Stage Reviews
The Emperor’s New Clothes Comic actor David Pierini goes on a tear in this retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic, staged by the Children’s Theatre of California. Kids will enjoy Pierini’s wild costumes and goofy behavior (preening before a mirror or doodling with his hair). Adults also will get a kick out of his character’s selfish mannerisms. Local playwright Richard Hellesen wrote the adaptation, which plays off images from early Hollywood (including a homage to Harpo and Chico Marx, which probably will go over the heads of most youngsters). Director Anthony D’Juan keeps the story bopping along briskly. B Street Theatre; 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday; $15-$20. 2711 B Street, (916) 443-5300, www.bstreettheatre.org. Through May 21. J.H.
Insides Out Katie Rubin’s a spunky survivor of multiple monkeys on her back, and she’s here to tell her tale. This 29-year-old local actress is presenting an engaging one-woman show about her many addictions: alcohol, food, sex, drugs and destructive lifestyles. Frankly, there is little new in this oft-told saga of a life out of control, but what makes the show so unique is the storytelling. Rubin narrates her life through the voices of conflicting internal characters who pull her in many directions, and the actress embodies each of these inner spirits while maintaining a linear story.
Sacramento Theatre Company; 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, with some Saturday matinees; $12-$32. Stage Two, 1419 H Street, (916) 443-6722, www.sactheatre.org. Through April 30. P.R.
Juno and the Paycock This Sean O’Casey classic Irish play, written in 1922, has all the requisites of tragedy: poverty, politics, religion and drink. This impressive B Street production delivers O’Casey’s complex characters, lyrical language, sly wit and rumination on the politics of poverty—as well as memorable performances that resonate throughout the play and long afterward.
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; $23-$28. 2711 B Street, (916) 443-5300, www.bstreettheatre.org. Through May 21. P.R.
Livin’ Fat This amiable comedy is as comfy as a favorite pair of old shoes, but the story’s also shopworn. We meet three generations of a poor black family living under one roof. When the grandson (a college grad working beneath his ability as a janitor because he can’t find a better job) picks up an overlooked wad of bills that falls next to his broom during a bank heist, the family faces a moral dilemma: Should it keep the much-needed cash? In this Celebration Arts production, there are several marvelous and quite funny moments. There are also scenes where actors s-t-r-e-t-c-h for lines, and the laughs are few and far between during the first half. All told, this friendly community show offers good-natured fun, but the level of execution leaves room for improvement.
Celebration Arts, 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, $8-$15. 4469 D Street, (916) 455-2787, www.celebrationarts.net. Through April 29. J.H.
Proof Proof is primarily about mathematics, madness, death and complex personal relationships: father and daughter, sister and sister, teacher and student, and a sudden romance. With just four characters, this “small” Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is a very nearly ideal fit for Capital Stage’s Delta King Theatre. The casting (local professionals Stephanie Gularte and Rodger Hoopman with veteran community actors Karen Pollard and Brett Williams) is close to perfect. This is the best show, overall, in Sacramento this year to date.
Capital Stage; 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; $44-$51 for dinner and show, and $20-$24 for show only. Delta King, 1000 Front Street in Old Sacramento, (916) 995-5464. Through April 30. J.H.
The Sugar Bean Sisters These loopy Southern swamp sisters are firmly planted in Sacramento for the next few months at the Studio Theatre. The tale of the eccentric Nettles siblings is a broad comedy in every sense of the word. The lives of these eccentric “bachelor girls” living on the old family homestead are interrupted by a wayward showgirl named Videllia, a strange preacher, a reptile lady, outer-space visitors and other sundry stuff. This surreal story is a goofy romp through the Florida swamp with a winning cast, but the convoluted story ends up with more heart than substance.
The Studio Theatre; 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; $20-$24. 1028 R Street, (916) 446-2668, www.thestudiotheatre.net. Through July 2. P.R.
