“The Hills of California”, by Jez Butterworth.  Directed by Loretta Greco.  Presented by The Huntington in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Huntington, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, through October 12.

By Michele Markarian

Full disclosure: I love Jez Butterworth’s writing – psychological without being heavy-handed.  I saw Jerusalem with Mark Rylance in 2011; it was magnificent, as was The Ferryman. The Hills of California is no exception – it is a remarkable and moving work that skillfully weaves the lives of four sisters and their mother through their shaky past and fractured present and makes them whole again.

‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ Music and Lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick. Book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. Based on the Twentieth Century Studios Motion Picture. Arrangements and Orchestrations by Ethan Popp. Tour Direction by Steve Edlund. Tour Choreography by Michaeljon Slinger; Original Choreography by Lorin Latarro; Original Direction by Jerry Zaks. Scenic Design by David Korins; Costume Design by Catherine Zuber; Lighting Design by Philip S. Rosenberg; Sound Design by Keith Caggiano. Presented by Broadway in Boston and Work Lights Productions at the Emerson Colonial Theatre through Sept. 21.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Every family has that iconic favorite movie or television show that follows its members throughout childhood, adulthood and parent/grandparent-hood. For mine, it was (and is) “Mrs. Doubtfire,” the 1993 movie that has been with us from Blockbuster rental to VHS to DVD to stream-on-demand. So any live version of this holy grail was going to have a very high bar.

Thankfully, Broadway in Boston and Work Light Production’s musical version of the Broadway hit at the Emerson Colonial Theatre manages to hurdle over that bar more often than knock it over.