‘Mrs. California’ a Suburban Story

Doris Baizley’s “Mrs. California,” a spoof about a homemaker’s competition in the 1950s, fizzles at the end, but under director Michael Jung, this Long Beach Playhouse production’s ensemble gives a winning presentation of June Cleaver wannabes.

Pushed into this competition by her neighborhood hussy-on-the-loose friend Babs (Deanna Hixson), former WAVE and current homemaker Dot (Trace Turville) must show her womanly skills at apron-sewing, men’s white-shirt ironing, full-meal cooking and perky question-answering. As one of the four finalists, Dot is up against the blond, out-to-win vixen, Mrs. San Bernardino (Stacie Wilson); the cosmopolitan, red-haired, French-infatuated Mrs. San Francisco (Susan M. Carr); and the frumpy but sincere mother of seven Mrs. Modesto (Holly Jeanne).

Jung lets this be so frothy and frivolous that the mere expressions of these ladies as they pose and flourish (choreographed by Anna-Louise Paul) in front of sewing machines and set tables is amusing. Donna Fritsche’s costume design and Mark Travis Hoyer’s wigs and makeup add just the right touches to the suburban nightmare.

The narrative focus becomes blurry near the end, as Baizley raises two themes--loyalty to friends and a feeble feminist argument. The ending is too sweet and predictable, but this cast makes it fun.

*

* “Mrs. California,” Studio Theatre, Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Fridays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sunday, May 17, 2 p.m. Ends May 30. $10-$15. (562) 494-1616. Running time: 2 hours.