Stage Reviews

Acts Unbecoming a Golem River Stage’s world premiere of playwright Mark Stein’s Acts Unbecoming a Golem is a quirky comedy that takes a standup comic and transforms him into a mystical creature from Jewish folklore. It’s fascinating, thought provoking, wildly esoteric and, at times, leaves you with more questions than answers. Golem still has a work-in-progress feel to it, but it’s a fascinating journey nonetheless.
River Stage Theater , 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $12-$14. Cosumnes River College, 8410 Center Parkway, 691-7364. Through July 28. P.R.

Closer This raw, funny, often crude and always fascinating play about modern-day sex and love is even more intense in the small space of California Stage, the 30-seat theater where Synergy Stage is producing Patrick Marber’s provocative piece. It’s a look at those who want their lust and love immediately and confuse the two constantly: Think Sex and the City, with characters that are more shallow and less likable, with wit that’s fast and furious, dialogue that’s sharp and verbal jousting that’s impeccable—a modern, rather twisted, Noel Coward-esque play directed with first-rate talent by Peter Mohrmann. A word of warning: this isn’t for everyone—explicit material and language.
California Stage , 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $10 - $15. 1721 R St., 451-5822. Through July 27. P.R.

Give ’Em Hell, Harry Local actor Joe Larrea is a solid choice to portray President Harry Truman in this one-man show, both in terms of looks and temperament. This show covers Truman’s run-ins with Churchill, Stalin and some rascally Ku Klux Klansman back in his native Missouri, and delves into Truman’s feelings about inheriting the presidency from Franklin Delano Roosevelt—a tough act to follow. The Thistle Dew Dessert Theater is smaller than the Oval Office, which magnifies aspects of the performance.
Thistle Dew Dessert Theatre, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, $14-$18 includes dessert, coffee/tea. 1901 P St. (916) 444-8209. Extended through July 26. J.H.

Greater Tuna This revival of Foothill Theatre Company’s 1998 production, the most popular comedy in the company’s 20-year history, is set in the tiny town of Tuna, Texas, home of businesses like Didi’s Used Weapons and radio station OKKK. Two actors each play nine or more characters (male and female), with many short scenes and a whole lot of costume changes. There’s plenty of over-the-top satire of the Lone Star State, but in many ways the joys and foibles of these Texas folks cut pretty close to the bone. (Not rated because we don’t revisit recent revivals.)
Nevada Theatre , 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, 401 Broad St., Nevada City. $5-$21. (530) 265-8587. Through August 18. J.H.

Henry V Some scenes in this history play look a little posed, and the costumes are an odd assortment, but James Roberts connects as the opportunistic Pistol, Brett Williams looks good in the title role, and Hannah Rahilly dishes up a wild Welsh accent as Fluellen.
Sacramento Shakespeare Festival , 8:30 p.m. on July 20, 25, 26, August 2, 4, $10-$12. In the William Carroll Amphitheatre in Sacramento’s William Land Park, 558-2228. Gates open at 6:30, bring a picnic basket, a low-slung lawn chair and a sweater for late evening breezes. No advance ticket sales. Through August 4. J.H.

Last Train to Nibroc This play is a straight-up romance (not a romantic comedy) set against rural Kentucky in the early 1940s—a time of social change, economic transition and international uncertainty that in some ways resembles our own. Actors Amy Tribbey and Jason Kuykendall are close to perfect as an unlikely pair who have to overcome some personal difficulties and family attitudes; director Buck Busfield develops some magical exchanges from Arlene Hutton’s small-scale, high-quality script. A highlight of the new summer season.
B-2 , 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, $16.50-$20.50. Next to the B Street Theatre, 2711 B St., 443-5300. Through August 4. J.H.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream The cast, many of its members young, has the right attitude in this unassuming studio production, but the level of execution is very inconsistent. High points include pixie-like Rebecca Clouse (age 12) who handles herself well as Puck, and energetic Anthony D’Juan, who brings a pinch of African-American braggadocio to Bottom. But many scenes are only partially developed in dramatic or comedic terms, and some of the actors are still learning how to modulate their delivery and harness the rhythms and sounds of Shakespeare’s language to their advantage.
Actor’s Theatre , 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, $12-$14. 1616 Del Paso Blvd., 925-6579. Through July 28. J.H.

Much Ado About Nothing A classic battle of the sexes, with humorous results. Director Kim McCann moves Shakespeare’s story to England circa 1826, with visual overtones hinting at Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Good performances by leads Jenni Stephenson (Beatrice) and Jon Jackson (Benedick). A well-crafted effort by this small, local festival.
Sacramento Shakespeare Festival , 8:30 p.m. July 19, 21, 28, August 1, 3, $10-$12. In the William Carroll Amphitheatre in Sacramento’s William Land Park, 558-2228. Gates open at 6:30, bring a picnic basket, a low-slung lawn chair and a sweater for late evening breezes. No advance ticket sales. Through August 3. J.H.

Oklahoma Runaway Stage Productions takes on a big, big project here, with upward of 30 cast members (which doesn’t leave a lot of elbow room on the 24th Street Theatre’s stage), in a full-length Rodgers and Hammerstein classic that’s about three hours long. And it’s an enjoyable show—good community theater on a large scale. Watch in particular for Jamie Tvrdik, who is both spooky and sympathetic as Jud, the hired hand with self-destructive tendencies.
24th Street Theatre , 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $10-$14. 2791 24th St., 207-1226. Through July 28. J.H.

Six Women With Brain Death This very campy revue is Sacramento’s longest-running show, having celebrated its fifth anniversary in October. It’s a series of skits and songs about midlife women with “expiring minds,” dealing with soap operas, high-school reunions, grocery shopping and getting away from the kids. While the show clearly tickles the funnybone of its core audience (females over 40), our critic found the appeal elusive and the humor generic. But then, he’s a middle-aged guy.
Studio Theatre, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, $16-$19. 1028 R St., 446-2668. Open-ended run. J.H.

Vanities Vanities is a mystery. The play itself isn’t a mystery, but its long New York run and off-Broadway success is. We follow three girls during a 10-year period from 1963-1974, from high school to young adulthood. Now, you can’t get a more exhilarating, turbulent, history-making era, so you’d figure small-town Southern belles would be transformed through these historical events. But these three self-centered, unlikable teens merely grow up to be three self-centered unlikable women. The only way we see change is through music, hairstyles, a dip into disco lust and the shock of shacking up. Even this production can’t save this sad script. In fairness, the sincere cast tries their darndest to breathe life into this play. But all in all, it’s a disappointing outing for the Delta King.
Delta King Theater, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $14 -$16. Onboard the Delta King, 1000 Front St., Old Sacramento, 995-5464. Through August 4. P.R.