Carol Schlanger's Valley of the Shadow of Beth, a darkly comic surreal fantasy about showbiz, is running through March 25 at Bitter Truth Theatre in NoHo. Coupled with the one-acter is Poetry Without Prozak, which stars Joleen Lutz in a solo performance of her own play. Both works are produced by Sharon Kirkpatrick for Theatre of Hope.

Valley deals with an Encino housewife and former actress whose ambitions were squelched when she made an unfortunate choice of husband. While struggling to get free of his hold over her, she finds an unlikely ally in her husband's playmate, the star of a TV series which he is directing. The cast includes Robert Kane, Joan Nielsen Lewis, Donna Lyles, Elizabeth Anne Springett and Brandon Thomason.

Lutz's monologue focuses on a woman with memories of a long-gone abusive father who is struggling to come to grips with the imminent death from cancer of the mother who failed to protect her from him.

Bitter Truth Theatre is located at 11050 Magnolia Blvd. For tickets and information call (818) 766-9702.

— By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent