BIRTHDAY  CLUB by Carol Kaufman Segal           

            If you enjoy light-hearted comedies (and who doesn’t these days?) you will not want to miss Birthday Club by Phil Olson, playing at The Group Rep Theatre in North Hollywood.  The play is about five women who get together to celebrate each of their birthdays to share their friendships and keep aware of what is happening in their lives.

            After the passing of one of the members of the Birthday Club, Emily (Raquel Brooks), Kathy (Katelyn Ann Clark), Cheryl (Cathy Diane Tomlin), Abby (Kelley Goode), original members, have invited Sarah (Davonna Dehay) to their meeting see if she qualifies to become a new member of their group.

            Sarah’s background appears to be much different from the four members of the club who have been coming together to support each other throughout the years.  As they drink, eat and celebrate, they discuss what is happening in their lives with their families, their marriages, work, and all of the problems of the world.  On the other hand, Sarah seems to have had a more rigid upbringing and drinking is against her religion. 

            At each meeting, you will learn more and more about the lives of each individual member and watch the changes growing in Sarah.  The question (and the plot) throughout the play is whether or not Sarah is in coherence enough with the other members of the Birthday Club to be accepted into their lives.  To find out about this, you will find yourself laughing, as well as wondering what the outcome will finally be throughout the entire play.  

              Playwright Phil Olson has written 18 plays (all comedies) that have had over 400 performances in seven countries.  Stan Mazin, Director, has appeared on Broadway and The Carol Burnett Show throughout its run.  The play is produced for the Group Rep by Alex Brown.  The production team includes Set Design by Mazin/Emmett, Lighting Design by Douglas Gabrielle, Sound Design by JC Gafford, Costumes by Cheryl Crosland, Assistant Director Michele Bernath, Graphic Design by Doug Haverty, Online Marketing by Kristin Stancato, Stage Managed by John Ledley and Photography/Videography by Doug Engalla.

            Birthday Club plays Saturdays at 4 PM and Sundays at 7 PM through October 24 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, located at 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood.  General admission is $20.00, seniors and students (with ID), $17.00.  For tickets and information, go online at www.thegrouprep.com, or call 818-763-5990.           

            All patrons must be vaccinated with proof of full vaccination and ID required upon entry. Entire cast and crew have been fully vaccinated.

            HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

 AS GOOD AS GOLD by Carol Kaufman Segal

    I had the good fortune to watch a number of performances by Theatre 40 on my computer in the past year-and-a-half.  However, I am pleased to be able to once again enjoy live performances by this theatre company now in their 55th season, the first production being a comedy entitled As Good As Gold by popular book author Marilyn Anderson.

    The play features three women, Maggie Carson (Marie Broderick), Karly De Haven (Nicola Victoria Buck), and Elaine Katz (Wendy Hammer), who are all screenwriters and very close friends.  They have become frustrated with the sexism in their field in Hollywood, and decide to do something about it.  Why not write a script featuring exciting action and featuring a very handsome, sexy man that all women would dream about - and written by - who else but Mr. Handsome, Sexy Man himself?  And they name him Adam Gold!

    So far, so good, but then they come upon a problem.  How will they manage to get a studio to know about the film, like it, and want to buy it?  As luck would have it, they accidentally come upon a  perfect young man named Jeffrey (Landon Beaty), who, at first, questions whether he is capable of handling such a job, but quickly decides (why not?) that he will do it.

    Well, Adam (as he is now known) turns out to be a perfect imposter and actually takes over as if he were really the one who wrote the film.  He is very successful in his new job and quickly takes complete control.  Now, where does that leave Maggie, Karly, and Elaine throughout the rest of the play?  I guarantee you, you will find out through a lot of laughable happenings to the end.

    Other members in the cast include Will Bradley (Lance), Chance Denman (Luke), and David Westbay (Ed Mansfield).  The play is directed by Roger K. Weiss.  The assistant director is Ann Hearn Tobolowsky, and the set design is by Jeff G. Rack.

    The play runs Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM through October 17.  Admission is $35.  Reservations are available online at www.theatre 40.org or by phone at (310) 364-0535.  Theatre 40 is located in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills.

 

   Note:  My review of this production is based on seeing it as a prevue presentation.