The Gondoliers or, The King of BaratariaWilliam S. Gilbert (Lyrics); Arthur Sullivan (Music)Lamplighters Music TheatreMichael Desnoyers & Samuel RabinowitzAs the orchestra’s “Overture” spreads notes that prance in joyful processions up and down hills and valleys of light-hearted scales, toes tap and heads nod with the beat. Beaming smiles throughout the audience … [Read more...] about “The Gondoliers, or The King of Barataria”
“Widowers’ Houses”
Widowers’ HousesGeorge Bernard ShawAurora Theatre CompanyDan Hoyle, Michael Gene Sullivan, Megan Trout & Warren David KeithOne of the greatest forces in modern, Western literature who wrote over sixty plays during his long career on subjects from religion to politics to social justice began his career with a play just as relevant in the housing strapped Bay Area of 2018 as … [Read more...] about “Widowers’ Houses”
“Born Yesterday”
Born YesterdayGarson KaninSan Francisco PlayhouseThe Cast of Born YesterdayLaughs galore abound inside San Francisco Playhouse these days; and the majority of them are due to one of the oldest, now most politically incorrect of stereotypes: the ditsy, dumb blonde. But somehow under the tongue-in-cheek yet sophisticated direction of Susi Damilano, there is not a moment’s … [Read more...] about “Born Yesterday”
“Skeleton Crew”
Skeleton CrewDominique MorisseauMarin Theatre CompanyMargo Hall, Lance Gardner & Christian ThompsonFAYE: “You ‘fraid of ghosts?”DEZ: “Them assembly line ghosts? Hell yeah. ...Say them empty plants a breeding ground for ‘em.”The winter of 2008 was more than just cold and windy for Detroit. It was a time when the year-old Great Recession was blowing hard through … [Read more...] about “Skeleton Crew”
“1984”
1984Adapted by Michael Gene Sullivan from the Novel by George OrwellLos Alto Stage Company The Cast of 1984Los Alto Stage Company has chosen a timely, if uncomfortable-to-watch, 1984 for its current season, particularly in the harshly realistic and disturbing adaptation by Michael Gene Sullivan. Their production proves the power of live theater and what … [Read more...] about “1984”
“Still at Risk”
Still at RiskTim PinckneyNew Conservatory Theatre CenterThe Cast of Still at RiskAs the final decade of the twentieth century was just beginning, an article in the July 16, 1990 New York Times reported that in the U.S., “212 cases of full-blown AIDS are diagnosed every day; there is one AIDS death every 12 minutes; and a new case of infection every 54 seconds.” At a time … [Read more...] about “Still at Risk”
“Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour”
Rent: 20thAnniversary TourJonathan Larson (Book, Music & Lyrics)Broadway San JoseThe Cast of Rent: 20th Anniversary TourA year ago, “Rent: 20thAnniversary Tour” rolled into San Francisco for a multi-week run at the Golden Gate Theatre, resulting in many rave reviews from critics and audience members alike (including this reviewer). A year later, the tour that began in … [Read more...] about “Rent: 20th Anniversary Tour”
“The Laramie Project”
The Laramie ProjectMoisés Kaufman (and Members of Tectonic Theatre Project)Palo Alto Players The Cast of The Laramie ProjectPalo Alto Players joins thousands of previous productions to present a play that still shakes one to the core as we and the citizens of Laramie try to understand how and why this crime could have happened in their community. And … [Read more...] about “The Laramie Project”
“Alabama Story”
Alabama StoryKenneth JonesCity Lights Theater Company Maria Giere Marquis, Karen DeHart, Bezachin Jifar,and Erik Gandolf Perhaps no profession is more universally stereotyped in movies and minds than the local librarian. Portrayed and generally viewed as meek, prudish, and out of touch with day-to-day reality, the views seem quite universal, be the librarian male … [Read more...] about “Alabama Story”
“Peter and the Starcatcher”
Peter and the StarcatcherRick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry & Ridley PearsonHillbarn TheatreDan Demers & Will Springhorn, Jr. With tongue often in cheek, with twinkles in every eye, and with impishness in the corner of each mouth, the Hillbarn Theatre cast of thirteen romps through Rick Elice’s Peter and the Starcatcher, providing us the prequel story of … [Read more...] about “Peter and the Starcatcher”
“Sondheim on Sondheim”
Sondheim on SondheimStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); James Lapine (Conceiver)3 Below Theatres & Lounge Conceived by James Lapine and running in limited run on Broadway in 2010, Sondheim on Sondheim features not over fifty of the Great One’s songs from nineteen of his shows, but the musical review is also interspersed throughout with perfectly timed (to … [Read more...] about “Sondheim on Sondheim”
“The Birthday Party”
The Birthday PartyHarold PinterAmerican Conservatory Theatre Dan Hiatt & Judith IveyIf after twenty-five years of being Artistic Director someone is directing a play for the last time in that role, what better thing to do than throw a party, correct? But when that party is scripted by Harold Pinter, there is no guarantee the games are not going to get a bit scary and … [Read more...] about “The Birthday Party”
“Man of La Mancha”
Man of La ManchaDale Wasserman (Book); Mitch Leigh (Music); Joe Darion (Lyrics)Custom Made TheatreEdward Hightower as Don QuixoteAndy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Roberta Flack, Elvis, Cher, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir are just a few of the many who have recorded what is surely one of the most enduring standards to emerge from an American musical. And while every … [Read more...] about “Man of La Mancha”
“Our Great Tchaikovsky”
Our Great TchaikovskyHershey Felder (Book); Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Music)TheatreWorks Silicon ValleyHershey Felder The musical chameleon Hershey Felder, who has transformed himself at the keyboard body and soul from Bernstein to Beethoven to Berlin and has at least annually for the past several years taken the Bay Area by storm, returns to TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in … [Read more...] about “Our Great Tchaikovsky”
“The Eddys: Theatre Eddys’ Top Bay Area Plays & Musicals of 2017”
Theatre Eddys Presents“The Eddys 2017”Our San Francisco Bay Area Top Theatre Productions, 2017This year, I attended with friends and family and reviewed 140 shows locally along with 11 shows in Ashland, Oregon (ten at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival) and 35 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, for a total of 189 plays and musicals seen in 2017.Of the 140 local productions that … [Read more...] about “The Eddys: Theatre Eddys’ Top Bay Area Plays & Musicals of 2017”
