Bethany Mangum, Hannah Parsons and Erica Sinner in CSUF's "Anton." Photo: Leonard Suryajaya.

While there’s no shortage of Shakespeare on OC stages, there’s been a drought of Ibsen lately. Tamiko Washington will rectify that with her production of “Hedda Gabler”--considered the female “Hamlet"—at Chapman University’s Waltmar Theatre March 13-19. “The play is a captivating portrayal of a modern independent ‘free-spirited’ woman who is regarded as her father's daughter rather than her husband's wife,” says the director, who promises “a riveting contemporary interpretation of a great classic [set in Purchase, New York, 2010] that will engage your senses and question your logic.” I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tamiko, and she delivers on her promises. Five performances only. Call 714-997-6812.

“Anton in Show Business” is an off-the-wall comedy about trying to stage Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” in Texas, now playing in a first-rate production at Cal State Fullerton’s Hallberg Theatre through March 21. This tart, razor-edged satire of the theatre world is credited to Jane Martin, a pseudonymous Pulitzer-nominated playwright long assumed to be Jon Jory, founder of the Humana Festival of New Plays.

The laughs come in waves, with a crack ensemble making the most of every morsel under the skilled direction of Joseph Martin, Dean of the CSUF College of the Arts. Erica Sinner (as an eager wannabe with a thick Texas drawl), Hannah Parsons (an off-off-Broadway vet) and Bethany Mangum (an airhead TV celeb) head the all-female cast, itself part of the joke. Alexandria Harris (as a Polish director) and Tiffany Adeline Cole (as an African American director) accentuate the fun in sharply drawn cameos; the standout is Ruby Hanger’s stylized caricature of a pseudo-hip producer. A must-see for actors, and anyone in need of a laugh. Call 657-278-3371.

“Whenever the Twain Shall Meet” weaves together seven pieces based on short stories by Mark Twain, through March 28 at Anaheim’s under-the-radar Gallery Theatre. Writer Glenn Kelman (who co-directed with Sue Silva) seems to have chosen the pieces to reflect a wider view of Twain’s work than most recent adapters mining the lode. The highlight is “The Loves of Alonzo Fitz Clarence and Rosannah Ethelton,” an hilarious tale about a romance conducted over a newfangled contraption called the telephone; Ty Pederson and Stephanie Robinson shine as the couple.

The family-friendly program also includes a strong dramatic piece, “The Death Disk,” about a girl (the impressive Charlene Geisler) who plays an unwitting role in the fate of her soldier father; and the seriocomic “Was It Heaven? Or Hell?” about a pair of habitual liars who are challenged to reform, with Jerry Michnal II consistently tickling the funnybone as a preacher. “Cannibalism in the Cars,” with Sheldon Craig commanding attention as a congressman, proves amusing; other tales make the trip from page to stage with less success. The show is sponsored by PACT (Professional Artists for Community Theater), a non-profit which will help stage “Foxfire” at the Gallery April 23-May 16. Call 714-630-9870.

More from Jordan:

How Mark Twain’s lost play got produced
Oscar's sins of omission
Oscar winners and nominees of the 1920s & 1930s on DVD

Vibrant ‘Roses’ at Mark Taper Forum, melodic ‘Chopin’ at Laguna Playhouse

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