Onstage Repertory Theatre and director Dianna Schepers have attempted what many would think impossible by producing the comedy “Clue” at the Martinez Campbell Theater.
Related Articles
Curtain Calls: Michelangelo and da Vinci compete in ‘The Contest’ at Berkeley City Club
Curtain Calls: ‘Thanksgiving Play’ starts Friday at Alameda’s Altarena
Curtain Calls: Old flame ignites romantic comedy ‘Fallen Angels’ in Berkeley
Curtain Calls: Revel in story of ‘9 to 5’ office revenge at Clayton Theatre
Curtain Calls: East Bay Children’s Theatre invites you to tumble down the rabbit hole
The show calls for a replica of Boddy Manor, with its many rooms requiring a series of doors and reversible walls on the theater’s small stage. Thanks to the talents of a dedicated cast and crew, however, Onstage has proved that the impossible is sometimes a real possibility.
I had the privilege of attending a recent final dress rehearsal where I watched these talented thespians dial in all the special effects and choreography needed for this hysterical comedy. Before they started the show, Schepers wanted to tighten up a crazy scene done to the tune “Tequila.”
Doors slid on and off the stage, actors ran into the audience and back to go through one of the many doors and at any given moment a spotlight would hit a pair of performers as they froze in one silly pose after another. At times, about 16 cast or crew members were on stage, along with five movable doors, reversible flats and various furniture.
Based on the Hasbro board game, the show has all the familiar characters: Mr. Boddy (Patrick Atkinson), Mrs. Peacock (Gwendolyn Sampson Brown), Cook (Ginger Burnett), Professor Plum (Bill Dietz), Mr. Green (John Holst), Mrs. White (Helen Kim), Wadsworth (Phillip Leyva), the maid Yvette (Atessa McAleenan-Morrell), Miss Scarlet (Shelly McDowell, who also did the choreography) and Colonel Mustard (Brian Moore).
And what would a murder mystery be without the police (Craig Anderson along with Atkinson and Burnett) and a singing telegram girl (Sami Maher)? Jana McDowell designed the gorgeous costumes with Schepers and Diane McRice designing the extremely versatile set and Dave Pursley creating the many lighting effects needed.
“Clue” is showing now through Nov. 17 in the Campbell Theater at 636 Ward St. in Martinez. For tickets, visit campbelltheater.com online or call 925-350-9770.
Walnut Creek: Smuin Ballet hopes to drive any grinches away and spread holiday cheer Nov. 23-24 with “The Christmas Ballet” in the Lesher Center for the Arts at 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek.
The festive performance is a holiday tradition for many dance lovers with this year featuring a return to Michael Smuin’s original pieces plus a few new surprises from Artistic Director Amy Seiwert including Seiwert’s world premiere classical ballet.
With a little something for everyone, Act I concentrates on elegant classical ballet set to beloved carols, followed by joyful contemporary numbers set to pop favorites in Act II. One fan favorite that will be included is “Santa Baby” with the “world’s longest feather boa.” For tickets, go online to lesherartscenter.org or call 925-943-7469.
Point Richmond: Actors never cease to amaze me as they joyfully take on one challenge after another. One rather daunting challenge currently undertaken by Masquers Playhouse is “The 39 Steps,” in which four challenge-obsessed performers take on more than 130 zany characters.
The fast-paced whodunit is a nonstop romp complete with handcuffs, missing fingers, an onstage plane crash and, of course, a little romance. John Maio directs a multitalented cast featuring Samuel Barksdale, Damion Clark, Gene Mocsy and Amy Stringer.
“The 39 Steps” runs Nov. 15 through Dec. 8 in the Masquers Playhouse at 105 Park Ave. in Point Richmond. For tickets, go to masquers.org or call 925-232-4031.
Berkeley: The whimsical fun of “Seussical” the musical will takes over Berkeley Playhouse from Friday through Dec. 22.
William Thomas Hodgson directs the musical journey through many of Dr. Seuss’s popular children’s stories. From the mischievous antics in “Cat in the Hat” to Horton the Elephant’s heartwarming quest, “Seussical” brings beloved characters to life in this magical tale.
“It seems like ‘Seussical’ is about chaos and about nothing and everything, and actually it’s about some real deep human issues that can be felt by kids of 4 and adults of 90,” said Hodgson.
The large cast includes Stephen Kanaski as the Cat in the Hat and Christian Arteaga as Horton the Elephant. For tickets, go to tickets.berkeleyplayhouse.org or call 510-845-8542, ext. 351.
Also in Berkeley: Direct from a twice-extended run on Broadway, “JaJa’s African Hair Braiding” will be performed in the Berkeley Rep theater at 2025 Addison St. from Friday through Dec. 15. Tony Award-nominated Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh weaves a tale of the Harlem hotspot where West African immigrant braiders work their magic on locals.
“ ’Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’ is a celebration of community and culture that offers a vibrant and complex look into the lives of the women who make Harlem’s hair braiding salons such vital spaces,” says Johanna Pfaelzer, Berkeley Rep’s artistic director. “Part of Jocelyn’s brilliance is her ability to take a particular setting, which may or may not be familiar to audiences, and allow us each the capacity to connect the stories of the women who inhabit this shop to our own narratives of identity and ongoing search for home.”
For tickets, go to berkeleyrep.org or call 510-647-2949.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.