SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – I invited myself to the first dress rehearsal of Laughing Stock, the comedic play opening this Thursday at Valhalla Boathouse Theatre. Director Dave Hamilton was gracious and said I could bring my two friends to join me in the house seats at the historic Boathouse Theatre.
I am always so delighted when I see my favorite local yokel thespians on stage. I never know who will be in the current cast… and this cast has all the best actors we know and love.
Laughing Stock is a high-brow, albeit over-the-top comedy of so many twists and comedic turns, sit back and pay attention!
The story is set backstage and offers a view into a summer stock theater program. Three very different rotating plays, ambitious at best. They are bringing to light these stories, and the stress is overwhelming, to say the least. The dialog is fast and sometimes furious, and the actors buckle down to nail their parts. It’s a slow-burn exploration of existential dread.
I must admit, I went down the rabbit hole later at home, looking up Henrik Ibsen and Shakespeare, to better familiarize myself with what I had just experienced. So this is not a comedy for the light-hearted, but rather a farce to sink your teeth into. The actors are good, really good. Get ready for some real theatre.
The production opens Thursday, July 2, and runs through Sunday, July 12, with evening performances on July 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, and 11. There is no performance on Saturday, July 4. The only matinee performance will be held on Sunday, July 12. Seating is limited, and advance ticket purchases are encouraged.
For tickets, visit ValhallaTahoe.com
Thank you, Tahoe!
Michelle Gomez, Tahoe Art League