Arts & Entertainment

‘Loot’ at Playhouse

English Playwright Joe Orton’s black comedy “Loot” made its premiere in 1965 and follows the fortunes of two young thieves, Hal and Dennis. Together they rob the bank next to the funeral parlor where Dennis works and return to Hal’s home to stash the money. Unfortunately for her, Hal’s mother has recently died and she’s resting in her coffin. When Inspector Truscott turns up to investigate, the coffin becomes the ideal hiding place for the stolen loot. But what to do with Mum?

“You can see the dilemma,” said Madison Mooney, Long Beach Playhouse executive director. “One of my favorite things about this show is the way Orton’s characters sound so genteel and proper as Mum’s body makes its way around the house.”

Along with the two thieves and the inspector working the case, the household includes Mum’s former nurse Fay, Hal’s gullible father Mr. McLeavy and Meadows, a policeman assisting the inspector. The ensemble cast plays off one another perfectly, they keep the plot moving along with great hilarity.

“Orton satirizes the rituals of bereavement”, said Sean Gray, Artistic Director for the Playhouse. “He shows us the contrasts between standards of behavior and actual human conduct. The police are depicted as crooked and corrupt. We are able to examine the attitudes of the 1960s as we laugh at the brilliance of Orton’s playful farce.”

The director is Allen Sewell who has acted in Playhouse shows going back to 1999. He recently completed two terms as the president of the theater’s board of directors. This is his second time directing a Playhouse production.

The six-member cast includes two debuting performers, Roxy Payne and Jack Loeprich. Returning Playhouse favorites are Ronan Walsh, Noah Wagner, Rick Reischman, and Rudy Perez.

“This is a great show to kick-off the summer,” said Mooney. “Come and see the show June 8 through July 6!”

Ticket Prices:

Friday: Adults are $25.00, Seniors $20.00, and Students $20.00

Saturday and Sunday: Adults are $30.00, Seniors $25.00, and Students $20.00.

Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling (562) 494-1014, option 1.

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is a community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic and cultural boundaries.

Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3-8 p.m. and Sundays 1-2 p.m. on scheduled matinees.

Please Note: The Studio Theater is on the 2nd Floor. There is no elevator and the theater is only accessible by stairs.

Funny Political Satire

International City Theatre presents the Los Angeles premiere of “The Outsider,” a wildly funny and frighteningly timely satire by Paul Slade Smith about a flawed candidate who might just be the perfect fit for the job. Brian Shnipper directs the limited, three-week run June 14 through June 30 at ICT’s home in the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

Ned Newly is terrified of public speaking, and his poll numbers are impressively bad. But political consultant Arthur Vance sees things a bit differently. Sure, Ned might possibly be the worst candidate to ever run for office – but what if that’s exactly what the public is looking for?

“The play is whip-smart and brilliantly funny,” says Shnipper. “I laughed out loud the entire time I was reading it. It’s as if an episode of The West Wing was co-written by Aaron Sorkin… and John Cleese! This isn’t a play about left versus right or conservatives versus liberals. It’s a play about America’s distrust of politicians and our need for them to be relatable – no matter what the cost.”

Stephen Rockwell, previously seen at ICT in “A Splintered Soul” and “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” stars as the tongue-tied Newley, a man easily written off as a lost cause. Nihil Pai, known in the L.A. theater community for his work with Independent Shakespeare Company, portrays Dave Riley, Newley’s faithful, if somewhat naïve, chief of staff, while Jonathan Bray, whose credits include Broadway as well as “A Noise Within,” “Theatricum Botanicum,” “Ruskin Group” and more, is Vance, the smooth political operator who recognizes Newley’s possibilities for success.

The rest of the comedically gifted ensemble includes Natalie Storrs (first national tour of “Sister Act,” “The Last Five Years” at La Mirada) as professional pollster Paige Caldwell; Taylor Popoola (“Black-ish,” “Abbott Elementary”) as TV reporter Rachel Parsons; Thomas Anawalt (David Grieg’s “Dunsinane” at The Wallis) as TV cameraman A.C. Petersen; and Ovation-nominated Susan Huckle (for her role as “Inga” in Doma Theatre Company’s “Young Frankenstein”) as the personable, likeable, impressively confident and hilariously inept temp Louise Peakes.

The creative team for “The Outsider” includes set designer John Patrick, lighting designer Crystal R. Shomph, costume designer Claire Fraser, sound designer Dave Mickey and prop designer Patty Briles. Casting is by Michael Donovan, CSA and Richie Ferris, CSA. The stage manager is Pat Loeb.

“The Outsider” runs June 14 through June 30 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Two preview performances take place on Wednesday, June 12 and Thursday, June 13 both at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $49 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (except June 14, opening night, for which tickets are $55 and include a post-show reception), and $52 at Sunday matinees. Low-priced tickets to previews are $37.

International City Theatre is located in Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center’s Beverly O’Neill Theater at 330 East Seaside Way.For more information and to purchase tickets, call (562) 436-4610 or go to InternationalCityTheatre.org.