Curtain Calls: Best of comedy troupe ‘Second City’ not quite up to par in Berkeley

The short, quick bits performed by Chicago comedy powerhouse "The Best of The Second City" at Berkeley Rep worked best, as well as one where the troupe changes focus each time a bell rings.

Did you hear the one about the comedy group that came to town and wowed the audience? Well, it didn’t. While some of the routines by “The Best of The Second City” brought laughter, others were less than stellar.

Part of the problem could be the audience’s suggestions that the troupe — which performs at Berkeley Rep through Sunday — turn into various scenarios, but even some of its prepared pieces didn’t have the spark usually associated with the Chicago comedy powerhouse.

The short, quick bits worked best, as well as one where the troupe changes focus each time a bell rings.

Directed by Jeff Griggs, the ensemble features the talents of George Elrod, Chas Lilly, Phylicia McLeod, Cat Savage, Annie Sullivan and Max Thomas.

For tickets, call 510-647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org.

Also in Berkeley: The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective foils a murderer and would be anarchist in Patricia Milton’s clever work “Accused!” Running at Central Works through Aug. 11, the world premiere follows the exploits of sisters Valeria Hunter (Jan Zvaifler) and Loveday Fortescue (Lauren Dunagan) and American immigrant Katie Smalls (Chelsea Bearce).

Set at the turn of the last century, the detectives attempt to find the killer of two young women with anarchist connections. They become even more motivated when female Inspector Perkins (Sindu Singh) suspects Smalls as the possible culprit.

Adding to the confusion and the fun is the pompous Lord Albert, the religious fanatic Deacon Manley and the flirtatious Frenchman M. Blancmange (all played by Alan Coyne).

Milton has forged a crafty plot full of witty dialogue and lots of humor. She cleverly has Fortescue converse in “French” with Blancmange by merely speaking English to him with a French accent, adding much humor to the scene and eliminating the need to translate for the audience.

The playwright’s character-driven mystery also skillfully explores the obstacles facing women in the Victorian era, many of which, unfortunately, continue today.

Director Kimberly Ridgeway keeps the pace moving nicely while finding ways to make the blocking interesting, not an easy task in the intimate venue, as well as a very funny self-defense scene involving Smalls and a decorative lady’s fan.

Ridgeway found a wonderfully talented cast to bring these diverse characters to life. Zvaifler creates a seemingly absent-minded older sister with a penchant for baking inedible scones while Dunagan is all business as her younger sister and Bearce brings a nice intensity to the more aggressive American with a southern accent.

Singh not only does a fine job portraying the suspicious, hard-nosed detective, but also the very feminine Allison Tinglepenny, one of the murder victims.

Known for his dexterity, Coyne uses his considerable comedic talents to create such diverse characters as the self-important Lord Albert, the anti-feminist clergyman and the amorous Frenchman.

While the show would benefit by a few cuts, it provides much entertainment and a look at Milton’s final installment in her popular Victorian Ladies’ Detective series.

The show runs at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Designed by renowned architect Julia Morgan, the club’s opulent gardens and lavish interior are an added incentive to attend the show.

Call 510-558-1381 or go to centralworks.org.

Castro Valley: Producer Dayna Speed enjoys presenting lesser-known musicals to the public as part of Castro Valley Arts Foundation and TMC Arts. Last year, it was a very successful “Bright Star.” This season, the group runs “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” beginning Friday through Aug. 4.

The stage production features the Menken and Schwartz score of the Disney animated film as the story of Victor Hugo’s epic story unfolds.

Enrico Banson directs with music direction by Christopher Hewitt. Danila Burshteyn portrays Quasimodo with Matthew Liebowitz as Dom Claude Frollo and Solona Husband as Esmeralda.

The musical performs at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts, 19501 Redwood Road. For tickets, call 510-889-8961 or go to cvartsfoundation.org.

San Leandro: Noel Coward’s “Waiting in the Wings” — a San Leandro Players production — entertains audiences through Aug. 18 at Casa Peralta Museum Auditorium, 320 W. Estudillo Ave.

Amy Cook directs Coward’s nostalgic comedy about a charity home for retired actresses where the playwright employs his legendary wit to explore both the pleasures and sadness of aging. He also wrote a lovely musical score to enhance this non-musical.

For tickets, call 510-895-2573 or go to slplayers.org.

Summer camp: Plethos Productions has been busily planning a very special summer retreat for performing artists. Camp Monologa runs Friday through Sunday at Heirloom East Bay in Castro Valley. It’s three days of singing, dancing, acting and crafting with audition workshops and even a reviewers’ panel, including myself, where performers can ask about how we review productions.

There are still spaces available. Register at plethos.org/camp-monologa.

Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.