The Hills of California is a critically acclaimed stage play by Jez Butterworth, directed by Sam Mendes, which explores the complex legacy of the Webb sisters across two timelines in the 1950s and 1970s. Set in the sweltering heatwave of 1976 in Blackpool, England, the story follows three sisters—Gloria, Ruby, and Jill—as they reunite at their childhood home, the Sea View Guest House, where their mother Veronica lies dying upstairs. The narrative tension centers on the prolonged absence of the fourth and eldest sister, Joan, who moved to America twenty years earlier to pursue a singing career and hasn’t been heard from since. As of March 2026, the play has completed its award-winning runs at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre and Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre, now living on through regional 2026 spring seasons and a powerful legacy as one of the most “visceral” family dramas of the decade.
The Plot: A Tale of Two Summers
The play expertly toggles between the “present” of 1976 and the formative childhood of the sisters in the 1950s.
The Sweltering Summer of 1976
The play opens during the driest summer in two centuries, where the adult Webb sisters have gathered to bid farewell to their mother, Veronica. Jill, the youngest and only sister who never left Blackpool, acts as the primary caregiver while the others arrive with their own domestic baggage and simmering resentments. The atmosphere is thick with the smell of herbal cigarettes and the sound of an out-of-tune piano, as the sisters wait in agony for Joan—the mother’s “favorite”—to finally walk through the door.
The Audition of 1955
The second act frequently revolves back to the mid-1950s, where we see the “Sea View” in its prime. Veronica is depicted as a fierce, “Mama Rose” style stage mother, drilling her four daughters to become a harmony group modeled after the Andrews Sisters. The climax of this timeline involves a high-stakes audition with an American record producer, an event that ultimately shatters the family unit and leads to Joan’s departure for the United States.
Architectural Symbolism: The Sea View
The set design by Rob Howell is a character in its own right, representing the decaying dreams of the Webb family.
A Guest House with No View
The irony of the “Sea View” Guest House is a recurring theme; despite its name, the Irish Sea is not visible from any of its windows. The interior is a labyrinth of staircases that “weave into the rafters,” symbolizing the unreachable heights of the sisters’ former ambitions. Each guest room is named after an American state—Alabama, Mississippi, Alaska—reflecting Veronica’s obsession with a “Utopia” that existed only in her imagination and the songs of Johnny Mercer.
The Revolving Stage
The production utilizes a massive revolve to transition between the seedy Victorian parlor of 1976 and the cozy, rehearsal-ready kitchen of the 1950s. This physical rotation underscores the play’s central theme: that the past is never truly behind us. In the 1970s scenes, the parlor features a tacky Tiki bar and a broken jukebox, serving as a “tomb” for the musical dreams that were sacrificed decades earlier.
2026 Production and Performance Status
As of early 2026, the play has transitioned from its original major runs to new educational and regional platforms.
Spring Season 2026: Rose Bruford College
In February and March 2026, Jez Butterworth’s masterpiece was selected as a highlight of the Rose Bruford College Spring Season. Directed by Daniel Bailey, this production placed final-year BA Acting students at the heart of London’s theatre scene at the Greenwich Theatre. This 2026 staging reimagined the ensemble piece for a new generation, proving that the play’s themes of family grief and “the American Dream” remain deeply resonant.
Broadway and West End Legacy
The original 2024-2025 runs set a high bar for contemporary theatre, with Laura Donnelly winning the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Lead Performer. While the Broadway run at the Broadhurst Theatre concluded on December 22, 2024, the play remains a “Critic’s Pick” on digital archives. It is currently being studied in drama curricula across the UK and US as a masterclass in non-linear storytelling and character differentiation.
Themes of Sacrifice and “The Black Legend”
Butterworth explores the “grubbier reality” behind the pursuit of fame and the cost of maternal ambition.
The Monstrous Mother
Veronica Webb is often compared to the legendary “Serpent Queen” of the stage, willing to compromise her daughters’ well-being for a shot at prosperity. She is a woman who “wraps truths in lies,” claiming the girls’ father died in various heroic battles of WWII when the reality was far more mundane. Her decision during the Act II audition is the play’s most debated moment, posing a question about what a parent is truly allowed to sacrifice for their child’s “freedom.”
Musical Irony
The play’s title is taken from a 1948 B-side by Johnny Mercer, a song that portrays California as a paradise where one will “never stray from the view.” This stands in stark contrast to the reality of Blackpool, a town described as “brackish” and fading. The use of close-harmony singing throughout the play serves as a poignant reminder of the sisters’ former unity, which has been replaced by the “discord” of their adult lives.
Practical Information and Planning
For those interested in the logistical details of the production and its 2026 availability.
Where to Experience the Play in 2026
Scripts: The full text of The Hills of California is published by Nick Hern Books and is widely available in 2026 for those wishing to read the three-act drama.
Regional Tours: While no major national tour is currently active in March 2026, local professional ensembles frequently list the play in their seasonal catalogs due to its “ensemble-heavy” nature.
Streaming: No official pro-shot has been released as of 2026, though rumors of a cinematic adaptation continue to circulate in theatre circles.
Content and Age Guidelines
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours (including one 15-minute intermission).
Age Recommendation: 16+ due to adult themes, sensitive subject matter, and the use of herbal cigarettes on stage.
Accessibility: Most 2026 venues hosting the play provide wheelchair access, though the “vertigo-inducing” nature of the original set design is often simplified in smaller productions.
FAQs
What is the meaning of the title “The Hills of California”?
The title is a reference to a 1948 song by Johnny Mercer, used in the play to symbolize a “Utopian” American dream that stands in contrast to the sisters’ reality in Blackpool.
Who wrote The Hills of California?
The play was written by Jez Butterworth, the award-winning playwright behind Jerusalem and The Ferryman.
Does Joan ever arrive in the play?
(Spoiler Alert) Yes, Joan finally makes a highly theatrical entrance in the third act, and she is played by the same actress who portrays the mother, Veronica.
What is the song the girls sing in the audition?
The sisters perform a choreographed version of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” mimicking the style of the Andrews Sisters.
Where is the play set?
It is set in the Sea View Guest House in Blackpool, England, during the heatwave of 1976 and the mid-1950s.
Is The Hills of California a musical?
No, it is a straight play with significant musical elements, including live singing and piano playing by the cast.
Why was the play cancelled on Broadway?
The play was not cancelled; it completed its scheduled “strictly limited” engagement on December 22, 2024.
Who directed the original production?
The original London and Broadway productions were directed by Sam Mendes.
What happened to the sisters’ father?
The truth is obscured by their mother’s lies, but it is suggested he was never the “war hero” Veronica claimed him to be.
Is there a film version of The Hills of California?
As of March 2026, there is no official film version, though the play’s cinematic structure has made it a prime candidate for future adaptation.
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