This is a bit embarrassing, but I just discovered an East Bay theater that has been around since 1986. Thanks to an actress friend, that oversight has been rectified.
The Pinole Community Players was a dream come true for two Pinole couples — Gary and Nancy Gill and David and Patti Clark. With Gary’s technical knowledge, Nancy’s musical talents, David’s directing background and Patti’s producing and organizational skills, Pinole Community Players came to fruition those many years ago.
Attending the company’s opening weekend of “City of Angels,” I was pleasantly surprised at the intimate theater, well-appointed lobby, friendly volunteers and entertaining musical that’s now showing there.
G.A. Klein directs the complicated show that requires a large cast and good-size orchestra. Music director Brian Sennello beautifully leads his group of seven musicians who manage to share the small stage with cast members and lots of set pieces.
In writer Larry Gelbart’s nod to 1940s film noir, two parallel storylines take place concurrently: one following writer Stine as he struggles to adapt his novel to a film and the other detailing the black-and-white world of the film characters.
The cast rapidly accomplishes lots and lots of scene changes, but a of the changes would move quicker without the furniture. Kudos to costumer Flo Buchanan and wig designer Desiree Capote with their plethora of costumes and wigs for dressing the “real” and “film” versions of cast personas.
While the large cast was a bit uneven at times, the leads certainly stood out with Shauna Shoptaw displaying a dynamite voice as femme fatale Alaura Kingsley/Carla Haywood.
John Susan Holst, her unwilling love interest Stone, nailed his role as the film’s noir detective with Keith Adair using his considerable talents to bring the author Stine to life. The two have a clever duet, “You’re Nothing Without Me,” as the writer and character sing about their symbiotic relationship.
Shiv Harris (Gabbi/Bobbi) and Isa Chu (Oolie/Donna) were both knockouts in their roles, especially in their duet “What You Don’t Know About Women” and Chu in her solo “You Can Always Count on Me.”
“City of Angels” continues through Sunday in the Pinole Community Playhouse at 601 Tennent Ave. in Pinole. For tickets or more information, call 510-724-9844 or go online to pinoleplayers.org.
Clayton: If you haven’t seen Clayton Theatre’s hilarious spoof “Noises Off,” you still have time. The comedy continues through Sunday with performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The play-within-a-play focuses on a theater company staging a British sex comedy in which the comedic chaos behind the scenes is funnier than what’s happening on stage. For tickets or more details, go to claytontheatrecompany.com/shows.
Walnut Creek: Who says being single, middle-aged and an empty-nester is a bummer? Evidently, not Sharon, who in her mid-50s finds herself liberated from her child and husband. So begins Center Rep’s “About the Roommate,” running March 30 through April 20 in Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive.
Sharon finds herself in need of a roommate to share her Iowa home and welcomes Robyn, also in her mid-50s and seeking a refuge and chance to reboot. As this odd couple’s friendship deepens, lots of hidden talents and secret desires come out.
Part mystery and part comedy, Jen Silverman has written a contemporary classic on what it means to be middle-aged, middle class in the middle of America and how it all changes when you throw caution to the wind.
Vanessa Stalling directs Patty Gallagher as Sharon and Luisa Sermol as Robyn. Audiences will have an opportunity to chat with the director at the April 4 performance with cast chats scheduled April 9 and April 13. For tickets, call 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.
Also at the Lesher: Dungeons and Dragons fans have a chance to experience a whole new adventure with Synergy Theater’s “Improvised Dungeons and Dragons: A Spontaneous Quest!”
“It’s completely improvised and inspired by the famous fantasy-adventure role playing game,” said Artistic Director Kenn Adams. “So there’s a band of heroes that are off to save the world, but all throughout the show, their successes and failures are determined by audience members rolling the dice to determine their fate.”
Adrián Bosada, who conceived and directed the production, explains that even though the show will be filled with humor, action and adventure, “The real story will be about genuine human emotions, navigating difficult relationships and overcoming the walls that we build around ourselves, which prevent us from connecting with others.
“The show will be funny, of course, but we want it to have heart.”
The adventure begins April 3 and continues through April 13 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center. For tickets and more details, see the Lesher Center’s contact information above.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.