SearedTheresa RebeckSan Francisco PlayhouseLarry Powell, Brian Dykstra, Rod Gnapp & Alex SunderhausThe first sound heard is an enticing sizzle as oil hits a hot skillet, leading to a plume of white smoke rising from the stove as smells of onion and garlic waft into the first rows of the audience. That initial sizzle is only the beginning of a play that will snap, … [Read more...] about “Seared”
“The Brothers Size”
The Brothers SizeTarell Alvin McCraneyTheatre RhinocerosJulian Green, Gabriel Christian & LaKeidrick S. WimberlyWith a tribal air of a long-ago continent or of fields in the another century’s cotton-filled South, three young, black men dance in a trance-like state and sing with moaning tone and hum, “The road is rough ... hmmm, haaaah ... Lord God, it’s rough and … [Read more...] about “The Brothers Size”
“Other Desert Cities”
Other Desert CitiesJon Robin BaitzCity Lights Theater Company http://cltc.org Lauren Tothero, Jeff Kramer & Mary GibboneyIt’s Christmas 2004 in a Jewish home in the desert; and the family is going through morning, holiday rituals before heading to the club for crab claws and roasted pork. Welcome to the loving Wyeth household, where a … [Read more...] about “Other Desert Cities”
“Waiting fot Godot”
Waiting for GodotSamuel BeckettDragon Productions Theatre Company Robert Sean Campbell, Jim Johnson, Ronald Feichtmeir & Michael Champlin It is about something, surely. It is about everything, maybe. It is about nothing, probably not. And whatever it is about, it all happens twice, in two acts, in two days. Producer and Director Jeanie Smith joins … [Read more...] about “Waiting fot Godot”
“King Charles III”
King Charles IIIMike BartlettAmerican Conservatory TheatreRobert Joy as CharlesWhat is it about us Americans that we have such a fascination with the very Crown and its royals that almost 250 years ago we fought a revolution to escape? And when we hear the accented speech of that faraway Isle, why do we tend to go gaga and give immediate credence to whoever is … [Read more...] about “King Charles III”
“August: Osage County”
August: Osage CountyTracy LettsMarin Theatre Company The Cast of "August: Osage County"Without a doubt, the star of Marin Theatre Company’s daring, innovative production of the wildly popular, dark family comedy by Tracy Letts, August: Osage County, is J. B. Wilson’s set. The multi-storied, multi-room weathered-wood and metal-framed skeleton with no solid walls enables … [Read more...] about “August: Osage County”
“Chess”
ChessBenny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus (Music); Tim Rice (Lyrics)Custom Made Theatre Company The Cast of "Chess"Produced first as a concept album in 1984 with music by Benny Andersson and BjörnUlvaeus (both formerly with ABBA and later to be associated with the mega hit Mamma Mia) and lyrics by Tim Rice (Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor … [Read more...] about “Chess”
“Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
Disney’s The Little MermaidAlan Menken (Music); Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater (Lyrics); Doug Wright (Book)Palo Alto Players Kristen Hermosillo & Cheyenne Wells The Little Mermaidmay sound like the perfect outing for young girls and their parents. While that is certainly true, the opening night crowd at Palo Alto Players that included folks of … [Read more...] about “Disney’s The Little Mermaid”
“Little Shop of Horrors”
Little Shop of HorrorsHoward Ashman (Book & Lyrics); Alan Menkin (Music)Ray of Light TheatreMary Kalita & Sam FaustineHow do you take everyone’s favorite horror, fully-tongue-in-cheek, rock musical about a human-eating plant and ensure that your production will be noticed when this musical has already been produced in the past thirty years on almost every community’s … [Read more...] about “Little Shop of Horrors”
“Caught”
CaughtChristopher ChenShotgun PlayersJomar Tagatac as Lin BoThe “program” audience members are handed as they enter reads more like an exhibition guide to an art exhibit, “Made in China,” a phrase each person also has stamped upon the wrist by the ticket-taker at the door. The Ashby Stage has been converted, it seems, into a pop-up art gallery installation, created, the … [Read more...] about “Caught”
“all of what you love and none of what you hate”
all of what you love and none of what you hatePhilip HowzeSan Francisco PlayhouseBritney FrazierIt would be a frustrating mistake to attempt understanding every single aspect of Philip Howze’s new play, all of what you love and none of what you hate. Better to step back and take in the gestalt, the totality. In San Francisco Playhouse’s world premiere production as … [Read more...] about “all of what you love and none of what you hate”
“Assassins”
AssassinsStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); John Weidman (Book)Los Altos Stage Company Todd Wright, Connor Smith, Anthony Stephens, Chase Campbell, Alea Selburn, Philomena Block, Andy Cooperfauss, and Drew Benjamin JonesOne of the more controversial musicals ever to be staged, one that companies prolific in producing Stephen Sondheim works often avoid producing, is … [Read more...] about “Assassins”
“Veils”
VeilsTom CoashPear Theatre Naseem Etemad & Amani DornPear Theatre presents the funny, poignant, and altogether politically timely play, Veils by Tom Coash, the 2015 winner of the American Theatre Critics Association M. Elizabeth Osborn Award. Set in the midst of the so-called 2011 “Arab Spring” upheavals that spread revolutionary fever and rioting into Cairo … [Read more...] about “Veils”
“The Guys”
The GuysAnne NelsonPear Theatre Diane Tasca & Ray RenatiAs we now approach the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11, Pear Theatre presents The Guys, a play the New York Times once called “a heartfelt theatrical pas de deux” in which Joan (a journalist) meets Nick (a fire chief who has just lost eight firefighters) and leads him gently through remembering things that will … [Read more...] about “The Guys”
“Miss Conception”
Miss Conception(aka Kevin Levesque)From Aboard a Recent Brand g Cruise on the DanubeIntroduction:Miss ConceptionWhile recently on vacation, not only did we get to see (and I subsequently reviewed) 34 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we also were lucky enough to catch on our nine-day Brand g cruise on the Danube two astounding cabaret shows by Miss Conception, the drag … [Read more...] about “Miss Conception”
