Stage Reviews
Adventures in Shakespeareland; or How Willy Ruined My Life This musical revue by Synergy Stage plays around with William Shakespeare’s famous characters, particularly those from Hamlet. More specifically, the show lampoons fusty, declamatory, “academic” Shakespeare—a style not often found in theaters nowadays but still lingering in memory, celluloid and parody. The songs, with piano accompaniment, include settings of sonnets as well as takeoffs on Romeo, Juliet and Cleopatra. There are some campy costumes, onstage death scenes, etc. It’s a good-natured show, but the frothy concept isn’t substantial enough to sustain two hours.
Studio Theatre; 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; $17-$19. 1028 R Street, (916) 446-2668. Through July 24. J.H.
As You Like It Sacramento City College’s City Theatre celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival with one of Shakespeare’s earliest works. As You Like It has all of the Bard’s comedic trademarks: dueling dukes, banished brothers, mistaken identities, randy romances and a happy ending. Director Kim McCann places the action in 1740 and dresses the actors in handsome pre-Revolutionary garb. It might be a bit unrealistic, but it’s great fun to watch, especially in the capable hands of the two talented leads. We also are treated to other quirky romances, a World Wrestling Entertainment-style wrestling match, and a memorable “all the world’s a stage” soliloquy.
William A. Carroll Amphitheatre; gates open at 6:30 p.m., and the show is at 8:30 p.m. on July 15, 17, 22, 28 and 30; $10-$15. William Land Park, (916) 558-2228. P.R.
The Bacchae In a summer awash with little comedies and light musicals, producer Ray Tatar gives us a big-cast production of a Greek tragedy, replete with ecstatic, dancing female Bacchants—one of whom carries a severed head. It’s the cautionary tale of a skeptical Greek king who doesn’t heed the warning that it’s not smart to buck the authority of a god, even when the god is the anarchic Dionysus (patron of wine, fertility and theater). Performances range from passable to engrossing. There’s an attractive, sprawling set by Gregory Kondos, as well as some funky sound design and other unpolished aspects. But, on the whole, the plusses outnumber the minuses, and it’s a treat to see a script that predated Christ (by about 400 years) brought to life.
California Stage; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; $13-$15. 25th and R streets, (916) 451-5822. Through July 17. J.H.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast There’s Beauty, who is pretty, brainy and goodhearted. There’s this beast—a misunderstood hairball who’s really a cool dude under all that fur. There’s this conceited fancy boy who wants to marry Beauty. Then there’s this castle filled with people turning into inanimate objects like a clock, a candlestick and a teapot. Tying all these elements together is a series of musical numbers that produce a delightful romance to capture even the most cynical of hearts. This summer’s first Music Circus production is a class act from the clever sets to the creative costumes, but what really elevates this production is the talent of the cast.
Wells Fargo Pavilion; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Friday, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; $34-$49. Children under 12 get in for half-price. 1419 H Street, (916) 557-1999. Through July 17. P.R.
The Big Bang This madcap, zany romp, which traces man’s history from creation to present day, looks as fun to put on as it is to watch. Not only do two actors portray everyone from Adam and Eve to Napoleon and Josephine in this 23-song musical, but also they use everyday items for costumes—grabbing curtains, vases and pillows for personal props. Everyone is skewered, no race or religion is spared, the double entendres fly, and the jokes are both naughty and groan-producing. It’s not for the thin-skinned, the overly sensitive or anyone looking for deep and meaningful messages, but it is for audiences looking for madcap mayhem and zany antics in their summer entertainment.
B Street Theatre; 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday (with 1 p.m. Wednesday matinees on July 20 and 27; and August 3, 10 and 17); $22-$28. B2 Stage, 2711 B Street, (916) 443-5300. Through September 4. P.R.
Bright Ideas Ours is a landscape dotted with obsessive moms and dads who believe the only acceptable kid is the exceptional kid. It’s a phenomenon that’s ripe for comedic picking, which playwright Eric Coble does with mischievous gusto. His dark farce highlights tightly wound parents who are fixated on getting their toddler into the perfect preschool. Unfortunately, Coble’s Bright Ideas eventually runs out of them. What saves this production is not only the humorous first half (and some clever moments in the second), but also a finely tuned cast and director who do their best with the material handed to them.
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 Wednesday matinee on July 20; $23-$28. 2711 B Street, (916) 443-5300. Through August 7. P.R.
Summer Shorts Six punchy little plays about young, apparently single 20-somethings make up Beyond the Proscenium Productions’ summer show. It comes on like a party, with broad comedy, a bit of disco dancing and scenes with friends hanging out sipping beer. The performers are a high-energy, easy-to-like group, and director Nick Avdienko gets them working in a good ensemble. But the plays aren’t very deep. They cover fairly standard topics like college stunts, not-so-super superheroes, bad behavior on trashy TV talk shows, and the behavioral eccentricities of struggling young writers. Usually, Beyond the Proscenium pushes the envelope into more adventuresome territory.
California Stage, 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee on August 7, $6-$12. 25th and R streets, (916) 456-1600. Through August 7. J.H.
Wings of Freedom This original musical by the recently formed Images Theatre Company (a black theater group) was created by three artists associated with And The Dream Goes On!, the landmark show revived last January by California Musical Theatre. This new show is smaller by design. Set in a scruffy neighborhood, it deals with addiction and facing one’s personal demons, with outcomes ranging from recovery to early death. The first half is long and talky (just four songs in 70 minutes). The second half is a significant improvement, with lively acting, a better balance between spoken dialogue and music, and several uplifting songs by Charles Cooper.
Chautauqua Playhouse, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, $13-$15. La Sierra Community Center, 5325 Engle Road in Carmichael, (916) 489-7529. Through July 16. J.H.
