Vanquished Valentine

The county’s newest theater--and newest theatrical troupe--opened over the weekend in Ventura with a production of “Shirley Valentine.”

Playwright Willy Russell’s best-known works are the excellent drama “Educating Rita” and the abysmal musical “Blood Brothers.”

A one-woman show--and thankfully far closer to “Rita” than to the musical--”Shirley Valentine” features housewife Shirley talking, for the most part, to the walls of her Liverpool kitchen. The play debuted in London in 1988 and moved to Broadway in 1989.

Repressed by her unfeeling husband (“I’m not sayin’ he’s bad . . . just no bleedin’ good”) and, inevitably, Britain’s still-rigid class system, Shirley is intelligent, if uneducated, and witty. She desires and deserves better.

Humorous and poignant, Shirley’s monologue is refreshingly clear of self-pity as she describes her current situation, past events including a very funny recounting of a Nativity pageant, and friends such as the well-traveled Marjorie, who turns out not to be a flight attendant on the Concorde after all.

The current production is a tour de force for actress (and Rubicon Theatre Company co-founder) Karyl Lynn Burns. A native Kansan and resident in the tri-counties for several years, Burns disappears into Valentine under Greg Lee’s direction. It’s the third time the two have collaborated on this property, and they have it pretty well perfected.

The new Laurel Theatre is a converted Pentecostal church, owned by Doug Halter and Joe Murray, who intend to present various forms of entertainment in the nicely finished facility. Unlike the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center--also a converted church--the Laurel features a thrust stage, and no seat is more than eight pews away from the action. Use of a wireless microphone here is a bit superfluous, but at least everyone can hear every word, although not all may be understandable under Burns’ rather thick accent. Some of those words, incidentally, are doubtless being heard for the first time in a Pentecostal church, so those averse to Anglo-Saxon terms for the sexual act had best be warned.

DETAILS

“Shirley Valentine” continues at 8 Thursday-Saturday evenings and 2 p.m. Sundays through March 28 at the Laurel Theatre, 1006 E. Main St. in Ventura. Tickets to all performances are $15; $10, seniors and students; $5, groups of 12 and more. For reservations or more information, call 667-2900.

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Another one-person show, Doug Motel’s “Shiva Arms,” has been extended from a one-weekend appearance through April 10 at the new Gold Coast Playhouse in Thousand Oaks. The actor / playwright skillfully portrays 11 residents of a seedy Hollywood apartment building. An Ojai production was reviewed favorably in these pages a year ago; it subsequently and successfully moved to Hollywood before coming to Thousand Oaks.

DETAILS

“Shiva Arms” continues at 8 Friday and Saturday evenings through April 10 at the Gold Coast Playhouse, 1408 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks. Tickets are $20; $15, students with identification. For reservations or more information, call 497-4066.

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The current production at the Marquie Dinner Theatre in Camarillo is James Yaffe’s “Cliffhanger.” Although it appeared, briefly, off-Broadway in 1987, the play is far better suited to the current setting. Stan and Juanita Seavey portray Henry and Polly Lowenthal; he’s a professor on the verge of retiring to a comfortable academic chair. Enter snobbish Edith Wilshire (Andrea Piwetz), who bears enmity toward her former teacher and who can now block his appointment. There’s violence, an inconvenient witness (Hank Florence) with his own agenda; and a sleepy, small-town policeman, very well played by Les Neil. Aileen-Marie Scott directed, and she and the cast keep the action and plot twists moving swiftly and amusingly.

DETAILS

“Cliffhanger” continues Thursday-Saturday evenings through April 17 at the Marquie Dinner Theatre, 340 N. Mobil Ave. in Camarillo. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; a buffet dinner with choice of entrees is served from 7, and the show begins shortly after 8. Tickets to all performances, which include the show, dinner, nonalcoholic beverages, tax and tip, are $35; $32, seniors; and $28, children. A full cash bar is available. For reservations or more information, call 404-9909.

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The Conejo Players will soon audition for two productions. Both the main stage production, Ralph Trouf’s “Shadow Hour” (auditioning evenings, April 4-6) and the Conejo Afternoon Theatre presentation, Robert Leland Taylor’s “Those Strange and Glorious Years” (auditioning Sunday evening, April 11) are essentially new plays.

Both casts range from their 20s through 60s; all but one member of the “Shadow Hour” cast will play multiple roles. All auditions will be held at the Conejo Players Theater, 351 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. For more information on “Shadow Hour,” call producer Gary Robertson at 495-6510; for more information on “Those Strange and Glorious Years,” contact director Mark Johnson at 492-4013.