San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
Zonia Loomis (Ella Donnelly) and neighborhood kid Reuben Scott (Brian Bose) are deep into a discussion about ghosts.
- Photo by Manuel Rotenberg
The folks at Seth Holly’s boardinghouse in the Pittsburgh of 1911 think Herald Loomis’ clunky shoes say a lot about him and his mysterious ways. They’re right—Loomis has been on a seven-year hunt for his wife in those shoes, seeking to make himself whole after the two were separated while Loomis worked on a chaingang on trumped-up charges.
August Wilson’s Joe turner Has Come and Gone, a current UCSD Department of Theatre and Dance entry, briefly reunites the couple, but not before some heavy dialogue about extortion, black working life and spirituality’s sometimes-murky role get in the way of things.
In the end, this is quite a lively piece, driven by Bowman Wright’s excellent turn as the embittered, treelike Loomis and Ngozi Anyanwu’s remarkable work as the durable Bertha Holly, Seth’s wife. The subtext has its day, too, as director Kyle Donnelly has cast Loomis’ daughter Zonia (Ella Donnelly) perfectly to type. JerVae Anthony’s dirge-like vocals color the action in the manner of the finest ancient Greek chorus. The characters’ workaday sense of duty contrasts well with Loomis’ sadness, and the actors’ youth fuels the show’s unlikely message of hope.
Through Dec. 4 at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive in La Jolla. $10- $20. theatre.ucsd.edu/season
Opening
A Taffeta Christmas: Kaye, Peggy, Cheryl and Donna Taffeta recall Christmases past in this musical tribute to the girl groups of the 1950s. Opens Dec. 2 at OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista and Dec. 10 the Rolando Theatre in the College Area. $17-$20. onstageplayhouse.org
Plaid Tidings: This is a holiday treatment of Forever Plaid, wherein a quartet with aspirations of stardom is killed before they get a chance to prove themselves on Earth. Produced by The Old Globe Theatre, it’s in previews now and opens Dec. 2 at the Globe’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. $33-$67. oldglobe.org
The Santaland Diaries: Crumpet the Elf encounters the insane world of retail shopping during the holiday season. Opens Dec. 2 at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. $20. newvillagearts.org
Black Nativity: The birth of Jesus is retold in an African-American setting. Produced by Common Ground Theatre, it opens Dec. 3 at the Educational Cultural Complex. $10-$30. commongroundtheatre.org
How Do You Spell ‘Chanukah’?: What is Hanukkah—or Chanukah? How do you really spell it, anyway? What’s it ever done for you, and why should you care? Opens Dec. 3 at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. $20. ncrep.org
Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!: How can Junie B. enjoy the festivities when Tattletale May keeps ruining her holiday glee? Produced by San Diego Junior Theatre, it opens Dec. 3 at the La Jolla YMCA Firehouse Theatre in La Jolla. $11-$14. juniortheatre.com
The Color Purple: Celie and her troubles illustrate female black life in the Southeast of the 1930s. Opens Dec. 3 at the Civic Theatre Downtown. $20-$94.50. broadwaysd.com
13, A New Musical: The school’s star quarterback is threatening to ruin 13-year-old Evan’s life; his only friend, Patrice, won’t talk to him; plus the least popular kid in school sees an opportunity for blackmail— what else could go wrong? Produced by J* Company, it opens Dec. 3 at the Dorothea Garfield Theatre in University City. $16. sdcjc.lfjcc.org/jc
You Better Watch Out!: Only Andy, the Willow Inn’s handyman, sees Mr. Smith for what he is—the spirit of Christmas. Opens Dec. 3 at Poway Performing Arts Center in Poway. $10-$15. powpac.org
Believe: The story of Christmas is presented as a slapstick comedy in mime. Produced by the New Vision Theatre Company, it opens Dec. 4 at The Sunshine Brooks Theatre in Oceanside. $6-$25. nvtheatre.com
It’s Christmas and it’s Live: A singing quartet is set to audition for a TV show when a blizzard shuts down New York in the 1950s. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it’s in previews now and opens Dec. 4 at the Ione and Paul Harter Stage in Coronado. lambsplayers.org
It’s a Wonderful Life: The classic Christmas movie featuring George Bailey and Clarence the Angel is mounted as a radio play. Produced by Cygnet Theatre Company, it’s in previews now and opens Dec. 4 at the Old Town Theatre. $24-$49. cygnettheatre.com
Santa Claus is Coming Out: Mr. Kringle struggles with his intense feelings for Italian toymaker Giovanni Geppetto. Opens Dec. 4 at Diversionary Theatre in University Heights. $31-$33. diversionary.org
Now Playing
Paradise Hotel: Pinglet and his best friend’s wife, Marcelle, scramble to cover their tracks during their romantic rendezvous at the seedy Paradise Hotel. Produced by the SDSU School of Theatre, Television and Film, it runs through Dec. 5 at the Don Powell Theatre on the SDSU campus. $13-$15. theatre.sdsu.edu
* The Crucible: Five Massachusetts Bay girls set Salem Town on its ear when they claim to have been visited by the Devil. Co-produced by MOXIE Theatre and Intrepid Shakespeare Company, it runs through Dec. 5 at The Rolando Theatre in the College Area. $20. moxietheatre.com, intrepidshakespeare.com
Deathtrap: How far will somebody go to pass off a hit play as his own? Produced by Scripps Ranch Theatre, it runs through Dec. 11 at the Legler Benbough Theatre on the campus of Alliant international University in Scripps Ranch. $10-$22. scrippsranchtheatre.org
Steel Magnolias: Three friends come together at a small-town Louisiana beauty parlor, declaring there’s no such thing as natural beauty. Produced by Point Loma Actors, it runs through Dec. 12 at Point Loma Assembly in Point Loma. $14-$16. pointlomaactors.com. Also playing through Dec. 8 at Patio Playhouse in Escondido. $7-$15. patioplayhouse.com
* Storyville: Jazz trumpeter Butch “Cobra” Brown and budding singer Tigré Savoy might become a couple, but the political machine in New Orleans in 1917 has other plans. Produced by San Diego Repertory Theatre, it runs through Dec. 12 at The Lyceum Stage downtown. $39-$53. sdrep.org
* miXtape: The music of Generation X was just getting started in the explosive 1980s. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through Dec. 19 at The Horton Grand Theatre Downtown. $28-$58. lambsplayers.org
Ruined: A Congolese entrepreneur runs a canteen where soldiers can meet up with women (for a price) as war looms. Through Dec. 19 at the Mandell Weiss Theatre in La Jolla. $31-$66. lajollaplayhouse.org
Shotgun Wedding Anniversary: What happens after 25 years in a less-than-blissful marriage? For Basil and Petals, it can mean murder. Through Dec. 24 at Mystery Cafe, in the Imperial House restaurant, west of Balboa Park. $59.50, including dinner. mysterycafe.net
* Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: The asshole is at it again this year, making life miserable for the residents of Whoville until the spirit of the season hits him. Through Dec. 26 at The Old Globe Theatre mainstage in Balboa Park. $20-$77. oldglobe.org
