The Village BikePenelope SkinnerShotgun PlayersEliss Stebbins as Becky & Nick Medina as JohnWhen one spouse makes amorous moves in bed for some late-night hanky-panky and the other spouse responds to each approach, “Not tonight ... I’ve got an early start... I’ve got to make lasagna tomorrow... It’s a bit hot ... It’s the weather,” a natural inclination would be to assume … [Read more...] about “The Village Bike”
“Oklahoma”
OklahomaRichard Rodgers (Music), Oscar Hammerstein II (Book & Lyrics)Broadway by the BayThe Cast of "Oklahoma"All it takes to spawn a sea of happy smiles are those first few notes of “There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow,” so wonderfully trumpeted by the handsome cowboy coming down the aisle of the theatre. By the time he jumps onto the stage of cornfields and … [Read more...] about “Oklahoma”
“Lightning in the Brain”
Lightning in the BrainCorey Fischer (Writer, Composer, Performer)The Marsh Corey FischerWhen spending time as a young man in New York, Corey Fischer says it was like “walking through layers of history that were sliced as thin as pastrami.” While his new work, Lightning in the Brain -- now at The Marsh in San Francisco -- is a pleasant, harmless hour of … [Read more...] about “Lightning in the Brain”
“Chester Bailey”
Chester BaileyJoseph DoughertyAmerican Conservatory TheaterDavid Strathairn as Dr. Philip Cotton & Dan Clegg as Chester BaileySometimes there are not the words to capture fully the magic that is happening at a live theater performance. No matter how much a reviewer might try, the combination of the setting itself, the skilled nuances of the actors, and the spontaneous … [Read more...] about “Chester Bailey”
“For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birhday”
For Peter Pan on Her 70th BirthdaySarah RuhlBerkeley Repertory TheatreKathleen ChalfantMaybe returning for the second time in one season to the hospital bed of a dying father or for the third time to a play involving pirates is pushing the envelope a bit too far. But how could there be any risk when the producing company is the perennially consistent-in-high-quality … [Read more...] about “For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birhday”
“Maggie’s Riff”
Maggie’s RiffJon LipskyFaultline TheaterPaul Rodriguez as Jack KerouacIn wrinkled, open trench coat and smoking like a fiend, he wanders up to the 1950s-era mike in a fog-filled room and starts to ramble a story in his Northeastern way of forming his words. Some of what he says in the beginning is a bit cryptic (“Been doing a bit of babble since I had this flip”), but … [Read more...] about “Maggie’s Riff”
“Robert Louis Stevenson: Jekyll and Hyde”
Robert Louis Stevenson: Jekyll and HydeGary GravesCentral WorksBrian Herndon as Lewis & Danielle Levin as FannyWith labored breathing behind a black, leather mask and through thick, green-glassed goggles, a reclining, night-gowned man wrapped in knitted blanket writes furiously on his lap desk. Stripping off the 19th-century respirator and goggles, in socked … [Read more...] about “Robert Louis Stevenson: Jekyll and Hyde”
“On a Clear Day You Can See Forever”
On a Clear Day You Can See ForeverBurton Lane (Music); Alan Jay Lerner (Lyrics); Peter Parnell (Book)Based on the Original Book by Alan Jay LernerNew Conservatory Theatre CenterChris Morrell, Melissa O'Keefe & William GiammonaDespite its title, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever is one musical that has had a stormy past. The much-touted 1965 opening with music by … [Read more...] about “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever”
“Out of Darkness”
Out of DarknessJake Heggie (Music); Gene Scheer (Libretto)Music of RemembranceThe Cast of Out of DarknessSingle droplets of instrumental notes slowly meld into a haunting flow of melody that evokes a memory of another time, another place. The stunning music alerts that what is to follow is intimate, intense, and important. From such beginnings, two stories of … [Read more...] about “Out of Darkness”
“Elect to Laugh”
Elect to LaughWill DurstThe MarshWill DurstSoon after I first arrived in the Bay Area in late 1978, my newly wed spouse and I started checking out the bountiful comedy club scene that existed in San Francisco at venues like The Other Café, The Holy City Zoo, and Cobb’s Comedy Club. One of our favorite stand-ups soon became Will Durst, and almost forty years later this … [Read more...] about “Elect to Laugh”
“Gypsy”
GypsyArthur Laurents (Book); Julie Styne (Music); Stephen Sondheim (Lyrics)South Bay Musical Theatre Molly Thornton as Gypsy Rose LeeWhenever attending what NY Times critic Ben Brantley has referred as “what may be the greatest of all American musicals,” "Gypsy," I sit with both hope and skepticism until I hear Rose sing those first few notes of “Some People.” … [Read more...] about “Gypsy”
“I and You”
I and YouLauren GundersonCity Lights Theater Company Ivette Deltoro & Davied Morales Once again, City Lights Theater Company has chosen a winning script, a superb production team, and an exciting duet of actors to present to its audience a gift that will continue to give for a long time. Not only will I and You lead to both self-reflection and conversations … [Read more...] about “I and You”
“Grey Matter”
Grey MatterJulie KatzThe MarshJulie KatzLike a melding of a daily comic strip come to life and of snippets of a TV sitcom, a parade of caricatured, corporate types pass before us as they go about their daily lives at The Company. Led by “the new guy who will change things” to carry out the highly unique mission to “make our aspect of the industry better,” The Company is a … [Read more...] about “Grey Matter”
“The Wild Party”
The Wild PartyAndrew Lippa (Book, Music & Lyrics)Ray of Light TheatreJocelyn Pickett as Queenie Held on HighIn case there were any remaining doubts that the most consistently exciting, exuberant, and excelling musical theatre being staged in San Francisco was not coming from Ray of Light Theatre, then the company’s current production of Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party will … [Read more...] about “The Wild Party”
“The Last Five Years”
The Last Five YearsJason Robert Brown (music & lyrics)AmericanConservatory TheatreZak Resnick (Jamie) & Margo Seibert (Cathy)Fourteen months ago, social media in the San Francisco Bay Area lit up like a Times Square explosion with messages like “Drop everything ... You must not miss this” and “Hurry up ... It’s only here a few days!” The reference was to a brief … [Read more...] about “The Last Five Years”
