Stage Reviews

Almost Jerusalem/Breakthrough
Beyond the Proscenium Productions, after several high-IQ efforts, brings out the whoopee cushion with this pair of frothy one-act comedies. Breakthrough is a raunchy, beer-sloshing, fist-pounding, high decibel escapade involving a frustrated actor living next to the neighbor from hell (A.M. Lai, in a wonderful off-stage vocal performance). Almost Jerusalem is a kooky treatment based on the unlikely premise that computerized decoding of religious texts indicates that the Holy Land is in Colorado, not Israel. Again, the humor’s on the (very) broad side, with delusional Coloradans dressed up as Bible characters rampaging across the stage. Some grainy, amateur-looking video scenes slow things down, as do the numerous set changes. Overall, it ain’t an evening of high art, but there’s an air of spontaneity that compensates somewhat. California Stage, 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $12. 1721 25th St. 922-9774. Through May 26. J.H.

Fair Use
Foothill Theatre’s production of this new play by Nevada County playwright Sands Hall examines the degree to which novelist Wallace Stegner borrowed from the life—and writings—of Nevada County’s Mary Hallock Foote in Stegner’s Pulitzer-winning novel “Angle of Repose.” Some will object to Hall’s picture of Stegner (she comes down pretty hard on him in several scenes) but the look into Foote’s life in various parts of the Western frontier 100 years ago is fascinating. The play is long and asks for a high level of attention from the audience, but those who hang in there will be rewarded. Nevada Theatre, 7 p.m. Thursday; 8:15 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 401 Broad Street, Nevada City. $5-$21. (888) 730-8587 or (530) 265-8587. Through May 22. J.H.

Song of a Nisei Fisherman
A thoughtful and effective studio production of San Francisco playwright Philip Kan Gotanda’s autobiographical family drama. A man, born in rural Hawaii to uneducated parents, who long to return to Japan, goes to college against their wishes and becomes a doctor, eventually settling in California’s Central Valley, marrying, and raising kids (who bear little resemblance to their immigrant grandparents). The family dynamics—reflected through three generations—are finely drawn and reflect the changes that ripple through lives as the link to the old country grows distant, and the personal work ethic and family model shifts to an American standard. The quality of acting is variable, and (as ever with InterACT productions) the technical details could be better. But several scenes are quite magical, like the one in which Sonny Alforque sings about sake or Jeffrey Ogata courts his future wife at a Stockton Buddhist Temple social function. And the music (by a trio including koto and shakuhachi) is a nice touch. Broadway Playhouse, 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. $10-$12. 4010 El Camino Ave. 452-6174. Through May 27. J.H.

A Texas Romance
Directed by Miranda McClenaghan, Ellsworth Schave’s A Texas Romance could easily come off as just another stuffy high school-level play, Stephanie Gularte (Bite Me Cleopatra, Oleanna)—arguably one of the strongest young actresses in Sacramento theater—along with cast members Teresa Vuinovic (Romeo and Juliet, Gunfighter) and Sean Manwaring, a longtime musical-theater performer, breathe a fury of life into the production, making it a delight for audiences who want an evening of romantic entertainment. Delta King Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. 1000 Front St., Old Sacramento. $14-$32. 995-5464. Through June 9. M.B.C.

Women Who Steal
The B Street Busfields do it again with their newest offering from playwright Carter W. Lewis. Peggy, experiencing a midlife crisis, confronts the vixen who had an affair with her husband, then ends up on a nightlong quasi-Thelma and Louise-style adventure complete with guns, booze and a kidnapped man in the trunk of her Mercedes. This laugh-a-minute, black romantic-angst comedy continues a recent local trend—plays that give voice to the issues and lives of women and allow audiences to experience strong, well-written leading roles for female performers. Director John P. Lamb has assembled a stellar cast that breathes life into a play that could easily miss its mark. B Street Theatre, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday; 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $16.50-$20.50. 2711 B St. 443-5300. Through June 10. M.B.C.