By Ande Jacobson

California Theatre Center’s 28th Summer Repertory season opens this Friday, 3 June, with Around the World in 80 Days, adapted by Mark Brown and based on the Jules Verne novel of the same name.  Verne’s story chronicles Phileas Fogg and his manservant Passepartout on their 80-day, around the world journey, all in an effort to win an unlikely wager.  Set in the days before air travel or rapid ocean vessels, this seems an impossible task for our heroes, but it should be fun to watch as they risk life and limb to cover all seven continents within their allotted timeframe.

CTC Resident Director, Will Huddleston, has pulled together a dexterous cast of 6 actors to play 39 parts using all manor of theater invoking quick changes, puppetry, and shadow play, along with sound effects provided by the actors onstage.

Around the World in 80 Days will run performances on June 2 (Preview), 3 (Opening) 4, 18 & 30, and July 8, 14, & 22 at 7:30pm; and June 12 & 18 and July 10 at 3:00pm.  I’ll be there on opening night to catch the start of the season, so look for my review soon.

Note that the full repertory season includes Around the World in 80 Days in rotation with three other plays through late July including:  Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee, The Servant of Two Masters, and The Emperor’s New Clothes, the last one suitable for children of all ages.

All performances will be held at the Sunnyvale Theatre – Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E Remington Drive, (between El Camino Real and Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd) in Sunnyvale. Single tickets range from $10 – $25. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups of 6 or more. For tickets and more information, call the CTC Summer Rep Box Office at 408-720-0873, or visit www.ctcinc.org.

(Photo Credit:  Will Huddleston)