TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s World Premiere Musical “Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical” Balances Old-Style Murder Mystery with Bawdy Humor
By Ron Friedenthal
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s World Premiere of Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical is an old-style murder mystery with bawdy humor and some well-placed musical numbers with lyrics by Bay Area composer/playwright/lyricist Min Kahng. Currently performing through March 30, 2025 at the Lucie Stern Theatre (1305 Middlefield Road), Palo Alto, CA, the lively musical comedy Happy Pleasant Valley is set in a senior living community, as it explodes misconceptions about sexuality and aging.
This modern work set in today’s digital world opens with Jade (Sophie Oda), a young blogger, torpedoing her successful business with some hot mike ageist remarks. Her career needs a reboot so Jade decides to contact her estranged grandmother, June (Emily Kuroda), a retirement community resident, to reach out to her senior community. Little does she know that June has lost several lovers while in the act and is about to be thrown out of the community.
This set of circumstances sets the stage for exploring family relationships and intergenerational dynamics in the course of the search for what, or who, killed her grandmother’s lovers. Of course, HPV, the acronym for the production, centers on the sex lives of seniors, who have not lost touch. Inspired by their favorite crime-solving heroines, Jade and June join forces to track down the perpetrator in this rollicking comedy.
A talented cast has been assembled to bring to life this hilarious new musical. Emily Kuroda returns to TheatreWorks as June, a senior citizen who loves a good mystery while Sophie Oda returns to TheatreWorks as Jade, a vlogger and June’s granddaughter. Miller Liberatore plays the role of Dean, Jade’s friend and cameraperson.
Danny Scheie takes on the part of Mort, an exuberant senior citizen married to DeeDee, while Cindy Goldfield performs as DeeDee, a cheerful senior citizen married to Mort. Jacqueline De Muro plays the part of Bernice, a senior citizen who likes to know everyone’s business, while Lucinda Hitchcock Cone returns to the stage as Vicki, a retired park ranger. Rinabeth Apostol is very convincing as residence manager Cara, Jade’s mother Sally, and a variety of other characters, while Michael Patrick Gaffney makes his TheatreWorks mainstage debut as Larry, a slimeball resident of the senior apartments, and a variety of other characters.
Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical features musical direction by William Liberatore, choreography by Lee Ann Payne, scenic design by Arnel Sancianco, costume design by Jill Bowers, lighting design by Kurt Landisman, sound design by James Ard. Randall K. Lum is stage manager with Lisa De Leeuw as assistant stage manager.
Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical is well acted. engaging, fun, and in these difficult times, is just what the audience needs!
For tickets or more information please visit TheatreWorks.org or phone 877-662-8978.
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Photo caption: Vicki (Lucinda Hitchcock Cone), Larry (Michael Patrick Gaffney), Bernice (Jacqueline De Muro), Mort (Danny Scheie), and DeeDee (Cindy Goldfield) are residents of Happy Pleasant Valley Senior Apartments in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley & Center Repertory Company's "Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex Scandal Murder Mystery Musical," currently performing through March 30, 2025 at Palo Alto's Lucie Stern Theatre. (Photo Credit: Kevin Berne)