Movie Review by Cindy Summers
Late Night

3 palm trees out of 4

Late Night is a comedy about a late night host who’s on the verge of loosing her show due to it’s dated and pretentious material that is rescued by a clever young female comic with basically no formal experience who happened to stumble into a new future as a comedy writer on the show. Released by Amazon Studios, Directed by Nisha Ganatra, and Written and Produced by Mindy Kaling, who also stars in the lead role of Molly Patel opposite Emma Thompson as Katherine Newbury.

Katherine Newbury is a late night host that has won dozens of Emmy’s throughout her career, and finds herself put on notice due to a decade of declining ratings when a new studio executive joins the company. She is rude and completely horrible to her writing staff, which are all men, and a complete tyrant around the office and the set as well.

Molly joins the team much to the dislike and disappointment of the male writers club, and finds herself also challenged at dealing with the brash and often times completely inappropriate actions of her new boss Katherine.

Katherine and Molly form an unexpected bond, as it’s believed that Katherine doesn’t like women working for her, and Molly gets the opportunity to shine, though is challenged with Katherine harsh and reactionary demeanor.

Emma Thompson is perfectly cast in the role of Katherine, who is a pretentious British woman with too much money and no boundaries as far as the appropriate way to treat people. She does so blatantly and unapologetically, even refusing to learn the names of her writing staff, alternately decide to just assign them numbers and refer to them only that way during staff meetings.

Molly is sweet, conscientious, and initially completely overwhelmed by Katherine’s persona, though finds clever ways to navigate Katherine’s bad nature and help her to reveal a more true and successful self, that ultimate becomes the solution to keeping the show. There is also a great chemistry in the polarity of personalities between Molly and Katherine, and the portrayed relationships have a very genuine feel.

John Lithgow is great in the supporting role as Katherine’s husband, Walter Lovell, who champions her challenges throughout the movie, and shows insightful compassion toward his wife in learning of her infidelity.

This funny movie does a great job at tackling some very sensitive issues, such as sex scandals in the press and sexism in the workplace, but does it through humor and appropriate, somewhat surprising outcomes due to the initial introductions of the characters and complex scenarios.

This is more of a feel good, not laugh out loud movie, though there are plenty of witty, perfectly timed lines to keeping you laughing and have a very enjoyable movie experience.

Rated R – 102m

Movie Review by Cindy Summers
Booksmart

4 palm trees out of 4

Booksmart is a coming of age comedy about two high school seniors, Molly and Amy, on their way to graduation when they come to the realization that they’ve spent all their time working hard thinking they’ll get ahead, only to discover that they’re on pace with all the other students that enjoyed their high school days partying and slacking off. Released by United Artists, Directed by Olivia Wilde, and Written by Katie Silberman, Emily Halpern, Susanna Fogel and Sarah Haskins. Starring Beanie Feldstein as Molly and Kaitlyn Dever as Amy.

The chemistry between Dever and Feldstein is phenomenal, and their on screen friendship is endlessly comical and believable. Though outcasts among their peers, they both have strong, somewhat misguided confidence in themselves fueled by constantly supporting and inspiring each other.

Molly is on her way to Yale and graduating as class valedictorian, while Amy is heading to Botswana to help women and right behind Molly as salutatorian. Molly is the driving force behind the duos escapades as they go from party to party throughout the town searching for the big graduation party with all the popular students, including Amy’s crush.

Interestingly, Amy is gay, though has had no physical experience, just a crush on another seemingly gay girl, and her sexuality is strongly supported by her best friend and parents, who think Amy and Molly are a couple due to the amount of time they spend together.

The movie touches on some somewhat taboo subjects, such as teen masturbation, but does so in a way that disarms the audience with humor and hilarious comedic timing. It also presents homosexuality as an openly accepted way of life between the students, and even with the parents and teachers as well.

Beanie Feldstein is fierce as Molly, and truly embodies the spirit of an awkward academic outsider. Kaitlyn Dever is well cast in her role as Amy, the quieter of the two who is focused finding a nice girl to have her first experience with and does well at portraying the confusion and vulnerability that comes with teen sexuality.

Additional standouts are Billie Lourd as Gigi, a wild party girl who strangely pops up doing random things everywhere Molly and Amy end up, and Skyler Gisondo as Jared who outwardly seems superficial and not so bright, but is actually very conscientious coming to the rescue in his own way several times in the movie.

I found myself laughing out loud throughout the movie, but there were also touching moments of kindness and several unexpected twists that have you rooting for the two to succeed. It also does very well at depicting how teenage life can be so exciting, confusing, awkward and challenging all at the same time and has a genuine way of sharing it from the teen perspective.

Rated R – 105m

by Shirley Lorraine
Mayhem takes over Conejo Stage

Audiences can count on Conejo Players in Thousand Oaks to make going to the theater fun. Their current production of Don’t Dress for Dinner pulls laughs from beginning to end in a fast-paced, try-to-keep-up storyline of infidelity, alibis and misunderstandings.

Written by French playwright Marc Camoletti, the play was adapted for British audiences and finally, for Americans. Conejo Players director and set designer John Eslick has taken the script a step further by relocating the setting to New York, circa 1970’s which works extremely well. The 70’s was a ménage of bad clothes, high hair and exploratory morals, all of which keeps the audience in stitches throughout.

Bernard (Kyle Johnson) and Jacqueline (Melissa Higashi) portray a married couple who live in a converted farmhouse in upstate New York. The living room was once a barn, the kitchen a chicken coop and connected rooms feature a cow shed and a piggery, now serving as bedrooms. The layout and style of the house itself adds to the comedy.
Both harbor a secret. Jacqueline is scheduled to visit her mother when she finds out that Bernard has invited his best friend, Robert (Alex Carrasco) for the weekend to supply an alibi for him so that he can invite his mistress Suzanne (Reign Lewis).

However, Jacqueline and Robert are having an affair of their own and when Jacqueline learns Robert is coming, she quickly cancels her plans to go away which in turn skews Bernard’s plans. A cordon bleu trained chef named Suzette (Olivia Heulitt) is hired to provide a sumptuous dinner but quickly becomes ensnared in an endless charade of mixed-up identity, causing mounting confusion all around. No fool, she plays along – for a price.

When Suzanne finally arrives, she is thought to be the cook and shuffled to the kitchen which results in a less than perfect dinner. Trying their best to salvage the weekend, the couples and the real cook build on the lies to a hysterical degree. Last, but not least, the cook’s husband George (Nick Schmidt) appears to bring the evening’s mayhem to a conclusion.

The cast is a tight ensemble which handles the pace and non-stop challenge of keeping their lies straight very well. Kyle Johnson and Melissa Higashi pull off the kitsch of the 70’s beautifully via their wardrobe and attitudes, and, in Higashi’s case, the high hair. Definitely an era of notable fashion.

The others are dressed in more generic era clothing, giving the lead roles the spotlight. While Suzanne’s big blonde “do” is character appropriate, her facial expressions are often hidden by her curls. Too bad, as she has some looks that shoot clear messages without words.

Director Eslick and the entire cast have captured playwright Camoletti’s sense of high frivolity, desires, resignations and anxieties for our enjoyment. And we shall. Don’t Dress for Dinner provides a worthwhile evening filled with laughs. Go and enjoy.
Don’t Dress for Dinner continues through June 22. Performances are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and one Thursday (6/6) at 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Seating is open. Tickets available at www. ConejoPlayers.org. (805) 495-3715 and at the door.

For more events go to VenturaRocks.com

Black Angus
4718 Telephone Road
Music 5:30 – 8:30 pm
Thursdays: Mark David Undercover

Blue Agave
185 E. Santa Clara
Fridays: Mariachi Band; DJ
Saturdays: DJ

The Blue Room
Ventura Harbor Village
(Next to Comedy Club)
Thursdays: Gypsy Blues Band w/ Shawn Jones

Boatyard Pub
Ventura Harbor Village
Monday-Thursday 6 pm, Friday & Saturday 7 pm
Mondays: Milo Sledge
Tuesdays: Jason Ho/Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Bluegrass Jam
Sun 5/26: Big Adventure Duo
Sun 6/2: Jon Gindick

Bombay Bar & Grill
143 S. California Street
Thursdays, Friday & Saturdays: DJs

Café Fiore66 S. California Street
Fri 5/24: The Collectives
Sat 5/25: Little Alice
Sun 5/26: Jangala Roots
Tues 5/28: Jason Bourne
Wed 5/29: Kylie

The Cave
4435 McGrath Street
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Weds & Saturdays: Varon Thomas
Thurs & Fridays: Warren Takahashi

Concrete Jungle Brewing
4561 Market Street
Fri 5/24: Los Retros, Evolution Burger

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Music 7 pm; Sundays 4 pm
Mondays: Smokey & Friends
Tuesdays: The Jerry McWorter Trio
Wed 5/22: Al Macias Open Mic
Fri 5/24: Native Vibe
Sat 5/25: Ruben Estrada & The Martinez Brothers
Sat 6/1: Ruben Estrada & The Martinez Brothers

Dargan’s Irish Rub & Restaurant
593 E. Main Street
Sun 6/2: The Sunday Drivers (4 pm)

Discovery
1888 Thompson Blvd
Thurs 5/23: Sammy J, The Hooliganz
Fri 5/24: One Drop Redemption
Sat 5/25: Twisted Gypsy
Sun 5/26: Sgt. Pepper (brunch); Groove Session (5 pm)
Wed 5/29: Alborosie & the Shengen Clan, Herbal Rootz
Thurs 5/30: Heavy Petty
Fri 6/1: Cubensis

Duke’s Griddle n Grill
1124 S. Seaward
Wednesdays: Karaoke
El Rey Cantina
294 E. Main Street
Fridays: DJ
Saturdays: DJ

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Avenue
Music 6 – 8:30 pm
Fri 5/24: Jodi Farrell and Jim Rankin
Fri 5/31: Karen Eden & Bill Macpherson
Garage
1091 Scandia Avenue
Wed 5/22: Del Toros, The Young Barons
Fri 5/24: Ward, Four Day Beard
Sat 5/25: The Robot Uprising, Hymen Blasters, 900 Pound Gorilla, QMD
Wed 5/29: Dead Boys, Die Group

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Avenue
(805) 642-2411
Thurs, Fri & Sat: Karaoke

Golden China
760 S. Seaward
(805) 652-0688
Karaoke seven nights a week 9 pm
Tuesdays 7 pm: Open Mic

Grapes and Hops
454 E. Main Street
Wed & Thurs 6 pm; Fri & Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm
Thurs 5/23: Ray Jaurique
Fri 5/24: Shawn Jones
Sat 5/25: Maria Calerie
Sun 5/26: Tex Pistols
Fri 5/31: Brandon Ragan Project

Hong Kong Inn
435 E. Thompson Blvd
Wed 5/22: Gemini B-Day Jam
Sat 5/25: Civil Conflict, Bootleg Brigade, Slum Brigade, Mulholland, Bare Minimum, Operation Oxnard
Sun 5/26: Del Franklin (4-7 pm)
Sun 6/2: Satin

Keynote Lounge
10245 E. Telephone Road
Tues, Wed and Sun: Karaoke
Thursdays: Open mic night
Fri 5/24: Red Rhythm
Sat 5/25: What the Funk
Fri 5/31: DJ AVG
Sat 6/1: Crosscut 805

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd.
Tues: Open Mic, The Listening Room
Sat 5/25: Teresa Russell & Tom Buenger
Thurs 5/30: DJ Rockingchair
Sat 6/1: Shawn Jones

Limon y Sal
598 E. Main Street
Fridays: DJ
Saturdays: DJ
Sundays: Instone (1-4 pm)

Made West Brewing
1744 Donlon Street
Thurs 6 pm; Sat 4 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 5/23: Hannah Jobus
Sat 5/25: Jeff Uzzel
Thurs 5/30: Ted Lennon

Margarita Villa
Ventura Harbor Village
Wed 5/22: Mark Masson
Fri 5/24: Corsican Brothers
Sat 5/25: Matt Clark
Sun 5/26: Doc Rogers Band
Mon 5/27: Misunderstood
Tues 5/28: Bob Bishop
Wed 5/29: Karen Eden
Fri 5/31: Whiskey Business
Sat 6/1: Sin Chonies
Sun 6/2: CRV

Namba
47 S. Oak Street
Sat 5/25: River Ripley, RyMi and the Martians, Tattered Angels
Sat 6/1: Flamenco
Sun 6/2: Hands On’Ensemble

Oak and Main
419 E. Main Street
Sundays: Sing Time Karoke
Tuesdays: Beers Brothers Open Mic
Wednesdays: Big Adventure
Thurs 5/23: Total Recluse
Fri 5/24: Seaside Band
Sat 5/25: Ric Ash (4 pm); Colette Lovejoy Band
Sun 5/26: Medicine Hat (11:30 am); The References (2 pm); Heart & Soul (6:30 pm)
Thurs 5/30: Beers Brothers Showcase
Fri 5/31: Dave Bowery
Sat 6/1: Ric Ash, The Might Cash Cats
Sun 6/2: Andrew Dr. Suico

Ojai Art Center
113 S. Montgomery Street
Ojai, CA
Sat 6/1: Ojai Blues Fest w/ Crooked Eye Tommy feat. Rae Gordon, Orphan Jon & the Abondoned, Kelly’s Lot, Laurie Morvan Band

O’Leary’s
6555 Telephone Road
Wed: Karaoke

Paddy’s
2 W. Main Street
Wednesdays: Karaoke
Fri & Sat: DJs

Plan B Winery
3520 Arundell Circle
Sun 5/26: Yesterday & Today

Red Cove
1809 E. Main Street
Wed 5/22: Vicious Cycle, The Meat Beaters

Sandbox Coffeehouse
204 E. Thompson Blvd
805-641-1025
Thurs 6 pm, Weekends noon
Thursdays Open Mic
Sat 6/1: No class
Sun 6/2: Nate Music

Sans Souci
21 S. Chestnut
Sundays: DJ Darko
Mondays: Karaoke w/ Brian Parra
Tuesdays: DJ Nick Dean
Wednesdays: Open mic
Thursdays: DJ Spinobi
Fri 5/24: Stevie Char
Sat 5/25: Raised on Vinyl
Fri 5/31: DJ Pistolero
Sat 6/1: DJ Pistolero

The Shores Restaurant
1031 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard
Fri 5/24: Jose Valdez Jazz Trio
Sat 5/25: 805 Allstarz
Sun 5/26: Ray Ray and the Rustlers
Fri 5/31: Dave Parsonage
Sat 6/1: Brandon Ragan Project

The Star Lounge
343 E. Main Street
Fri 5/24: CRV
Sat 5/25: Masters of the Past
Fri 5/31: Mini Driver Band

The Tavern
211 E. Santa Clara Street
(805) 643-3264
Sundays: DJ Steezy Steve
Tuesdays: Karaoke
Thursdays: Get Right DJ
Fri 5/24: The Intelligence, The Spires, Vnlvx
Sat 5/25: The Black Stripes

Topa Mountain Winery
821 W. Ojai Avenue, Ojai
Music 3-5 pm
Sat 5/25: Hunter & the Dirty Jacks
Sun 5/26: Joystix
Mon 5/27: Bryan Titus Trio

Ventura College Performing Arts Center
4700 Loma Vista Road
Fri 5/24: El Bracero, a Mariachi Opera

Ventura County Fairgrounds
10 W. Harbor Blvd.
Fri 5/24: Liberacion, Industria del Amor, Bryndis y Mas

Winchester’s
632 E. Main Street
(805) 653-7446
Music at 7:00 pm; Sundays at 5 pm
Fri 5/24: Carlo Fontaine
Sat 5/25: Jon Gindick
Sun 5/26: CRV
Fri 5/31: Frank Barajas
Sat 6/1: The Swillys
Sun 6/2: Hot Cuppa Three

1901 Speakeasy
649 South B Street, Oxnard
Fri 5/24: Rich Sheldon
Sat 5/25: Carlo Fontaine
Fri 5/31: Bobby Campbell

The 805 Bar
Ventura Harbor
Music at 11 am – 1 pm Fri & Saturday
4-7 pm Saturday
Saturdays: Kenny Devoe
Sundays: Kenny Devoe

Movie Review by Cindy Summers

The Hustle

Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees,
4 being best.

The Hustle is the 2019 remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), which was a remake of Bedtime Story (1964). Released by United Artists, Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Directed by Chris Addison, and Written by Stanley Shapiro, Paul Henning, Dale Launer, and Jac Schaeffer. Starring Anne Hathaway as Josephine Chesterfield, Rebel Wilson as Penny Rust, Alex Sharp as Thomas Westerburg, and Nicholas Woodeson as Albert.

Josephine and Penny are two con artists who swindle gullible, rich men in Beaumont-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. Josephine is a British woman who is glamorous and cultured, while Penny is a very erratic and fun-loving Australian, and after they meet they start to compete but eventually join forces. Josephine puts Penny through the paces in a quasi con training school in her nice French villa to get Penny’s con skills more refined so that they can jointly target men for luxurious jewelry and eventually work together to steal the riches of an internet billionaire.

I would be the first to admit I’m a huge Rebel Wilson fan, from her breakout role in Bridesmaids, to all 3 Pitch Perfect movies to her TV series Super Fun Night which she created, had the lead role and ran for 17 episodes ~ all filled me with bellyaching laughter from her comedic timing and physicality.

In The Hustle, in which Wilson also is as Producer, she unfortunately misses the mark as the gags are childish in nature, the cons are insultingly obvious, and the comedic timing seems off most of the movie. Wilson does shine with outrageous physical comedy throughout, which lessens the disappointment of what looks to be an outrageous comedy from the trailers.

Anne Hathaway is no stranger to comedy, and is cast well as the aristocratic opposite to Wilson’s less experienced and impulsive style. Hathaway’s physical comedy is surprisingly quite good throughout the movie and her dry wit plays well off Wilson’s seemingly oblivious nature.

Nicholas Woodeson (Albert the butler) is a stand-out in this comedy lineup for his perfect comedic timing, dry humor and his hilarious physicality.

Though there are a few shining moments of comedy, most of The Hustle falls flat leaving the audience feeling hustled by the promise of such a comedic pairing where the chemistry doesn’t ever seem to quite gel.

Rated PG – 93m

by Cindy Summers

Dumbo 
3 palm trees out of 4

Dumbo is the 2019 Walt Disney Pictures version of the animated Disney classic originally released 1941. Directed by Tim Burton, Music by Danny Elfman. and Written by Ehren Kruger. Starring Danny DeVito as Max Medici, Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier and Michael Keaton as V.A. Vandevere with great performances from child actors Nicole N. Parker as Milly Farrier & Finley Hobbins as Joe Farrier.

Set in 1919, it’s a reminder of a time when the circus traveled on trains. The Medici Circus traveled across the south and was plagued with loss from the influenza epidemic and declining crowds. Holt Farrier (Collin Farrell) returns from the war having lost an arm and discovering he also has lost his wife to influenza and his prize performing horses were sold to keep the circus going. There’s an obvious distance with his children Milly (Nicole N. Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) , who had to rely on each other having been left alone at the circus by circumstance.

Max Medici (Danny DeVito) buys Jumbo the elephant in hopes that a cute baby elephant can draw big crowd, only to have his dreams crushed by Dumbo’s seemingly deformed large ears. You can’t help but fall in love in an instant peering into Dumbo’s sweet blue eyes and extremely realistic looking CGI. Milly and Joe discover quite by chance that when Dumbo sniffs up a feather, he can fly. Feeling this will help the Medici circus, Dumbo get national exposure after flying in his first show.

This got the attention of a major investor, V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton) who offers to make Max a partner and give jobs to his troop in a giant permanent steampunk carnival venue, certainly a brilliant design that could only be created from the incredible imagination of Tim Burton. The music score also plays a big part in the emotion of the story, which is a testament to Burton’s continued project partnership with Danny Elfman.

Danny DeVito was perfect for his role as the crazy character running the circus, as he was hard not to love regardless of his morally questionable actions or intentions. It felt as though Keaton overacted the villain part at times but enjoyed the contrast of little Milly wanting to make scientific contributions to the world like Marie Curie. I found myself on the edge of my seat as the recently fired carnival crew set out to rescue Big Jumbo and Little Dumbo, and think the remake brings much reality and believability to this timeless Disney classic.

Dumbo is a movie for people of all ages and for those that think you remember the story line believe there’s much to see in this new release.

Rated PG – 112m

by Shirley Lorraine

Crimes of the Heart sizzles

Be prepared to laugh, to identify and to sympathize with the quirky characters in Beth Henley’s Pulitzer Prize winning drama, Crimes of the Heart, now onstage at Oxnard’s Elite Theatre. As their 2019 season themed “Family” continues, the production brings forward multiple areas of dysfunction while at the same time focuses on the importance and innate bonds of the family unit.

The scene is 1974, Hazlehurst, Mississippi. Three sisters with quite different viewpoints on life who are struggling through their own personal crises come together because granddaddy is in the hospital. Their troubled family history unites them at the core despite their differences.

Lenny (Genevieve Levin), a spinster of low self-esteem, is holding down the fort caring for granddaddy’s house and affairs. She is the logical one of the three. She anxiously awaits the arrival of sister Meg (Dawn Michelle), who had left the fold to seek a future as a singer. Alas, things didn’t quite work out for her. She copes by acting out, maintaining the hippie style of the 70’s with panache.

Both lament the fact that little sister Becky “Babe” (Samantha Netzen Bingham) has just blithely admitted to shooting her husband in the stomach (poor aim) because she didn’t like the sound of his voice. Now out on bail, Babe is handed legal representation by Barnette Lloyd (Patrick R. Rogers), a recent law school graduate clearly in over his head. He is smitten with Babe, which makes handling her case challenging.

Cousin Chick Boyle (Kimberly Prendergast) holds a consistently negative view of all the sisters but feels the need to be overtly involved for granddaddy’s sake. How the sisters each deal with Chick in their own way adds to the dimension of the character.

Doc Porter (Eric R. Umali, who also designed the set) reenters Meg’s life even though he is now married. Although their romance ended on a poor note years before, both harbor unresolved attraction destined to get them in trouble.

Many in the cast are new to the Elite Theatre stage, although the entire cast is certainly not new to many Ventura County theaters. Director Jolyn Johnson’s choice of this highly seasoned cast makes Crimes of the Heart sizzle with Southern flair.

The various life situations, as outrageous as they are, bear many similarities for everyone to identify with. How the sisters cope (or not) results in tears of recognition and laughter despite the underlying serious elements.

It is not unusual to dissolve into laughter as a method of coping with difficult times in our lives. One scene in the second act, when granddaddy falls into a coma, is contagiously hilarious.

The play does involve the use of herbal cigarettes so patrons who may be sensitive to that are encouraged to sit further back in the 70-seat theater. A fan and open doors at intermission help dispel the fragrance quickly. As the situations portrayed are decidedly “adult”, parental discretion is advised.

Crimes of the Heart continues through May 12 (bring mom on Mother’s Day!) with performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission, $17 for students, seniors and military, $12 for under 12. www.elitetheatre.org or (805) 483-5118.

by Shirley Lorraine

Coping and Compassion Help Heal

Getting older is not for sissies. Unfortunately, aging happens, if we’re lucky. When it does, often the entire family is pulled in to its sphere. Author Kate Hawley’s “Complications from a Fall” now playing at the Santa Paula Theatre Center recognizes and celebrates the trials, challenges and efforts required for families to weather the aging of loved ones.

The catalyst is Elizabeth, an older woman who has some dementia and is currently recovering from a recent fall. Nothing was broken, but the body doesn’t work as well as it used to. As a result, her daughter Helen has moved in to care for Elizabeth full time. Being a caregiver is hard work. Helen desperately needs a break.

She is slated to present a paper at a conference out of state, so she enlists the assistance of her brother Teddy. Teddy is not at all familiar with nor comfortable in taking on the role. It’s complicated. It’s uncomfortable. It’s outside his circle of knowledge.

Elizabeth has been relying not only on Helen, but also on Lucy, a hired caregiver whom Helen has recently fired for allegedly stealing from Elizabeth. Teddy calls on Lucy to bail him out when he doesn’t know how to cope with mother. Through these three tough days, Teddy learns a lot about realities of aging, dealing with dementia, and his own capabilities.

Helen checks in frequently with Teddy as she worries about his ability to cope with the situation while she gets a much-needed respite from it all.

Directed by Taylor Kasch, Jill Dolan as Elizabeth, Cynthia Killion as Helen, Sean Love Mason as Teddy and Julie Fergus as Lucy form a tight family unit which highlights the difficulties of their tasks.

The play, like real life, has moments of hilarity and moments that tug at our heartstrings. No doubt the author pulled from her own experiences to capture the coping mechanisms and subtleties so well. Dealing with dementia requires more patience than many realize – until they are faced with a loved one’s confusion, repetition and altered state of reality. The person is still there, they’re simply on a different mental stratum where logic and reason do not reside.

As a caregiver myself, I found the subject matter all too familiar. I recognized the humor, the pathos and the underlying sadness in seeing a loved one decline. Others in the audience did too. It’s a challenging subject to depict, one that many of my generation are learning to cope with and to accept.

If you aren’t faced with this yet, the play will offer valuable insights you can use later. If you’ve already been there or are there now, you will find it validating. I do feel the ending was a bit abrupt as the loose ends in the story were tied up quickly and no epilogue was offered. I’d love to see the play again with an additional scene to soften the rapid wrap-up. And life continues.

Complications from a Fall continues through May 19. Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $24, seniors and students $22, children $18. Subscription packages also available. www.santapaulatheatercenter.org, 805-525-4645.

By Shirley Lorraine
Rubicon’s Fuddy Meers is a wild ride

Several things can be expected from a Rubicon Theater production. High quality acting & production, and an opportunity to stretch your brain. The current production of Fuddy Meers, directed by Jenny Sullivan, running for just one more weekend, provides these things and more.

The fast-paced ride through life’s funhouse offers a roller coaster of events and emotions. With so much going on, by the end of the first act it is easy to be confused. Never fear, however, act two brings clarity in surprising ways. The play is high-strung and decidedly politically incorrect.

The central character is Claire (Precious Chong), a woman who lives with a severe case of amnesia. Each day she must be reminded of who she is and all details of her life. Her upbeat husband Richard (Joseph Fuqua) provides her with information and a scrapbook to reference. One morning, as Richard goes to shower, a man wearing a ski mask pops out from under Claire’s bed. He limps, lisps, and declares himself to be Claire’s brother, Zach (Stephen Caffrey) there to save her. From what is the question.

She takes him at face value, and they drive to Claire’s mother’s home in the country. Mother Gertie (Deedee Rescher) has had a stroke and is unable to put words in the correct order to form sentences. Her life is a different kind of funhouse.

At the window appears a foul-mouthed puppet named Binky, and his controller, Millet (Louis Lotorto). Millet and Zach have spent “time” together and are up to no good. When Richard discovers Claire is missing, he and rebellious son Kenny (Seryozha La Porte) head to Mother Gertie’s house. Along the way, a traffic stop by Policewoman Heidi (Tracy A. Leigh) results in her abduction as the two men decide she needs to accompany them to Gertie’s.

And that’s just the first act! It was amusing to listen to myriad audience comments at intermission – coming up with possible reasons for the chaos and making sense of the action.

Act two reveals that nothing is what it appears to be. Every character has a secret. Claire slowly begins to remember things from her past and as facts are unraveled, flashes of clarity come forth. We realize that everyone is searching for ways to become better people. Aren’t we all?

Wednesday’s talk-back with the actors revealed additional character insights from both actors and audience. The theme of the play, that life is a distorted and chaotic funhouse, during which we continually discover that there is always more under the surface, is a universal and timely one. We never have all the information we need to make sense of some things. And that’s okay. We just adjust what we consider to be normal in order to comprehend.

The actors are all outstanding. Each has created a definitively unique character with layers and layers of nuance. Director Sullivan allowed the actors to interpret their own journeys. As a result, each performance is slightly different. This is a wild ride worth taking.

Fuddy Meers concludes this weekend.