Gandhi Sujit Saraf Naatak Natraj Kumar & Dancers October 2, 2019 is the 150th birth anniversary of the man born with the first name Mohandas but whom the world now remembers as Mahatma (“venerable”) Gandhi. To honor this occasion, the nation’s largest Indian theatre company, Naatak, is producing a world-premiere play, Gandhi, written and directed by the company’s … [Read more...] about “Gandhi”
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Samuel Taylor Coleridge Word for Word Performing Arts Company & Z Space Charles Shaw Robinson The longest, probably best-known poem by the late-eighteenth, early-nineteenth-century founder of the English Romantic Movement, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, is the latest theatrical undertaking by San Francisco’s Word for Word Performing Arts … [Read more...] about “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
“The Great Wave”
The Great WaveFrancis TurnlyBerkeley Repertory TheatreSharon OmiAlmost every stormy winter, we natives of the San Francisco Bay Area read the tragic news that along the city’s Great Beach or nearby coastal areas someone has been swept to sea by a sudden-appearing “rogue wave,” never to be seen again. In 1979 off the west coast of Japan, two teenage sisters venture out … [Read more...] about “The Great Wave”
“Hickorydickory”
HickorydickoryMarisa WegrzynDragon Productions Theatre CompanyZoe Lytle, Troy Johnson, Allie Bailey, and Sarah HaasIn the imagination of playwright Marisa Wergzyn, the so-called “mortal clock” is a pocket watch every human carries within – one whose chain is wrapped around our hearts, with our death date and time engraved within. A swirling mixture of mystery, science … [Read more...] about “Hickorydickory”
“Bright Star”
Bright StarSteve Martin (Music, Book, Story) & Edie Brickell (Music, Lyrics, Story)Palo Alto PlayersElizabeth SantanaWhen Alice rotates from the rear to step away from a stage full of townspeople to face us, she opens the show singing, “If you knew my story, you’d have a hard time believing me. ” Immediately we know that Elizabeth Santana is going to make this an evening to … [Read more...] about “Bright Star”
“Caroline, Or Change”
Caroline, Or ChangeJeanine Tesori (Music); Tony Kushner (Book & Lyrics)Ray of Light TheatreElizabeth Jones, Cadarious Mayberry, Majesty Scott, Jasmyne Brice, Antone Jackson & Leslie IvyIt is November 1963; and after a relatively stable 1950s, change is in the air everywhere – some good, some scary, some revolutionary, and in one case, an event tragic for a nation and … [Read more...] about “Caroline, Or Change”
“Admissions”
AdmissionsJoshua HarmonLos Altos Stage CompanyMichael Champlin, Quincy Shaindlin and Kristin WalterAdmissions is Joshua Harmon’s hard-hitting, paradoxical look at admission processes at both upper-crust private secondary schools and the most-sought-after private universities. Now in a riveting, superbly acted and directed production at Los Altos Stage Company, Admissions … [Read more...] about “Admissions”
“An Ideal Husband”
An Ideal HusbandOscar WildePear Theatre Aaron Weisberg and Tom FarleyIn the midst of his own infidelities to his wife via his live-in, male lover becoming headlines and a life-ruining court case, the famed and wildly popular poet, playwright, and novelist (as well as celebrated, itinerant speaker in the U.S.), Oscar Wilde, wrote a play still widely produced almost … [Read more...] about “An Ideal Husband”
“Exit Strategy”
Exit StrategyIke HolterAurora Theatre CompanyAdam Niemann & Margo HallIt’s 6 p.m. in early August a couple of weeks before school is scheduled to open. A thirty-year-old, boyish-looking, white Vice-Principal is trying his best to make friendly small talk about the chocolate cake he left today in the teacher’s lounge to a stone-faced, African American veteran teacher … [Read more...] about “Exit Strategy”
“Anastasia”
AnastasiaTerrence McNally (Book); Stephen Flaherty (Music); Lynn Ahrens (Lyrics)SHNLila Coogan & Stephen BrowerSoon after a group of Bolsheviks brutally murdered Tsar Nicolas II and his entire family on July 17, 1918, rumors spread faster than the Revolutionary Guard could extinguish them that Grand Duchess Anastasia had somehow escaped and was living in hiding. … [Read more...] about “Anastasia”
“As You Like It: A New Musical”
As You Like It: A New MusicalWilliam Shakespeare (Book & Lyrics); The Kilbanes [Kate Kilbane & Dan Moses] & Phil Wong (Music & Lyrics); Rebecca J. Ennals (Adapter)San Francisco Shakespeare FestivalRegina Morones & Michael Barrett AustinAs part of what many consider his most joyous and romantic comedy, William Shakespeare includes several songs, making the … [Read more...] about “As You Like It: A New Musical”
“The Flick”
The FlickAnnie BakerShotgun PlayersJustin Howard & Chris GinesiEntering the Ashby Stage setting, it is at first confusing where to find the ticketed seat. Mirroring the regular seating area is another set of seat rows, which after a second look, are clearly those of a small movie theatre. Looking further, there are the curtained walls with movie-house sconces, … [Read more...] about “The Flick”
Anything Goes
Anything GoesCole Porter (Music & Lyrics)P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay & Russell Crouse (Original Book)Timothy Crouse & John Weidman (New Book)Hillbarn TheatreNathaniel Rothrock & Caitlin McGinty Beginning with the ship’s captain and sailors raising full-voice and rousing harmonies in “There Is No Cure Like Travel” and the full cast blending … [Read more...] about Anything Goes
“The 39 Steps”
The 39 StepsAdapted by Patrick BarlowBased on the Novel by John BuchanFrom the Movie by Alfred HitchcockTheatreWorksSilicon ValleyLance Gardner, Ron Campbell, Annie Abrams & Cassidy BrownFour actors playing upwards of one-hundred-plus parts. Eighty costume changes, with a total of fifty different costumes often switched in split-second timing on stage. Bridges, … [Read more...] about “The 39 Steps”
TheatreEddys Goes to the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Mini-Reviews of 42 Shows Seen
TheatreEddys Goes to the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival:Mini-Reviews of 42 Shows SeenThere is nothing in the world like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with the 39th edition having completed its twenty-four days of several thousand offerings each day at 554 venues (each with one to a dozen or more stages) where over 55,000 performers from all over the world performed stand-up … [Read more...] about TheatreEddys Goes to the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Mini-Reviews of 42 Shows Seen
