Theater Review: Annabella in July

                    Cast of "Annabella in July"

Is there something magical about a ski lodge with a swallowtail butterfly flittering by? Or is it the Monarch butterfly on the program cover that lets you know this is going to be a different kind of play?

Playwright Richard Strand seems to suggest magic is in the air in the world premiere of his “Annabella in July,” on the boards through Oct. 2 at North Coast Repertory Theatre.

David Ellenstein directs the show, which opens at a California ski resort during off-season. We see a married couple – Nebraskans Brian (Louis Lotorto) and Vanessa (Jacquelyn Ritz) – having no luck getting into the locked door of what seems to be the dining room. Brian carries big, heavy-looking camera equipment. They are on a trip and have stopped for lunch.

Finally a woman appears from another door and lets them in. This is the hostess, Camelia (Leilani Smith). She greets Vanessa effusively (though calling her “Annabella”). She is also wondering why they are here at this time of year, but offers to feed them. Camelia’s teenage waitress Piper (Catalina Zelles) also calls her Annabella.

Vanessa insists she is *not* Annabella, and does not know who that is. She is a librarian, in fact a cataloger, and doesn’t understand the confusion.

Another visitor really starts to confuse things. He is a handsome man with a French accent named Alexander (Bruce Turk), who claims to know “Annabella” rather better than a married woman should know a strange man. He even claims she is such a fine athlete that she can ski uphill.

So what do you do in this situation? Somebody (or everybody?) seems to be having an identity crisis. But the place is lovely, so they decide to stay a while. This leads to more and more strangeness, which resolves in the second act to some character growth and more changes that you won’t see coming.

It’s a strange play that will keep you giggling when you’re not guffawing or wondering what’s happening. The excellent actors keep us involved. And there’s even an intriguing ending.

Set designer Marty Burnett has created a lovely set – and a door that has its own mind, adding to the rollicking craziness of the script. Costume designer Renetta Lloyd has caught the atmosphere brilliantly, with costumes that excellently portray the characters.

One suggestion I might make is to shorten the first act, which seems more redundant than necessary, since it’s dominated by Vanessa saying “I am not Annabella.” Yep, we got it the first ten times.

Otherwise, “Annabella in July” may not be a person you want to meet, but it’s fun to spend a few hours with her/them.

The details

“Annabella in July” runs through October 2, 2022 at North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe in Solana Beach.

Shows Wednesday and Sunday at 7 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.; matinees Saturday and Sunday and Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. 

Tickets: 858-481-1055 or www.northcoastrep.org