New look, old shows in Playhouse’s future

Tom Titus

There’ll be a few changes made at the Huntington Beach Playhouse next

season, but the theater’s schedule is dominated by blasts from the past.

Four of the six productions to be mounted at the Central Library

Theater in 2002 are plays that have previously been presented by the

Playhouse over the years, including one dating back to 1967 (I know

because I was in that one). The other two entries, along with the

summerShakespeare show, all will be new to Huntington Beach.

The changes involve production dates and the opening night reception.

Playhouse President Bettie Muellenberg announced that the runs of each

show in 2002 will be shortened by one week.

However, to make up for the lost weekend, the theater is adding

Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. and Sunday evening performances at 7 p.m.

Additionally, a $1-per-ticket city surcharge will be added to the price

of each ticket.

Also, the traditional champagne reception following each opening night

performance has been moved from the library-theater building to the

Playhouse’s annex location at 18411 Gothard St., Unit F, a few blocks

away. This is the site where sets are built and most rehearsals

conducted, so the audience will be getting what amounts to a peek

backstage.

The Playhouse will launch its 2002 season Jan. 11 with the popular

musical “A Chorus Line,” one of the four reprises, first done in 1988 at

the theater’s old Gisler School location. This will be followed by the

racy comedy “No Sex, Please, We’re British,” opening Feb. 22.

The historical drama “A Man for All Seasons,” first presented at the

group’s Seacliff Village facility in 1982, returns for a second visit

April 26. Then comes the comedy “Squabbles,” another entry from the

Seacliff days, returning June 21.

Each summer the Playhouse moves outdoors for a “Shakespeare in the

Park” presentation. Next year’s entry will be “Henry IV, Part I,” which

will run from July 6 to the 28th. Then the musicians tune up again for

“Fiddler on the Roof,” slated to open July 26 on the indoor stage.

“Ladies in Retirement,” a mystery drama, will arrive Sept. 6. The

season will conclude Nov. 1 with “Born Yesterday,” the aforementioned

throwback to 1967, which originally was presented in the Barn theater on

Main Street, the Playhouse’s home for many years. The earlier version

thrust your correspondent into the role of the bespectacled writer

essayed on the screen by William Holden.

Ron Albertsen, if you’re reading this, I’ll audition for Paul again if

you’ll try out for your old role as Harry Brock. Not that we’d be cast

(unless they’re doing a senior citizens’ version), but it’d be a lot of

fun.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.