If you are looking for something to do this weekend, with or without kids, Hillbarn Theatre is putting on a delightful production of Holes.  Sadly, this is the last weekend, but if you have a chance today or tomorrow I urge you to see it!

You (or your children) may have read the Newberry Award winning book “Holes” by Louis Sachar, or you may have seen the Disney film of the same name starring Shia LaBeouf.  I took my 18 year old daughter to the show at Hillbarn, and though she was familiar with both book and film, I knew virtually nothing about the story other than it was for kids and about kids.

WRONG!  I found it to be a touching, heartwarming story fit for an audience of all ages.  I’ll admit I had my doubts about what I had thought was a children’s show, and it is always risky to produce a play that relies heavily on a young cast.  But I was absolutely delighted with the show that Hillbarn is presenting, once again proving they are one of the best theaters in the Bay Area, with access to some of the best talent.

Stanley, the lead, is played by the amazing Aaron Fore, and although there are two boys who play Zero, I believe it was Raymond Juballa who played the night I saw it.  Stanley easily carries this show, and his friendship with Zero is poignant and touching.  There is a very large cast and I wish I could name them all because they’ve managed, together, to take a kid’s book and turn it into a show that will bring tears to the adult eyes in the house.  The adult actors do a great job, but it is the performances of the kids which are quite outstanding.

My daughter said the show very closely followed the film, and she was quite impressed with the whole thing.  As I’ve said before, this kid is not easy to impress, but she LOVED it.  Also impressive was how they have made full use of the entire theater.  There is a darling raised set on stage where the kids dig their holes, but the kids also climb up the bleachers (the mountain) and sit in an alcove above the stage.

The story is about a young boy who is sent to an alternative detention camp for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The boys there are assigned to digging holes day in and day out.  While there they learn there are mysterious secrets at the camp, and that not everything is as it seems – not even their own histories.  Along the way the kids find out they are much more than their nicknames, deep friendships and close bonds are forged, and they learn that they are valuable human beings.  None of this was the intention of the camp directors, of course.

Although the book and film are fine for most ages, there is some violence that, real life and right on stage, might be a little scary for anyone younger than pre-teen.  However 12 and up would be a great age for the show and that includes all ages of adults.  This is not just a children’s story that adults can tolerate, it is a production that will make adults laugh, cry, and most important, enjoy.

Don’t miss this outstanding performance at Hillbarn Theatre.

HOLES
Hillbarn Theatre
1285 East
Hillsdale Blvd.
Foster City, CA
(650) 349-6411