Opinion: "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" at Valhalla is a must see!

Summer in South Lake Tahoe is already known for its outdoor entertainment – great beaches, hiking trails, kayaking, mountain biking, and more. I don’t often hear talk about South Lake Tahoe as a theatrical hub, but that really should change.

On Thursday June 30, I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” part of this year’s Valhalla Tahoe Art, Music, & Theatre Festival. I’ll get straight to the point, it was phenomenal. The caliber of the production, from the acting to the set design, to the setting at the Valhalla Boathouse Theatre, was as impressive as the best productions I have attended in New York City and San Francisco.

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” takes the audience through three acts of hilarity and deliciously uncomfortable dialogue. The cast, which includes Briana Biller, Ginger Nicolay-Davis, Troy Matthews, and Mark Williams, are grippingly convincing in each of their roles and work seamlessly together in this stream-of-consciousness style play set as the after party to a faculty gathering at an East Coast university.

During one intermission, after a laughter-filled, and then shocking act, one audience member commented to me that she has a habit of falling asleep in movies & even during high action television shows, but during this play could not even blink. I could not agree more. Except between laughing and gasping, I hardly took a breath during the entire show.

My sincerest congratulations go to the cast, the crew, and director Rae Matthews for this stunning & wickedly funny production. It is truly a must see in South Lake Tahoe this month for locals and visitors alike.

Go get your tickets! www.valhallatahoe.com.

South Lake Tahoe, CA