Review: THE LAST WIDE OPEN Explores Fate and Love at The B Street Theatre
The production runs through February 26.
2023 is already starting off on a great note, with the musically diverse The Last Wide Open charming audiences at the B Street Theatre. Playwright Audrey Cefaly tells the story of Lina and Roberto, coworkers who, in three different yet concurrent planes of existence, find love, heartbreak, and companionship in this beautiful, hilarious, and creative take on serendipity.
Easily one of the funniest and most heartwarming shows I've seen at B Street, The Last Wide Open offers a beautiful glimpse of what it means to be human. Each scenario brings a unique complication, beginning with "love is shitty. Let's start with that. It's a baseline." Yet is it really? The gentle, effervescent, guitar-strumming Roberto (Hunter Hoffman) made me wonder why I didn't marry an Italian. He took on each version of himself with verve, charm, and romanticism, even the bedraggled persona who is beaten down by a loveless marriage and the long-ago loss of the woman he loved with "the intensity of 1,000 suns." I'm serious, ladies. Don't settle for anything less than a partner who looks at you like Roberto looks at Lina.
This leads me to the "All the ways we settle" song. Lina (Stephanie Altholz) is a waitress/nurse/sometimes pessimist who is looking for an excuse to buy new shoes. She also settles for someone who doesn't look at her like Roberto does. However, unlike the rest of us, she gets a couple of do-overs to get it right within the 90 minutes we're there sharing it with her. She's also funny. Side-splittingly, perfectly timed, laugh-out-loud funny. She's a flawless complement to Roberto - so much so that we are rooting for them to succeed, together, through all their realities.
Complete with beautiful musical accompaniment by Marjorie Gast, The Last Wide Open plays at the B Street Theatre through February 26. Tickets may be found at BStreetTheatre.org, at the Box Office at 2700 Capitol Avenue, or by calling (916) 443-5300.
Photo credit: Rudy Meyers
From This Author - Courtney Symes
Courtney Symes is a long-time theatre aficionado who has been writing for BroadwayWorld since 2017. She has been active in theatre and youth organizations in her community. After trying law sc... (read more about this author)
Review: See the Super Sleuths, MS. HOLMES & MS. WATSON: APT. 2B, at B Street TheatreMarch 18, 2023
Known for bringing exciting and groundbreaking new works to Sacramento, the B St. Theatre solidifies its reputation with its latest show of the season. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth and his trusty partner have undergone a complete 21st-century makeover in Kate Hamill’s modern reimagining of the classic stories. The Sherlock Holmes series first appeared in 1887 and quickly became a household name. Over one hundred years later, Hamill’s Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson: Apt 2B brings a fresh new take to stodgy Sherlock and his sidekick, Watson.
Review: HAIRSPRAY Welcomes the '60s to Broadway Sacramento!March 16, 2023
Good morning, Sacramento! Hairspray has brought the beat to town, and you do not want to miss this spectacle of bright, brash, and beautiful 60s splendor! Based on the 1988 John Waters’ movie that became a cult classic, Hairspray opened on Broadway in 2002. It garnered 13 Tony Award nominations and took home 8 wins, including Best Musical. Its staying power rests with the timeless music by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, and enduring themes woven throughout the book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan.
Review: TWELFTH NIGHT Celebrates Comedy at Big Idea TheatreMarch 16, 2023
What do Shakespeare and spring break in Florida have in common? Well, I will tell you! It is the festive new reimagining of Twelfth Night at Big Idea Theatre. Written at the turn of the 17th century, this work’s themes of mistaken identity and love triangles are enduring today but given a cleverly modern twist in this energetic adaptation.
Review: Visit THE LOWER ROOM at Freefall StageMarch 5, 2023
The Passion of Christ is a story that has inspired many retellings, from major motion pictures to plays on a smaller scale. Freefall Stage brings it to life with a thoughtful and timely production of The Lower Room, which gives an original perspective not often seen in theatre. It tells the story of Jesus’ last days through the eyes of those who took care of him in life and in death – the women. Written by Pat Wooley, The Lower Room has been bringing this reimagined experience to audiences for over 40 years.
Review: THE FLYING MACHINE: THE STORY OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS Soars at B Street TheatreFebruary 17, 2023
We’ve all heard of the Wright Brothers. Orville and Wilbur are introduced to us in elementary school as the first to invent the motor-operated airplane; however, there is so much more that we don’t know about these two fascinating individuals who forever changed the way that we travel. Jerry Montoya gives us a history lesson disguised in a delightfully entertaining package with his newest play, The Flying Machine: The Story of the Wright Brothers.
