by Cari Lynn Pace

A middle-aged housewife tosses her worn apron aside and packs a silk kimono for the Greek Islands. 

Meet Shirley Valentine, a charming woman in Liverpool, England who does everything for everyone, including her spoiled daughter and demeaning husband. Shirley doesn’t complain as she talks aloud, examining her life and the choices she has made. She doesn’t talk to herself as much as to her kitchen wall, and the audience. She shares her dream for a taste of life beyond her kitchen as she pulls a baking sheet of chips from the oven. 

This familiar theme of self-discovery, written by Willy Russell, has endeared audiences to Shirley Valentine since the play launched in 1986, becoming a movie in 1989.

Jennifer King does an outstanding job in this one-woman drama/comedy which just opened at Sonoma Arts Live. Her accent, according to a friend who knows, is perfect.

King takes us on a poignant journey as she fantasizes about a more satisfying life. “I’d like to sit by the sea and eat olives in the country where they grow, and I don’t even like olives” she admits. Shirley’s conflicting desire: should she continue to be the family’s thankless provider, or jet off for a holiday with a friend who’s given her a ticket? Will responsibility continue to crush her dreams of living?

Act II finds Shirley happily sunning on a tropical beach. She laughs as she shares her adventures with the audience – and a rock which stands in for her kitchen wall. She’s living her dream. Any doubts Shirley had about leaving have been left behind in the boring kitchen smartly designed by Laurynn Malilay. This is much better – paradise under a sunny umbrella. 

Sharon Winegar directed King, who delivered an over-the-top performance that didn’t miss a beat. From dispirited wife to confident woman, Shirley enfolds us in her brave journey of self-discovery. Artistic Director Jaime Love notes “Shirley Valentine might just inspire you to plan a trip for your own reinvention.”

Playing now through February 22 on the Rotary Stage in the Sonoma Community Center, 276 East Napa St., Sonoma.

Click HERE for more information and tickets.

Photos by Miller Oberlin

Cari Lynn Pace is a long-time Bay Area theatre critic whose reviews were regularly featured in the Marinscope Community Newspapers.