Homecoming

Sacramento playwright Leo McElroy covers a lot of emotional ground in Homecoming, which addresses the question of what family members owe each other. Joshua, adopted as a young child, has just received a letter from his birth mother, who wants to meet him. His life isn’t going well, but he agrees to meet with her just to tell her off. Then things take a twist. Peter Playdon’s Joshua carries the weight of the play and is best when he’s exercising his smart-ass muscles. Supporting roles with flair are handled by Paula Campanella and Julie Greene. But the real star is the play—a selection from this year’s Thistle Dew Playwright’s Workshop, which is proof positive in the power of truly local theater.
Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; $24 includes dessert. 1901 P Street; (916) 444-8209. Through April 28.