"Born Yesterday" Gets Under Way at Cinnabar

The more things change, the more they remain the same. That's one of the lessons that can be drawn from "," the 1946 Garson Kanin play opening this weekend at the.

It concerns corrupt and uncouth junk czar Harry Brock who comes to Washington, D.C., his ex-showgirl and mistress Billie Dawn in tow, to wield his wealth as influence in national politics.

"You're just not couth!"  says Billie Dawn.

But the gum-popping, slangy girlfriend embarrasses even Brock, who hires newspaper reporter Paul Verrall to tutor her in current events, grammar and gentility.

"This country and its institutions belong to the people who inhibit it."

The 1950 movie starred Broderick Crawford as Brock, William Holden as Verrall and Judy Holliday as Billie Dawn, and from the casting alone you can guess the rest of the plot.

"Are you one of these talkers or would you be interested in a little action?"

At the Cinnabar the only thing you need to know is that  of Novato plays Billie Dawn. The Sono-Marin actress, who earned raves for her recent film performance in Seducing Charlie Barker, will put her stage chops up against Academy Award-winner Holliday, Melanie Griffith and Madeleine Kahn (who have also played the role) during performances from May 25 - June 10 at the theater on Petaluma Blvd. North.

Gary Grossman of the Marin Shakespeare Co. plays Brock, and Sonoma County actor Paul Huberty is the journalist Verrell. The comic relief part of Ed Devery is played by Charlie Queary. Sheri Lee Miller, now of the Napa Valley Conservatory Theater, directs.

First performances are this weekend at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.cinnabartheater.org.  Phone 707-763-8920 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, or purchase at the door.