Stage Reviews

Bleacher Bums An odd but appealing assortment of fans gather under sunny skies to enjoy the Chicago Cubs, make a few wagers, sip a few beers, try to pick up a sunbathing waitress, etc. It’s a conversational slice of life, rather like attending a real ballgame. A friendly cast, some effective sound design, and an amiable, freewheeling style make for a pleasant outing.
Garbeau’s Dinner Theatre , dinner at 6 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and brunch at 11 a.m. and show at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, $29-$34 for dinner and show/$17 show only. 12401 Folsom Blvd. (in the old Nimbus Winery), Rancho Cordova, 985-6361. Through June 23. J.H.

Corpse Corpse is an actor’s dream—not only does Gabriel Montoya get to play both a woman and a man as the overly dramatic Jon Lovitz-like thespian Evelyn; he also gets to turn the tables on himself as the urbane twin Rupert. And what makes this play so fun is through tricks and sleight-of-body, he gets to play both brothers in the same scenes. The supporting cast of Trish DeBaun, Terry Kolkey and Earl Victorine provide Montoya a good base from which to play off, including an old-fashioned sword fight between Kolkey and Montoya. Credit also goes to director Dick Mangrum, who not only has to keep the action and comedy on target; he also must choreograph body-switching scenes and role-switching actors with utmost precision.
Woodland Opera House , 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, $7-$14. 340 Second St., Woodland, (530) 666-9617. Through June 16. P.R.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream The summer festival season gets underway with this handsome version of this durable comedy. Director Jonathan Moscone, who’s restored luster to the California Shakespeare Festival in the past two seasons, goes for a sort of 1890s look, with hooped skirts on the ladies and equally formal outfits for the men—a time when manners and honor mattered more than they do now. It’s gentler and less bawdy than several other recent productions of this classic—but still quite funny. Driving to the East Bay hills takes a bit of time, but it’s closer than Santa Cruz or Ashland.
The California Shakespeare Festival , 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday, $30-$44. At the Bruns Amphitheatre , 100 Gateway Blvd. (take Hwy. 24 to Gateway exit), Orinda (510) 548-9666 or www.calshakes.org. Through June 23. J.H.

Six Women With Brain Death This very campy revue is Sacramento’s longest-running show, having celebrated 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, $16-$19. 1028 R St., 446-2668. Open-ended run. J.H.