Stage Reviews
The Harmony Codes Space aliens (seeking the “codes” that explain what makes humans tick) land in a small Indiana town, and domestic comedy alternates with a bit of lighthearted cosmic thinking. It’s not an overpowering show, but it’ll get your mind off heavy events for a few hours. Beyond the Proscenium Productions at the Actors Theatre, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. $15. 1616 Del Paso Blvd. (near Arden). 922-9774. Through October 7. J.H.
The Fantasticks A local revival of a venerable little musical, originally written as a summertime college production back in the days of President Eisenhower. It’s got one great song—“Try to Remember”—and some schoolboy humor involving Shakespeare and high-flown notions about bravery and romance. But some of the songs are thin, and this production, while sincere, doesn’t generate a lot of sparks.
Garbeau’s Dinner Theater , 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Sunday, 12401 Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova. $15-$32. 985-6361. Through October 28. J.H.
Fortune’s Fools Fortune’s Fools is a snappy, quick-witted and quirky look at modern love and marriage. As Chuck (Peter Mohrmann) and Gail (Lynn Baker) stumble through the ritual absurdities of a wedding and the stark realities of marriage, sparks fly whenever their best friends, Bonnie (Stephanie Gularte) and Jay (David Harris) meet. As the wedding draws closer, their friends’ forced togetherness yields an escalating series of verbal skirmishes, mutual frustration and undeniable sexual attraction. Delta King Theatre , 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $14 - $41, 1000 Front St., Old Sacramento. 995-5464. Through October 6. M.B.C.
Lost in Yonkers Neil Simon’s funny drama about a Jewish kid coming of age in the 1940s gets a warm, three-dimensional presentation by the Chautauqua Playhouse, marking the company’s 25th anniversary. The script is meatier than usual for Simon; local actor Dean Schellenberger is stylish as a gangster and Lee Marie Kelly is also strong as the ditzy aunt. Chautauqua Playhouse , 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with 2 p.m. Sunday matinee performances on September 23 and 30, $12. 5325 Engle Road (in the La Sierra Center), Carmichael. (916) 489-7529. Through October 6. J.H.
Six Women With Brain Death This very campy revue is Sacramento’s longest-running show, coming up on 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, 1028 R St. $14-$18. 446-2668. Open-ended run. J.H.
Stage Fright This play is a charming act of literary revenge, in which a particularly acerbic critic is taken hostage by disgruntled actors and confronted with his own words. Playwright Charles Marowitz rigs up some deliciously barbed and acidic exchanges, though the dialogue occasionally lapses into a sort of spoken essay on theatrical art. The cast—including veterans Cynthia Burdick and Bob DeLucia—is very good. Main Street Theatre Works (at Sutter Creek Theater), 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 44 Main St. in Sutter Creek (on Highway 49, about 45 minutes drive from Sacramento). $8-$14. (209) 267-5680. Through October 6. J.H.
Wait Until Dark Foothill Theatre puts some real shivers into the Halloween season with this revival of the 1966 thriller (not a whodunit!) that pits a sadistic killer against a resourceful blind woman. Actor Fredrick Snyder is very creepy as the baddie, while Carolyn Howarth is credible and sympathetic as the housewife who is determined not to become a victim. Director Gary Wright ratchets up the suspense, notch by notch. Foothill Theatre Company, 7 p.m. Thursday, 8:15 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, 401 Broad St., Nevada City. $5-$21. (888) 730-8587. Through October 28. J.H.
