Theater Review -- Tom Titus

“It never rains but it pours” may be among the hoariest of hackneyed

expressions, but it’s certainly relevant to the state of local theater

this weekend.

No new productions were introduced last weekend, but there are four

opening nights crammed into this one, including a world premiere, a pair

of collegiate shows of a more classical structure and a reprise staging

from two years ago with only the theater venue altered.

The premiere, as one might imagine, will take place on the Second

Stage of South Coast Repertory, where Joe Hortua’s “Making It” is the

Second Stage’s third consecutive, first-ever production, following Annie

Weisman’s “Hold Please” and Lucinda Coxon’s “Nostalgia.” SCR producing

artistic director, a co-founder of the 37-year-old troupe, David Emmes is

directing “Making It,” which deals with lofty ambitions up against cold

reality in a New York restaurant.

Assaf Cohen, J.D. Cullum, Heath Freeman, Jennifer Griffin, Laura

Hinsberger, Nicholas Hormann and Dileep Rao comprise the cast of “Making

It,” playing the servers and the served in the Manhattan eatery. “Making

It” is described as “a night out in America, with all the humor and

heartache it can hold.”

“Making It” runs through Feb. 24 on the Second Stage of SCR, 655 Town

Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets may be reserved by calling (714)

708-5555.

If you missed “Driving Miss Daisy” at the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse

in 2000, you’ve got another chance to catch an identical production at

the Newport Theatre Arts Center. Director Jack Millis and his cast from

the Costa Mesa show -- Teri Ciranna, George Norment and Thom Gilbert --

are restaging the drama in Newport Beach.

“Miss Daisy” will be driven weekends through Feb. 24 at the arts

center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach, with tickets available at (949)

631-0288.

Shakespeare’s “Comedy of Errors” is the latest production at Orange

Coast College, and the price is right. Audiences will be admitted free of

charge during the two-weekend run, although donations will be accepted.

Alex Golson is directing the comedy, which will be performed in modern

dress. Sean Hesketh, Robert Oldfield, Travis Woods, Derek Wiley, Frank

Miyashiro, Ryan Gray, Laura Viramontes, Billy Klein, Jason Mutz and Nancy

Troia take the principal roles in a large company.

The show will be presented in OCC’s Drama Lab through Feb. 3, with

free tickets available at the door.

“The Love of Three Oranges” is UC Irvine’s current attraction, a

fantasy with music by Carlo Gozzi under the direction of Annie Loui. The

show will feature a prince, a jester, evil witches, good magicians, bad

fairies and three very large and magical oranges.

Only slightly more modern than “Comedy of Errors,” the play was

written in 1761 and will be presented in the traditional commedia

del’arte form with an original musical score by guest artist John

Ballinger.

The show will feature Jason Spelbring, Donnetta Grays, Jenn Colella,

Stephen Ivey, Corey Allen, William Trevino and Ailene King. Performances

will be given this weekend and next in the Winifred Smith Hall (formerly

the Concert Hall) on the UC Irvine campus. Call (949) 824-2787 for ticket

information.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Thursdays and Saturdays.