The Rocky Horror ShowRichard O’Brien (Book, Music, Lyrics)Ray of LightD'Arcy Drollinger as Frank-n-FurterHot men and women in sensuous, black corsets of lace and leather who are raised on high by spiked stilettos, all singing and dancing in rock numbers that are precursors of later musicals like Grease or Hairspray can mean only one thing: The Rocky Horror Show is yet … [Read more...] about “The Rocky Horror Show”
Archives for October 2015
The Hypocrites’ “Pirates of Penzance”
The Hypocrites’ Pirates of PenzanceW.S. Gilbert (Book); Arthur Sullivan (Music)Adapted by Sean Graney; co-adapted by Kevin O’DonnellBerkeley Repertory Theatre Matt Kahler as Major-General with Other Hypocrites CastDodging flying beach balls, stepping over ice chests and around kid’s swimming pools full of rubber duckies, and often stopping by the straw-roofed tiki-hut for … [Read more...] about The Hypocrites’ “Pirates of Penzance”
“The Rover”
The RoverAphra BehnShotgun Players Justin Gillman, Dan Saski, Jeremy Kahn & Alex LydonShotgun Players boldly brings a pioneering playwright’s play of yesteryear to a 21stCentury audience where we discover her writing about our own current issues of sexual assaults against college coeds, difficulties of women to be given deserved equality in the workplace, … [Read more...] about “The Rover”
“Ghost Quartet”
Ghost QuartetDave Malloy (Composer & Writer)Curran: Under Construction Brittain Ashford, Gelsey Bell, Dave Malloy, and Brent ArnoldPhoto by Jim Norrena Ghost Quartet -- a 90-minute song cycle by Dave Malloy now playing as part of the "Curran: Under Construction" series -- is an intermingling of quirky, eerie, captivating stories covering several centuries that … [Read more...] about “Ghost Quartet”
“HEROMONSTER”
HEROMONSTERNathaniel Justiniano & Ava Roy; Music by Charlie GurkeWePlayersNathaniel Justiniano and Ava RoyHEROMONSTER, created and performed by Nathaniel Justiniano and Ava Roy of We Players, is less a play with a story line and more poetry in motion with loose, vague references to the original Beowulf. The result is always intriguing, often mesmerizing, and at times … [Read more...] about “HEROMONSTER”
“Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the Cobra”
Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the CobraDamien Chacona, Rob Keefe, Scrumbly Koldewyn, Nicolas Torre & Andy WengerThrillpeddlersReady to get your Halloween started in a gory and ghoulish, frightfully funny, blood-screaming way? Then forego the usual evening at a local haunted house or screening of a B-grade, horror flick and head instead to Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the … [Read more...] about “Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the Cobra”
“Star Trek Live! Mudd’s Women”
Star Trek Live! Mudd’s WomenGene Roddenberry (Original Story); Stephen Kandel (Original Teleplay)D’Arcy Drollinger & Laurie Bushman (Co-Directors, Oasis Production)OasisAmber Sommerfield as Spock, Leigh Crow asJames T Kirk and Honey Mahogany as UhuraAs the stage lights come up on the Enterprise deck with Captain Jim Kirk in his command chair and all other key crew … [Read more...] about “Star Trek Live! Mudd’s Women”
“Proof”
ProofDavid AuburnTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyL. Peter Callender as Robert & Michelle Beck as CatherineIf x = the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, y = the inspired casting and direction choices by Leslie Martinson, and z = a decision by Artistic Director Robert Kelley to revive at this particular time his company’s 2003 production of David Auburn’s Proof, the impressive total … [Read more...] about “Proof”
“The Nance”
The NanceDouglas Carter BeaneNew Conservatory Theatre CenterP.A. Cooley as the "Nance"Strippers in sparkling pasties wearing little more than fans or balloons, corny jokes and skits that draw laughs and moans even on the umpteenth hearing, short ditties sung bawdily and badly (on purpose), and a flaming and always funny queenie guy called the “Nance” are the basic ‘musts’ for … [Read more...] about “The Nance”
“Monstress”
MonstressTwo One Acts Based on Stories by Lysley Tenorio:- Remember the I-Hotel by Philip Kan Gotanda - Presenting … The Monstress! By Sean San JoseAmerican Conservatory TheatreOgie Zulueta (Vicente) & Jomar Tagatac (Fortunado)Commissioned by the American Conservatory Theatre, two one act plays probing stories of 20thCentury, Filipino immigrants to the San Francisco Bay … [Read more...] about “Monstress”
“Dogfight”
DogfightBenj Pasek & Justin Paul (Music & Lyrics); Peter Duchan (Book)San Francisco PlayhouseThe Marines of "Dogfight"Take an ugly contest and an uglier war; add a soldier, a waitress, music, and a moon over the Golden Gate; and the result is a moving, compelling, sometimes disturbing, and often funny love story at San Francisco Playhouse. With music and lyrics by … [Read more...] about “Dogfight”
“RFK”
RFK Jack Holmes The Stage David Arrow as RFK For anyone younger than 45, the first question might be, “Who is RFK?” and a quick second might be, “And why should I spend two hours listening to a guy in heavy Bostonian accent who constantly swipes at his floppy hair talk about his life?” Only a few mesmerizing minutes of David Arrow playing the solo … [Read more...] about “RFK”
“Or,”
Or,Liz Duffy AdamsDragon Productions Theatre Company Kathryn HanThe plague has ravaged, a fire has leveled, and seemingly endless wars have demoralized a late 1660s London that is also still trying to recover from eleven years of so-called moral cleansing by anti-monarchist Oliver Cromwell. Like a Phoenix rising from the flames and ashes, the … [Read more...] about “Or,”
“The Unheard of World”
The Unheard of WorldFabrice MelquiotTranslation by Michelle HanerfoolsFURYTheatre CompanyBrian Livingston & Joan HowardAs first audience members enter, shadowy forms in white, wispy linen wander before and around us with headlights and flashlights, pausing occasionally to confront one of us. Sometimes aimless and sometimes in more coordinated movements nearing a … [Read more...] about “The Unheard of World”
“Fred’s Diner”
Fred’s DinerPenelope SkinnerMagic TheatreOpening with a quick glance of a gruesome scene on Christmas Eve, Magic Theatre’s American premiere of Penelope Skinner’s Fred’s Diner retreats a few days earlier to travel a trail full of surprises, twists, and turns -- eventually to return to this scene in the end. The setting is Erik Flatmo’s deliciously authentic 1950’s style, … [Read more...] about “Fred’s Diner”
