Written by orange• September 22, 2026• 6:50 pm• Anaheim, Review, Theater, Uncategorized

the bed trick @ Chance Theater – Review

Photos by Eric Keitel Photography.

Written by Patrick Chavis

the bed trick is playing now at the Chance Theater in Anaheim, September 11 – October 4, 2026.

From local Playwright Keiko Green, this relatively new play is only about two years old and is directed by H. Adam Harris.

It’s a modernized retelling with meta commentary on Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well. If that sounds highly intellectual, you’d be right. It’s too good for you! Go away! Jk. For those willing to take the leap, you’ll see Green has created a story that digs deep into ideas like whether the ends justify the means and whether there’s usually more to the story.

Story:

the bed trick follows three first-year college students. Marianne (Mae Linh Young) is a straight-laced mixed-race Asian and European girl, who is ready to explore her sexuality for the first time – it is college, after all. Marianne’s outspoken close friend and roommate, Lulu (Zoe Hertzberg) is way more experienced on the sex front and has a boyfriend, Willis (Khoi Le), and a situation that’s not going so well, to say the least. Then, there’s Harriet (Sophia Blake), our fourth-wall-breaking, drama-major Shakespeare enthusiast, liberal-minded protagonist who is dealing with the fact that she wants to show life on stage but hasn’t lived it in reality. When Lulu comes up with a plan to create a fake account to catch her boyfriend cheating, the prank goes far further and deeper than anyone expected.

What appears on the surface is a light, sex comedy with three girls coming of age that features a B storyline about a very problematic prank that changes all of their lives, in multiple ways.

The funny in this show doesn’t hit you in a laugh-out-loud way, but in the “oh, that’s so real” way. For example, Benny (Erik Dylan Matibag) mentions that the most out-of-control people in life are the ones who seem to become life coaches, but of course they’re the exception.

Acting:

This dynamic trio of Young, Hertzberg, and Blake had undeniable chemistry on stage. The show slowly builds relationships. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Harriet and Lulu, who seem to be polar opposites. As the story progresses, we also recognize the similarities and the life experiences that contribute to their differences.

Blake delivers quite a few asides that are long and filled with Shakespeare and other references. She has such a way with words and spirit that they flow and communicate her feelings while also connecting with Shakespeare without feeling forced.

Set Design:

As in recent years, the set design at the Chance has gone for a wider design, particularly when on the larger Cripe stage at the Bette Aitken Theatre Arts Center. From left to right across the stage, we have this intricate college dorm room set from Fred Kinney. In the middle of the stage is a window with vibrant colors that really captures the eye and surprisingly becomes an important part of the narrative. On the far right of the stage, a small office comes in and out of scenes with lighting. An elevated space near the office also features a brick wall used for phone-call scenes.

Some beds put you to sleep. The bed trick will wake you up!