Berkeley Repertory presents the West Coast premiere of Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright Jez Butterworth’s “The Hills of California,” playing Oct. 31 through Dec. 7.
A co-production with The Huntington, “The Hills of California” weaves the compelling yet funny tale of the Webb sisters return to their childhood home in an English seaside town. Their mother had trained them for a singing career a la The Andrews Sisters. As they visit the guesthouse, memories resurface as the girls explore the sibling bonds that both sustain and suffocate them.
Loretta Greco, former artistic director of San Francisco’s Magic Theatre, returns to the Bay Area to direct the West Coast debut of Butterworth’s work.
“As the eldest of five sisters, this intense, mysterious and often hilarious homecoming story resonates deeply for me as the slippery layers of a complicated past collide with the equally messy present,” said Greco. “I’m thrilled to create the first American production of this big-minded West End hit in partnership with Berkeley Rep — and especially over-the-moon to return home to the actual hills of California to share this beauty with all my friends in the Bay.”
For tickets, call 510-647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org.
Pinole: Two entertaining shows in one are on the menu at Pinole Community Playhouse on 601 Tennent Ave. with its hilarious production of Rupert Holmes “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.”
Running through Sunday, the vaudevillian-like comedy features performers at The Music Hall Royale, all of whom take a bow when introduced by The Chairwoman (the wonderful Shiv Harris who brought the house down with her hilarious Mayor Sapsea). The actors are attempting to put an ending on Charles Dickens’ unfinished work while their characters endeavor to find the missing Edwin Drood. They call upon the audience to help finish the tale by voting on who made Drood disappear and who should be the young lovers.
While the show is a bit long, it has a most enthusiastic and talented ensemble performing this “playfully naughty” musical with one comedic gag after another. Although the songs are not memorable, the many impressive singers make them a treat to the ears. Wonderful harmonies and soaring solos abound in Director Andrew Acevedo’s well-chosen ensemble especially Stefanie Suzuki (Rosa Bud), Shauna Shoptaw (Princess Puffer), James Paul Gregory (Bazzard), Isa S. Chu (Helena), Natalie Buck-Bauer (Edwin) and Damien Thomas (John Jasper).
For tickets, call 510-724-9844.
Martinez: The Campbell Theater is the setting for a unique staged reading Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.
Natalie Archangel’s “Enter Bar Breathless” transports audience members to Ancient Greece and Rome and into the darkest fantasies of the Marquis de Sade before jumping ahead in time to the lesser known after-hours lives of Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman.
The seven actors (Archangel, Bill Dietz, Mark Hinds, Philip Leyva, Sara Nowicki, Bart Tangredi and Alisa Tangredi) take on a variety of roles.
Special themed libations come with the purchase of a ticket.
“There will be a talk back directly following the performance which allows us the perfect opportunity to gather feedback as we move this work forward into production in 2026,” said Archangel.
For tickets, call 925-350-9770 or go to campbelltheater.com.
Walnut Creek: Synergy Theater celebrates Thanksgiving early this year with a completely improvised two-act comedy showing all the things that can go wrong at a holiday gathering.
The improv company debuts its holiday treats with “Thanksgiving Unscripted: An Improvised Dinner Party Gone Wrong!” on Nov. 6-16 at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center on 1601 Civic Drive.
“It’s Thanksgiving Day, circa 1993, and the whole gang is coming over to celebrate,” said Valerie Regalia, the show’s creator and director. “Now, it’s all completely made up on the spot, but just like any good farce, everything goes wrong — accidents, misunderstandings, mistaken identities. Plus, it has all the broad humor you expect from a farce — stock characters, pratfalls, ridiculous disguises that are, of course, shockingly effective, outrageous lies and coverups, and then, when the situation is as dire as possible, it somehow all works out with a happy ending.”
For tickets to this holiday cheer, call 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.
Alameda: The witty, not to mention fierce drama, “The Wisdom of Eve” comes to Altarena Playhouse on 1409 High St. from Oct. 24 through Nov. 23.
The inspiration for the 1950s film “All About Eve” and the musical “Applause,” this drama follows aspiring actress Eve, a quiet, mousy girl who worms her way into Broadway star Margo Crane’s confidence. It seems this innocuous-looking girl is really quite tough and prepared to run over anyone who stands in her way to fame.
Kimberly Ridgeway directs with Anna Kosiarek as Eve and Sindu Singh as Margo.
To purchase tickets, call 510-1553 or go to altarena.org.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.