Thanksgiving came early to the Lesher Center with Synergy Theater’s delightful production of “Thanksgiving Unscripted: An Improvised Dinner Party Gone Wrong!”
Running through this Sunday, the improvised holiday gathering takes place at a young couple’s condo where friends and family have come together to celebrate. But exactly how that celebration unfolds and what the couple may or may not be hiding is up to the audience.
Created and directed by Valerie Regalia, who also performs with the ensemble, the show changes with every performance depending upon audience suggestions.
The night I saw the show, the audience decided the pregnant female half of the couple would be searching for an eviction notice that she’s hiding from her fiancé, while the fiancé suffers from a kidney stone that he tried to ignore as the couple hosted their first holiday party.
Artistic Director Kenn Adams brings plenty of comedy to the celebration as the bigmouth neighbor with a rather complicated love life. In fact, the entire 11-member ensemble creates crazy characters and situations that will keep the audience laughing for most of the two-hour performance.
Get in the mood for the upcoming holiday by checking out “Thanksgiving Unscripted” at the Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Call 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.
Berkeley: Boston’s The Huntington has partnered with has Berkeley Repertory to bring a story of great emotion, complex relationships, shattered dreams and rowdy humor to Rep’s Roda Theatre.
Superbly written by Jez Butterworth and beautifully directed by Loretta Greco, “The Hills of California” weaves a compelling tale of the four adult Webb sisters coming home to the Northern England seaside town to say farewell to their dying mother. Childhood memories come back as the sisters recall their strident mother’s training to become a popular singing group ala the Andrews Sisters.
The fascinating story is set at the Blackpool guest house where the girls grew up. It begins in 1976 as the sisters return, alternating between that time and their childhood in 1955.
Andrew Boyce’s and Se Hyun On’s versatile turntable set seamlessly allows the action to go back and forth in time. Full of period details, a two-story set of stairs anchors the 1976 living room while one spin of the turntable reveals the 1950s kitchen.
The fabulous 14-member cast brings this fascinating story to life with many of them playing multiple roles. All are exceptional as they create diverse characters bursting with life, especially Allison Jean White. She has the formidable task of playing the demanding mother Veronica as well as the adult Joan who reluctantly returns.
“The Hills of California” runs through Dec. 7 at the Roda Theatre on 2025 Addison St. in Berkeley. For tickets, call 510-647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org.
S.F.: Glimpse favorite storybook characters like you’ve never seen before in the award-winning musical “Into the Woods.” Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine artfully weave together several Brothers Grimm fairy tales with their own twists and turns as they explore the consequences of wishes.
Tying all the fairy tales together is the story of a childless baker and his wife who want a family (the original beginning of the Grimm Brothers’ “Rapunzel”). A witch, however, has placed a curse on them, and in their desperate attempts to break the curse, the couple encounter a love-seeking Cinderella, a naïve Jack from “Jack and the Beanstalk” and many other storybook characters.
With Susi Damilano at the helm, San Francisco Playhouse has taken on the popular musical and cast some of the Bay Area’s most talented actors. One in particular looks forward to the challenges of her role.
Local actress/comedian Maureen McVerry has been involved in theater, television and movies for over 40 years. She’s had experience playing many diverse characters, but her role in “Into the Woods” presents a new challenge that she happily embraces.
“This will be my third time doing the musical “Into the Woods,” McVerry said. “The first two times I played Jack’s mother, but this time I’m playing Milky White. I’ve never played a cow before, and it’s such a fun challenge.”
McVerry is also thrilled to be around the multi-talented cast and Music Director Dave Drobrusky, who has worked with her several times before.
“I love Sondheim’s music so much and Dave is so wonderful and so kind, and he makes such beautiful sense of the music,” said McVerry.
McVerry, who also plays Granny, noted the voices in the cast are “exceptional.”
“It’s going to be a spectacular show. The comedy is mixed with heartbreaking pathos making it a very special show. I believe the main point of the story is that no matter what happens you just gotta keep going forward, push yourself through it and just get to the woods,” said McVerry.
For tickets, call 415-677-9596 or go to sfplayhouse.org.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.