Montclarion, 4-16-04

A BRILLIANT 'MISER'

Shotgun Players has mounted a brilliant production of Moliere's "The Miser" at the Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave. Berkeley. Plays at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, through May 2. Free admission, with donations after each performance. Call 510-704-8210.

The farce is directed by Patrick Dooley and features a knockout ensemble, led by the inimitable Clive Worsley as the miser, from whose greedy grasp not even the audience is safe. (I know. He came off the stage, grabbed my wrist, and sneered his disdain for my Timex with a "Humph. I can do better than THAT!")

The production, with its hilariously mannered posturing, is helped enormously by Lisa Clark's looming set structures and Valera Coble's colorful period costumes.