Video game the star of ‘Froggy,’ while ‘Cake’ explores religious beliefs
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Feb. 18, 2025) — Walnut Creek’s Center Rep presents the world premiere of the graphic novel noir thriller “Froggy.”
It’s a sensory-rich rollercoaster ride as Froggy tries to discover her boyfriend’s whereabouts with clues embedded in a violent, underground video game.
Written by a team of groundbreaking theater artists, “Froggy” fuses the styles of graphic novels, film noir and revolutionary virtual media to create a thrilling new theatrical event.
It runs through March 2 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. For tickets, call 925-943-7469 or go to centerrep.org.
Cake
“Cake,” a new comedy by Bekah Brunstetter, strains one mother’s deeply held beliefs when asked to do a wedding cake for her best friend’s daughter.
Della’s North Carolina bakery is legendary, and Della couldn’t be more joyful when asked to make a wedding cake for the young woman she helped raise. When she discovers there is not one bride but two, Della is forced to look at her beliefs and her own marriage – which has gone as stale as a three-day-old cake.
Based on a real-life Supreme Court case where a Colorado baker refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, “The Cake” deals with the clash of religious beliefs but without all the controversy stirred up by the court case. In Brunstetter’s story, the sympathetic portrait of Della trying to do right by her unofficial goddaughter and her religious beliefs ensures a more romantic comedy vibe.
Directed by Scott Dana Fryer, the show runs March 7-23 at the Campbell Theater, 636 Ward St., Martinez.
Also at the Campbell is a stage reading of “The Island of Beyond” at 2:30 p.m. March 8.
Written by Michael McGarty and based on the young adult novel by Elizabeth Atkinson, the story follows 11-year-old Martin who is sent to live with his great-aunt Lenore for the summer on a tiny island called “Beyond.” Thinking this will be the worst summer ever, Martin soon discovers one adventure after another on this strange island of secrets.
For tickets to both plays, go to www.campbelltheater.com.
Intimate Apparel
Onstage Repertory Theatre performs Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage’s “Intimate Apparel” through Feb. 23 at the Campbell. Scheduled to open Feb. 7, a cast change necessitated a week’s postponement.
Based on the life of Nottage’s great-grandmother, the play explores the effects of racism and classism as well as the bravery, hard work, friendship and love of people often forgotten by history.
It takes place in 1905 where Esther, a Black New York seamstress, lives in a boarding house and sews intimate apparel for clients ranging from wealthy white patrons to black prostitutes.
Directed by Carlene Coury, the show features Toniea Hawkins, Gwen Sampson Brown, Eddie Roberts, Safira McGrew, Ben Pierson and Maya Via.
“I fell in love with this play when I saw it about seven years ago and knew I wanted to direct it,” said Coury. “So, I just jumped at the opportunity to direct it for Onstage. There are so many different themes going on and colorful characters. There’s a socialite, a prostitute, a guy from the Panama Canal, a Jewish gentleman and our seamstress who can’t read or write but makes beautiful things.”
For tickets to this little gem, go to www.campbelltheater.com.
Sally Hogarty
Sally Hogarty is well known around the Bay Area as a newspaper columnist, theatre critic and working actress. She is the editor of the Orinda News. Send comments to sallyhogarty@gmail.com