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.
The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It The conceit here is a faltering little company of actors taking on the classic Shakespeare comedy, with backstage hijinks overlaying the sometimes desperate attempts to keep the show moving along. The idea has appeal, but wears thin before the evening’s through.
California Stage , 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, $12-$14. 1725 25th St., 451-5822. Through June 9. J.H.
Loose Ends This ’70s tale begins with a nearly naked couple on a beach in Bali and ends with the same pair in a bedroom in New York. Along the way, Paul and Susan go from bohemian world wanderers to (still sexually bohemian) careerists in the Big Apple. Along the way they marry, disagree about having kids, smoke lots of cigarettes and do beer. Actors Michael Begovich and Mary Strong are good lookers who have the personal details (straight to sex) in order, but several supporting characters in this interesting low-budget show miss the mark. You can’t dismiss the foreboding that one member of this couple will get an HIV diagnosis soon, and wonder why.
Actors Theatre , 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $12-$14. 1616 Del Paso Blvd. 925-6579. Through June 9. J.H.
Private Lives Private Lives is light fare done well, a comedy of manners that’s a high-society immorality play infused with playwright Noel Coward’s droll wit and wicked sense of impropriety. Real-life marrieds Luther Hanson and Christine Nicholson portray the eccentric and deliciously moral-lacking ex-spouses Elyot and Amanda, who run into each other during honeymoons with new spouses, and quicker than you can say “shilly shally,” the two hedonists dump their respective newlyweds and rekindle old passions. How the audience comes to root for this self-centered, smug twosome can be chalked up to Coward’s writing genius and Hanson and Nicholson’s winning acting talents.
Synergy Stage-Delta King Theatre , 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, $14-$16. On the Delta King, 1000 Front St., Old Sacramento, 995-5464. Through June 8. P.R.
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.
