When you hear the title “Strange Ladies,” your mind reflects upon myriad possibilities for subject matter. But I doubt many would come up with playwright Susan Sobeloff’s focus in her play of the same name produced by B8 Theatre Company, playing Sept. 11-27.
Taking us back to the United States’ entry into World War I, Sobeloff creates a powerful story of the suffragist’s movement where a group of dedicated women fight for the right to vote. Sobeloff concentrates on a group of seven women to create a detailed, touching account of those involved with the movement and their relationships.
Based on real events, Sobeloff follows the women through the verbal and physical abuse they endure while picketing the White House and their subsequent arrest. The atrocities inflicted upon them while in the infamous Occoquan workhouse seem unreal but, unfortunately, they are also based in fact.
Period protest songs weave throughout the play dramatizing and, sometimes, lightening the suffragists’ struggles.
While Central Works developed and produced the show in 2017 followed by B8 in 2019, this is the first production to feature an ensemble that highlights the action and adds a powerful presence to the singing.
Directed by JanLee Marshall with musical direction by Becky Potter, the cast includes Skyelar Clouse, Pam Drummer-Williams, Ofeibiah Laud-Darku, Samira Sheahan, Asha Sundararaman, Stefanie Suzuki and Maureen-Theresa Williams with Jason Berner portraying the three men in the show.
“Strange Ladies” performs at the Campbell Theater on 636 Ward St. in Martinez. For tickets, go to campbelltheater.com/strange-ladies.
Point Richmond: If you love Christopher Durang’s crazy comedies, try “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” at Masquers Playhouse on Sept. 4-27.
This is not Chekhov’s “Cherry Orchard,” although some themes are similar as well as character names and sibling relationships and there is an old cherry orchard.
In Durang’s play, middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia live in the family home in Pennsylvania. They spent their adulthood looking after their now deceased parents and spend their days lamenting their lost chances in life. This staid environment abruptly changes when their movie star sister Masha returns home with her much younger lover. Add in a prophecy-predicting cleaning lady and an aspiring young actress and you have an absurd family drama with a bit of pop-culture satire thrown in.
Shay Oglesby-Smith directs. For tickets, call 510-232-4031 or go to masquers.org.
Berkeley: If you haven’t had a chance to see Shotgun Players’ production of “Iphigenia in Splott,” here’s your last chance. The one-person performance has been extended through Saturday.
For tickets, call 510-841-6500 ext. 303 or go to shotgunplayers.org. The play contains adult situations and language.
Alameda: Altarena Playhouse will hold auditions for “Looped” by Matthew Lombardo on Sept. 12-13. The show runs Jan. 22 through Feb. 21.
Taking place during the summer of 1964, the show follows actress Tallulah Bankhead as she attends a recording section to “loop” (re-record) a line of dialogue for her final film. What should take eight minutes turns into eight hours as an absurd, comedic battle of wills between Bankhead and the film editor turns into a poignant heart-to-heart.
To sign up for an audition appointment, go to altarena.org/auditions.
Willa (Lauren English), from left, presents her new medical innovation to venture capitalists May (Sharon Shao) and Paul (Anthony Fusco) in SF Playhouse’s “R.O.I. (Return on Investment)” running through Sept. 5 at San Francisco’s Creativity Theater. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Palopoli)
S.F.: It’s gratifying to see SF Playhouse not only offering thought-provoking, quality productions but also increasing the number of plays presented. The company recently opened one of two productions produced at San Francisco’s Creativity Theater on 221 4th St., while five shows will be offered at its main theater at 450 Post St.
Aaron Loeb’s “R.O.I. (Return on Investment)” is the first of the two shows at the more intimate Creativity Theater. Running through Sept. 5, the new work received its co-world premiere in London before opening in San Francisco.
Commissioned by SF Playhouse, the darkly comedic work follows Silicon Valley venture capitalist May (Sharon Shao) as she meets visionary scientist Dr. Willa McGovern (Lauren English) who’s biotech breakthrough has the potential to change the world. As McGovern’s innovation progresses at an alarming rate, May and her boss/mentor (Anthony Fusco) deal with complex questions of ethics, power and greed.
Sarah Phykitt’s large projections, Bill English’s sleek modern scenic design and Charlie Mejia’s creative lighting create an upscale, luxurious environment complete with a refrigerator that does a lot more than just keep food cold.
Returning to Bay Area theater, Jonathan Moscone directs the stellar cast which includes an older May (Bonnie Akimoto) in the final scenes.
“In a world increasingly driven by metrics and profit, Aaron asks deeper questions: how do we measure the value of human life?” said SF Playhouse Artistic Director Bill English. “With intelligence, humor and compassion, ‘R.O.I. (Return on Investment)’ explores the tensions between financial success and moral responsibility.”
For tickets to this entertaining yet disturbing new work about money, morality and medical research, call 415-677-9596 or go to sfplayhouse.org.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.