BIDEN MY TIME by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Biden My Time is a production that was presented at the Zephyr Theatre as a special preview performance by Capitol Comedy.  This is a new troupe of exceptionally talented singers and impressionists, brought together by writer, director, producer Nicholas Zill.  Why the name Capitol Comedy?  That name might give you a hint of what to expect.

            When the play began, I found out that there are no political persons who are safe from being brought to life in a comedic way that involves dancing, singing, and just all-out very funny acts with songs that may be familiar, but with new lyrics that keep one laughing throughout. 

            Biden MyTime was presented twice at the Zephyr Theatre on October 3, once at 12 Noon and again at 2:30 PM.  Therefore, some of the roles were performed by two different cast members.  The performers included Danial Amerman (Joe Biden), (Now you are aware of how the show got its name), Shefalii Deshpande (Kamala Harris), Travis Joe Dixon (Joe Bidon, Anti-vax pitchman), Cristina Florez (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), Bella Gil (Alexandria Ocasio-Crotez), Alivia Long (Kamala Harris), Joy Mamey (Mitch McConnell, Rachel Maddow), Aaron Matijasic (Bernie Sanders, Jeff Bezos), Lauren O’Brien (video interviewee Loreen Loomis), Sarah Oliver (Mitch McConnell, and Josh Odsess-Rubin (Bernie Sanders, Jeff Bezos, Republican speech consultant).

            Biden My Time was written and produced by Nicholas Zill, directed by Caitlin Hart, music director and pianist was Brenda Varda.  I would suspect you will be hearing about and having the chance to see more of Capital Comedy in the future.  When the time comes, you won't want to miss them.

  

 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.

CODE PINK PERFORMANCES added at LOFT ENSEMBLE

  

    

Due to popular demand, Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood has announced four additional performances of Code Pink.  The added performances are on Saturday, August 28, at 8 PM, Saturday, August 29, at 7 PM, Saturday, September 11, at 8 PM, and Sunday, September 12, at 7 PM.  All seats are available on a "Donate What You Want" basis and reservations are available.  

    See review of Code Pink by Carol Kaufman Segal written July 13, 2021, for further information.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Carol Kaufman Segal

     

    The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic comedy, undoubtedly the most popular comedy by Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), playing at the Freemont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena.  It is set in London and Shropshire, England and is based around two young men, Jack who lives in the country, and his friend Algernon who lives in London.

    Jack (Austen Hall), who lives in the country, likes to look for excuses to get away to London to see his friend Algernon (Adam Lanson), leaving his young ward, the lovely heiress Cecily Cardew (Veronica Coutsky), in the country.  He invents a troublesome brother (he names him Ernest) to whom he has to look out for periodically as his excuse to get away from home.  But the real reason he wants to go is to see his friend Algernon's beautiful cousin, Gwendolen Fairfax (Roza Zemia).

    Later, after Algy (as he is called) finds out more about Jack and the fact that he has a beautiful ward back home, he decides to leave London to visit Jack in the country in order to meet and pursue Cecily.  He arrives in Shropshire posing as Jack's friend Ernest.  Gwendolen eventually shows up in Shropshire, and Jack admits to her that his name is not Ernest, but Jack.  After wooing Cecily, Algernon admits to her that his name is not Ernest either.  This appears to be a problem with the ladies, as both seemed to have the desire to marry someone named Ernest.

   

    But what is more problematic is the fact that Lady Bracknell (Tamarah AshtonI) Gwendolen's mother, will not allow her daughter to marry someone like Jack who has no social status.  As an orphan, Jack had been found by his adopted parents in a handbag at King's Cross Station.  And because Jack is Cecily's guardian, he refuses to let her marry Algernon unless Lady Bracknell changes her mind and lets him marry Gwendolen.

          

    However, fate steps in when Lady Bracknell inspects the handbag that Jack was found in as an infant because it matches exactly the missing handbag that Algernonn's infant brother was in when he was found.  So obviously, Jack had to be Algernon's missing baby brother who had been named Ernest!  The play ends knowing that both couples will soon be getting married.

       

    Other cast members include Connor Chaney, John Farley, Christopher Girt, and Georgan George. Jack J. Bennett directed.  Gloria Bennett was the producer and musical director.  Costumes are by Tamarah Ashton assisted by Jaclyn Khitikian.

    

    The Importance of Being Ernest plays at the Fremont Center Theatre, 1000 Fremont Ave., South Pasadena.  It plays Fridays at 7:00 PM, Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM through September 25.  All seats are & 30,00.  In addition to the live in-person performances, the show is livestreamed with a live stream family pass available for $40.00.  

    For online tickets go to http://yougstarstheatre.org/tickets.

  

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

                

    

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN EXTENDS through September 12, 2021

See review dated August 4, 2021 

SCHEDULE                                                                                                                                                Thursday, August 12, 7 PM                                                                                                                                 Fridays, August 20, August 27, September 10, 7 PM                                                                                    Saturdays, August 14, August 21, August 28, September 4, September 11, 7 PM                                            Sundays, August 15, August 22, August 29, September 5, September 12, 7 PM

Circles are now on sale and can be purchased at http//sierramadreplayhouse.org, or be calling                11   (626) 355-4318.

                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN by Carol Kaufman Segal

     

    There is nothing like the joy of a wonderful musical with good performers, good music, and good for the whole family.  I am pleased to announce the opening of You're A Good Man, Charley Brown being presented by the Sierre Madre Playhouse outdoors at the Sierra Madre Memorial Park, located at 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA.  And isn't it wonderful to be able to watch  a musical in person rather than watching it on zoom?! 

    This lively musical is presented without a plot, but more like a comic strip, which is what makes it more fun to watch, relax, and enjoy.   A marvelous cast brings the comic characters to life.  They include Hamilton Davis Weaver as Charlie Brown, Mary Zastrow as Lucy,  Marcha Kia as Sally, Luke Sweeney as Schroeder, Alexander Mashikian as Snoopy, and Melvin Biteng as Linus. 

     One can't help but fall in love with each of the characters, who come alive by these wonderful actors who prove their talents as singers and dancers as well. You don't have to be a child to enjoy everything about this production.  

    The outdoor stage is perfect, the scenic design by Nick Santiago, and lighting design by Derek Jones.  All of the performers really look like children in costumes by Shon Leblanc and wig designs by Diahann McCrary.  The book, music. and lyrics are by Clark Gesner with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, additional dialogue by Michael Mayer, produced and directed by Charistian Lebano, Associate Producer Gary Lam, Musical Director Sean Paxton, and Choreographer Palmer Davis.

     Seeing You're A Good Man, Charley Brown made  for a wonderful evening of entertainment with safety protocols that were in effect and will remain in effect throughout the run of the production. Seating is in socially distanced circles, six feet apart, to accommodate parties of two, four, or six.  This will primarily be lawn seating (please bring your own blankets), but there will also be circles designated for people who bring chairs.  A limited number of lawn chairs will also be available to rent. They will remain in effect throughout the run which will end Sunday, August 29.  All performances are at 7 PM Fridays through Sundays, dark on August 6 and August 23, with two additional runs Thursday August 12 and  Thursday August 26.

    Circles are now on sale and can be purchased at http://sierramadreplayhouse.org, or by calling 

(626) 355-4318.

    Sierra Madre Memorial Park is located at 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd,  Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FAMILYS

"Bonus!  August Sundays from 5:30-6:30 pm:  Family Craft Sundays at Memorial Park.  Join us for family-friendly crafting in the park before our Sunday performances (Aug. 8, 15, 22, and 29)!  All craft materials provided in partnership with Cal Poly Pomona's Center for Community Engagment."