Mrs California at 78th Street Theatre Lab

River Heights Productions presents Mrs California, a comedy by Doris Baizley, at 78th Street Theatre Lab from the 15 Mar - 1 Apr 2006.

Mrs California: The time is pre-women's lib 1955, the place a Los Angeles hotel, where a homemakers contest is in progress -- the winner to embody the epitome (at the time) of the ideal woman: 'a happy, good and beautiful homemaker.' Entered as Mrs. L.A., Dot, sponsored by the local gas company, vies with the others in ironing a man's shirt, sewing an apron from an original pattern, setting a table, preparing a meal, and delivering a monologue entitled 'My Proudest Moment' - which, for Dot, was when she saved an American Naval force from submarine attack while serving as a decoder in the WAVES during World War II.

She is also abetted by her tart-toungued friend Babs, an electronics wizard who is not above tampering with sewing machines and stoves as the contest comes down to the finals, with Mrs. Modesto, Mrs. San Bernardino, and Mrs. San Francisco going head to head with Dot for the victory. Urged one way by the brassy Babs (who can't resist showing up the contest for the ridiculous farce it is) and another by the fatuous man from the gas company (who pleads with Dot to play by the rules), Dot ultimately decides to do what she thinks is right.

Mrs California's cast, directed by Megan Wills, features: Elizabeth Burke (Babs), Heather E. Cunningham (Dot), India Myone McDonald (Mrs. San Bernadino), Matilda Downey (Mrs. Modesto), Dave DiLoreto (Dudley), Jim Kilkenny (The Stage Manager), Reginald V. Ferguson (Male Announcer), Kimberly Greene (Female Announcer), Jack H. Cunningham (Judge), Kristen Vaughan (Mrs. San Francisco).

The production has set and constume design by Viviane Galloway and sound by Di Drago.