I was talking to a friend the other day about the state of theater in the South Sound. We worried that the failing economy would claim a company or two as theatergoers find themselves holding closer to their wallets than they have in decades. While we feared the worst, we hoped for the best based on the underlining notion that people will spend whatever money they have to see good theater if they are certain that is what they will get.



In that train of thought, local theater has not been better, so theatergoers should not fear that their money will be wasted on bad theater.

One of the shows to look at this week is Theatre Northwest’s showcase of the mystery A Final Toast. The theater is trying to be the city’s premier professional theater troupe in Tacoma and an heir apparent to Tacoma Actors Guild.



The new work by Stuart Kaminsky covers a case by some detective called Sherlock Holmes. The show is more than the standard whodunit fair because it contains strong character development that most shows miss. Holmes is shown to be a human as well as a brilliant observer of human nature and scientific study.

Brian Tyrrell puts flesh on the bones of the legendary detective, followed by Michael O’Hara’s studied take on Dr. Watson.



A solid show that heralds the return of one of the South Sound’s talent elite can be found in Lakewood with the Lakewood Playhouse’s staging of Absent Friends. This is a comedy about a gathering of friends who have to find ways to get through a tea party with a bit of tension caused by a host of poor decisions.



The show marks the return of Mathew Vail to a local stage after he and his wife staged a joint production they called a family. Vail is always a wonder to watch.

But the balance of the cast hold their own. Mark Lewington, Leischen Moore, Christian Doyle, Julie Drummond, and Lisa La Van round out the cast with their own sense of nuanced character. 



[Theatre on the Square, The Final Toast, through Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, $22-$34, 915 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894]



[Lakewood Playhouse, Absent Friends, through March 1, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $14-$22, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd. S.W., Lakewood, 253.588.0042]