THEATER

Capsule reviews are by Philip Brandes ( P. B.), F. Kathleen Foley (F.K.F.), Margaret Gray (M.G.), Charles McNulty (C.M.) andDavid C. Nichols

( D. C. N.) Compiled by Matt Cooper.

Openings

As You Like It Civil War-themed, folk music-infused take on Shakespeare’s romantic comedy. Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Today, 3:30 p.m.; ends Sept. 26. $10-$39.50; children 6 and under, free. (310) 455-3723. The Best of Albuquerque Fringe 2025 Kitchen-sink sendup of theater festivals; part of Hollywood Fringe. Elephant Space, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. Today, 5:30 p.m.; Fri., 10 p.m.; ends June 28. $14. (323) 455-4585.

The Load-In New comedy about a hapless rock band; part of Hollywood Fringe. Three Clubs, 1123 Vine St., Hollywood. Today, 8 p.m.; Fri., 4 p.m.; next Sun., 10 p.m.; ends June 27. $13. (323) 455-4585.

Matilda: The Musical National touring production of this Tony-winning adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s book about a mischievous schoolgirl. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., L.A. Today, 4 p.m.; Tue.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 1 and 6 p.m.; ends July 12. $25-$130. (213) 972-4400.

Penned and Played in Wonderland Six short “Alice in Wonderland ”themed plays created in 24 hours. The Eclectic Company Theatre, 5312 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Valley Village. Today, 8 p.m. $15. (818) 508-3003.

Waterfall World-premiere romantic musical about a young Thai student who falls in love with the American wife of a Thai diplomat during the war-torn 1930s. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Today, 5 p.m.; Tue.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 4 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends June 28. $47-$125. (626) 356-7529.

Kinky Neon Rocker Six short plays, plus a live band; part of Hollywood Fringe. Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Mon., 8 p.m.; next Sun., noon; ends June 27. $12. (323) 455-4585.

Shakespeare(ish) Rogue Artists Ensemble celebrates the Bard in this family-friendly show; part of Hollywood Fringe. Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Mon., 8:45 p.m.; ends June 28. $15; two for $25. (213) 596-9468.

Pick of the Fringe Highlights from five new shows at Hollywood Fringe. Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Tue., 9 p.m.; next Sun., 5:30 p.m.; ends June 27. $10. (323) 455-4585.

Cosi Australian Theatre Company presents a staged reading of this comedy inspired by the opera “Cosi Fan Tutte.” TheMatrix Theatre, 7657Melrose Ave., L.A. Wed., 7 p.m. Free. RSVP at joinus@australiantheatrecompany.com.

The Kinsey Sicks The drag quartet presents a musical sendup of reality TV. Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Renberg Theatre, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood. Wed., 8 p.m. $20. (323) 860-7300.

Tiny Dangerous Fun Variety, cabaret and open-mic performances. Eclectic Company Theatre, 5312 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Valley Village. Wed., 8 p.m. $10. (818) 508-3003.

Come From Away World-premiere rock musical about airline passengers diverted to a small Canadian town on 9/11. La Jolla Playhouse, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla. Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends July 12. $25 and up. (858) 550-1010.

Don’t Tell My Mother! Stephanie Courtney, a.k.a. “Flo” from the car-insurance commercials, is featured in the comedy series’ season closer. Busby’s East, 5364Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Thu., 7:30 p.m. $16. (323) 525-2615.

Hollywood Fringe Festival 2015 Sixth-annual event features 200-plus comedies, dramas, solo shows, etc., at dozens of area venues; ends June 28. www.hollywoodfringe.org.

How to Be a Rock Critic Erik Jensen portrays the late music writer Lester Bangs in this solo show co-written by Jensen and Jessica Blank. South Coast Repertory, Nicholas Studio, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends June14 (moves to the Kirk Douglas Theater, June 1728). $20-$30; discounts available. (714) 708-5555.

The Phantom of the Opera Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit romantic musical; for ages 6 and up. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Thu., 8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; next Sun., 1and 6:30 p.m.; endsAug. 7. $25 and up. (800) 982-2787.

Breaking Bard The Porters of Hellsgate tell the tale of “Breaking Bad’s” WalterWhite in Shakespearean verse; part of Hollywood Fringe. Theatre Asylum, 1078 Lillian Way, Hollywood. Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 11:30 a.m.; next Sun., 8:30 p.m.; ends June 28. 455-4585.

Cockfight Play Mike Bartlett’s sexually frank comedy about a romantic triangle; for mature audiences. The Studio at Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends July 11. $14-$24. (562) 494-1014.

Pocket Universe Thomas Brandon’s two-person drama about a married couple; part of Hollywood Fringe. Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Fri., 4 p.m.; next Sun., 455-4585. noon; ends June 26. $10. (323)

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Catalyst Morrow’s Loft drama Ensemble about stagessix young April womenpart of Hollywoodbattling Fringe.eating Dorie disorders; Theater Blvd.,at theComplex, Hollywood. 6476 Sat., SantaMonica8:30 p.m.; ends June 26. $10. (323) 455-4585.

An EveningWith KarenWilliams The comic Center’s performs. Renberg Los Theatre, Angeles 1125 LGBT N. McCadden Place, Hollywood. Sat., 8 p.m. $20, $40. (323) 860-7300.

Fifty Shades of ShrewAll- female cast in a BDSM-themed exploration of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”; part of Hollywood Fringe. Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Sat., 10 p.m.; next Sun., 4 p.m.; ends June 27. $15. (323) 455-4585.

Intimate Illusions Illusionist Ivan A. Modei performs. The BeverlyWilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. Sat., 7 and 9 p.m. $65, $75. (866) 811-4111.

KurtWeill at the Cuttlefish Hotel Return engagement of this revue featuring Tony winner Paul Sand. The Actors’ Gang, 9070 Venice Blvd. Culver City. Sat., 8 p.m.; ends July 11. $30, $34.99; Thursdays, pay what you can. (310) 838-4264.

Sleeping Around Theatre Unleashed explores sex and relationships in this update of “La Ronde”; part of Hollywood Fringe. Theatre Asylum, 6320 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. Sat., 7:30 p.m.; ends June 25. $10. (818) 849-4039.

Supreme Rulers of Magic & Mystery Comedy and magic with Rob Zabrecky and others. Lineage Performing Arts Center, 89 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena. Sat., 8 p.m. $12-$20. www.lineagepac.org.

To Kill a Mockingbird Stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer-winning novel about racial prejudice in a small Southern town. Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Sat.-next Sun., 7:30 p.m.; ends Sept. 27. $10$39.50; children 6 and under, free. (310) 455-3723.

Venus in Fur Ensemble Theatre Company stages David Ives’ two-character play about a director auditioning an actress for a role in an erotic drama. The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; ends June 28. $35$75; discounts available. (805) 9655400.

Brit Floyd Tribute show celebrates five decades of music by legendary rock band Pink Floyd. Segerstrom Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Next Sun., 7:30 p.m. $49 and up. (714) 556-2787.

Hellion Loop Five short thrillers by Shayne Eastin. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends June 28. $15. (818) 202-4120.

Road Show Musical Theatre Guild closes its season with this Stephen Sondheim tale about two enterprising brothers in the early 1900s. Moss Theatre at New Roads School, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica. Next Sun., 7 p.m. $45. (818) 848-6844.

Shine Storytellers explore the topic of being lost. Promenade Playhouse, 1404 3rd St., SantaMonica. Next Sun., 7 p.m. $10. (310) 452-2321.

The Snail Fabio Zito’s dark comedy about a transgender youth; part of Hollywood Fringe. The Elephant Space, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends June 27. $10. (323) 455-4585.

Sutton Foster The two-time Tony winner is joined by Seth Rudetsky for an evening of songs and stories. The Broad Stage, 131011th St., SantaMonica. Next Sun., 5 and 8 p.m. $75-$125. (310) 434-3200.

Without Annette Satire set in an improv-comedy class. Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. W., L.A. Next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends Aug. 30. $5-$25. (323) 851-7977.

Critics’ Choices

Andre & Dorine Spain’s celebrated Kulunka Teatro troupe previously performed this wordless mask-theater study of an elderly couple faced with Alzheimer’s at LATC in 2012 and its return is a must-see. By focusing on the basic physicality of behavior and response, with recurring details defining specifics of character and situation, the seamless, brilliantly performed piece achieves a witty eloquence and touching humanity that belies its lack of verbal text through pure creative theatricality. Don’t miss it. (D.C.N). Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., L.A. Ends today, 3 p.m. $10-$34.99. (866) 811-4111.

Around the World in 80 Days Mark Brown’s adroit reduction of Jules Verne’s classic globe-trotter is a regional staple. Its buoyant Actors Coop revival reminds us why. Director Rhonda Kohl deftly balances narrative sobriety and daft hilarity, gleaning nonstop invention from ace designers and a wonderful ensemble, whose disciplined abandon and sheer versatility amount to a group tour-deforce to drive this delightful confection. (D.C.N.) Actors Co-op, David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St., Hollywood. Today, next Sun., 2:30 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2:30 and 8 p.m.; ends June 14. $20-$30. (323) 462-8460.

The Homecoming Director Guillermo Cienfuegos and his superb cast nail the arcane subtexts in Harold Pinter’s creepily brilliant play about a womanless tribe whose atavistic longing— and loathing— for a female newcomer to their midst trumps all familial considerations. (F.K.F.) Pacific Resident Theatre, 703 Venice Blvd., Venice. May 30-July 26. Thu.Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. $25-$34. (310) 822-8392.

I and You The L.A. premiere ofLauren Gunderson’s latest play, directed by Robin Larsen, could be a testimonial to the power of intimate theater. The story of two high school students wrestling with a report on Walt Whitman evokes an Afterschool Special, duly ticking off the markers of teen angst, then abruptly opens out into a stunning exploration of cosmic interconnectedness. (M.G.) Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., L.A. Today, next Sun., 2 p.m.; Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m.; ends June 21. $20-$34.95; pay what you can, Thursdays; $15 rush tickets, Fridays only. (323) 663-1525.

Spring Awakening If you missed Deaf West’s deft production of the Tonywinning musical by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater the first time around, count yourself lucky that you have an opportunity to catch it now. Michael Arden’s stage plan stunningly employs all sorts of chiaroscuro effects to create a theatrical world — half-modern, half-antique — in which this musical poem, based on Frank Wedekind’s daring 1891 play about the societal oppression and irrepressible sexuality of teenagers, can be lyrically reborn with actors who sign as expressively as they sing. (C.M.) Bram Goldsmith Theater, Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. Today, next Sun., 2 and 7 p.m.; Thu.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 3 and 8 p.m.; ends June 14. $19-$99. (310) 746-4000.