Theater offers varied menu

Born in 1965, the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse is heading into its 43rd season with a varied lineup of comedy, drama and musical entertainment.

The theater’s season opener already has come and gone — Michael Dale Brown’s backhanded tribute to Hollywood’s schlocky sci-fi flicks of the early ’50s, “Earthlings Beware.” This one was more ambitious and complicated than many of the old movies it spoofed.

Next up, opening Oct. 12, will be “The Full Monty,” an Americanized adaptation of the British musical movie of the same name that came out a decade ago, re-imagined by playwright Terrence McNally and musician David Yazbek.

In this version, six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers, low on both cash and prospects, elect to present a strip act at a local club after seeing their wives’ enthusiasm for a touring company of professionals. It’s recommended for mature audiences and runs through Nov. 11.

Returning by popular demand is “A Christmas Show,” family entertainment about a fellow endeavoring to save Christmas for his family when he’s passed over for a holiday bonus. It will run Dec. 7 to 23.

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which won just about every Oscar in sight back in 1976, is next on the Costa Mesa playbill, running Feb. 1 to 24. This comic drama focuses on rebel prisoner Randle Patrick McMurphy, who talks his way into a mental institution to avoid prison drudgery and finds himself in even hotter water.

McMurphy’s endeavors to restore a sense of dignity and humanity to his fellow patients — and his running battle with the “big nurse” who runs the ward — are the main ingredients of this play, adapted by Dale Wasserman from Ken Kesey’s best-selling novel.

Murphy’s Law often prevails in community theater, as “Play On” illustrates. Written by Orange County’s own playwright, the late Jack Sharkey, under the pen name of Rick Abbott, it’s an all-stops-out comedy about the misadventures encountered in staging a local production.

What “Noises Off” is to the professional theater, “Play On” is to amateur theatrics. The show opens March 14 and plays on through April 6.

Winding up the playhouse’s season will be “She Loves Me,” a musical comedy with its roots in a Hungarian play — which became “The Shop Around the Corner,” which then begat “In the Good Old Summertime” and, more recently, was the inspiration for “You’ve Got Mail.”

The story remains the same: Two contentious co-workers unaware that each is the other’s secret pen pal, connected through lonely hearts ads. “She Loves Me” will play from May 9 to June 8.

Performances are given at the Civic Playhouse, 611 Hamilton St., Costa Mesa, and advance reservations are being taken at (949) 650-5269 or online at CostaMesaPlayhouse.org.