/2.

Now Playing

The Imaginary Invalid Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm. Comedy. Moliere''s classic comedy takes on the medical profession of 17th-century France, as quacks and charlatans struggle to cure an indomitable hypochondriac, Argan, who is perfectly willing to sacrifice his family, friends and entire worldly fortune in order to gain the perfect health that continues to elude him. Nick Hovick directs an 11-person cast, including Ron Cohen as the blustery, complaining, whining Argan. Indoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita Street and Mountain View Avenue, Carmel. $12/General; $9/Children; $9/Seniors. 624-1531. Through: 5/16.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Melodrama. The Troupers of the Gold Coast tackle this favorite 19th-century figure of pride and madness, immortalized in the Robert Louis Stevenson novel and put into theatrical form by Luella Forpaugh and George Fish. Kevin Hanstick plays the title role, the doctor with dual personalities whose scientific experiments lead him to the dark side of his own soul. Hanstick is always a joy to watch, and if you''ve never taken in a show at California''s oldest working theater, this is a great opportunity. Bring the kids--all First Theater shows are geared for the entire family. An olio revue follows, as usual. California''s First Theater, Scott and Pacific streets, Monterey. $10/General; $5/Children; $8/Seniors. 375-4916. Through: 5/31.

A Life In The Theater Friday and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 7pm. Drama. Unicorn Theatre tackles David Mamet''s penetrating look at the psychology of backstage theater life, explored through the evolving relationship between an aging leading man, and the young protege who first follows in his footsteps, and then begins to overtake him. Robert Colter and Michael Baker star. Adult content, as is usual from Mamet. The Hoffman Playhouse, 320 Hoffman Ave., Monterey. $15/General; $12/Seniors. 649-0259. Through: 5/23.

Puff the Magic Dragon Saturday at 2 and 4pm, Sunday at 1 and 3pm. Children. The Unicorn Theatre''s Family Fantasy troupe reprises its fall production of Puff, the dragon who lives in a land called Hanalei, and the little boy who first loves and then outgrows him. Plenty of songs in this afternoon show designed to delight the kiddies. The Hoffman Playhouse, 320 Hoffman Ave., Monterey. $5/General; $5/Children; $5/Seniors. 649-0259. Through: 5/23.

Art

Events

Back Porch Fabrics Straight from the Right. Opening Reception. Quilts created by Regina Liske. 157 Grand Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-4453. Reception: 5/2, 1pm. Through: 6/24.

Hartnell Seminar Gallery Engendered. Opening Reception. Ceramic works by Ted Quitevis. Also "Moments in Life," cubist works by Randi Tucker. Hartnell Visual Arts Building, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 755-6791. Reception: 5/3, 6pm. Through: 5/7.

Monterey Peninsula Airport Main Streets of Monterey County and Footprints of History. Opening Reception. Antique photographs, personal recollections and memorabilia chronicling the history and transformation of local main streets. 200 Fred Kane Dr., Monterey. 624-7910. Reception: 4/30, 5pm. Through: 9/30.

Vest Pocket Gallery One of a Kind. Opening Reception. Floral collages made by Carmen DiPietro from freeze-dried flowers and foliage. In the Forest Hill Manor, 551 Gibson St., Pacific Grove. 657-5200. Reception: 4/30, 6:30pm. Through: 5/31.

Listings

Alvarado Gallery The Traveler in the Country: Pleasant Views Within. Exhibit. Paintings of abandoned barns in the Midwest and farm scenes of the Monterey area. At the Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. 646-3858. Through: 5/3.

Ansel Adams Gallery From Dye Transfer to Digital--An Evolution in Color Printing. Exhibit. Photographs and prints by Charles Cramer using high-tech digital-imaging techniques. At the Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17 Mile Dr., Pebble Beach. 375-7215. Through: 6/15.

Carmel Art Association Exhibit. Watercolors by Miguel and Miguelin Dominguez, landscapes by William Hannum and Helen Barker. Dolores Street, between 5th and 6th avenues, Carmel. 624-6176. Through: 5/5.

Center for Photographic Art Duane Michals: Now Becoming Then. Exhibit. Narrative series of photographs telling visual, otherworldly stories. At the Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 8th Avenue, Carmel. 625-5181. Through: 4/30.

First Murphy House Monterey Peninsula People. Exhibit. Photographs and biographies of people who live in the area by John McCleary. Mission Street and 6th Avenue, Carmel. Through: 5/16.

Gray''s Art Gallery Just Us. Exhibit. New works by regular exhibitors Sandra Gray, Colleen Lingenfelter, Angelo Buffone, Jimi Claybrooks, Rick Smith and Mona Burk. 1104 Broadway Ave., Suite J, Seaside. 899-1069. Through: 5/29.

Grove Homescapes Spring Flower Art Show. Exhibit. Grove Homescapes presents a two-month tribute to spring with floral arrangements and cut flowers, as well as paintings and photographs that depict flowers. 472 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 656-0864. Through: 5/31.

Marjorie Evans Gallery MPC Photography Student Competitive. Exhibit. Works by students in Monterey Peninsula College''s photography department. At the Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 8th Avenue, Carmel. 646-4063. Through: 4/30.

Morgan''s Coffee & Tea Spirit of Life. Exhibit. Black-and-white photographs by Santa Catalina School photography students Sarah Gallagher and Michelle Schumaher. 498 Washington St., Monterey. 373-1479. Through: 5/15.

National Steinbeck Center Ruckus Rodeo. Exhibit. A walk-through, sculpto-pictorama which brings to life the excitement of a modern rodeo. Created by Red Grooms, the exhibit will fill the entire gallery space with sculptures and paintings. 1 Main St., Salinas. 796-3833. Through: 7/18.

Pacific Grove Art Center A Day in the Life of Pacific Grove. Exhibit. Paintings, photographs, poems, musical compositions, sculpture and video by artists of all ages that depict life in Pacific Grove. Also, "Mostly Drawings," by Gail Reeves and Landscapes, paintings by Molly Martin. 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-2208. Through: 5/14.

Pajaro Valley Gallery Surf''s Up! Exhibit. Works by local surfers/artists. 37 Sudden St., Watsonville. 722-3062. Through: 6/12.

PG Museum of Natural History Out of the Tidepools. Exhibit. Works, including never-before published photographs and letters, that chronicle the real-life Ed "Doc" Ricketts. 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 648-3116. Through: 6/30.

Seaside City Hall Exhibit. Works in many media by Elizabeth Palmer''s class of Contemporary Senior Artists and the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild. 440 Harcourt St., Seaside. 899-6270. Reception: 5/14, 7pm. Through: 5/28.

Weston Gallery Exhibit. Works by contemporary photographers including Paul Kozal, Rod Dresser, Tom Hawkins, Tom Baril and others. 6th Avenue, between Dolores and Lincoln streets, Carmel. 624-4453. Through: 5/30.

Zantman Art Galleries Exhibit. Recent works by French artist Roger Bolzonello. 6th Avenue and Mission Street, Carmel. 624-8314. Through: 5/14.