Stage Reviews
AAH! Abandon Productions’ physical-theater troupe wrestles with the evolution of human interaction, casting a critical and sometimes comical look at the progress we’ve made as a society. Through its unique blend of dance, movement, a cappella singing, acting and miming, the group continues to captivate. All action occurs within two A-frame construction scaffoldings, where performers loop, leap, slither and snake through the pipings. Even when the concepts haven’t quite jelled, the performers’ sheer joy and enthusiasm have you rooting for them. The miracle is witnessing an experimental theater production that lacks pretension and cynicism. The show lasts one hour. The Space, 8 p.m. Saturday, $10-$13. 2509 R Street, (916) 737-2304. Through February 28. P.R.
Around the World in 80 Days Phileas Fogg has 80 days to go around the globe. B Street Theatre has two hours to capture Fogg’s amazing and colorful journey on stage. Both succeed brilliantly. This production of Jules Verne’s classic adventure tale is imaginative, creative and enjoyable. Even more impressive, the play is done without props, scenery or a large cast. Five actors portray more than 30 characters. It’s hard to determine who’s having more fun—the talented cast or the appreciative audience. B Street Theatre; 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, with a matinee on February 25; $17.50-$21.50. 2711 B Street, (916) 443-5300. Extended through March 21. P.R.
Far Away and The Farewells For its eighth and final production in Sacramento, Vista Players offers this handsome double bill. First is Caryl Churchill’s funny and scary dystopia Far Away. It’s full of dark doings by moonlight and an internecine war between factions of humans and animal species. Then comes The Farewells, written by Vista’s artistic director Aram Kouyoumdjian, which examines the stresses of life on two well-established couples, one gay and one straight. Both halves of the program display the careful preparation, thoughtful production and high literary values that have marked Vista’s shows during the past five years. The group will disband next month when Kouyoumdjian moves to Los Angeles. This company will be missed. Catch this show while you can. Actor’s Theatre; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with special shows on February 22 at 2 p.m. and on February 26 at 8 p.m.; $12-$14. 1616 Del Paso Boulevard. (916) 375-2670. Through February 28. J.H.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change The Delta King Theatre has revived its revival of this long-running revue. The cast is a composite of the first two productions. This revue is about dating, courtship, marriage and what comes after. The songs are sometimes obvious, but they have a way of sticking in your memory. At this point, this reviewer is losing the urge to go down this road again, but there still seem to be plenty of people wanting to see this show. Delta King Theatre, various times Thursday through Sunday, $18-$25 for the show and $38-$52 for dinner and the show. 1000 Front Street in Old Sacramento, (916) 995-5464. Through February 29. J.H.
