Red VelvetLolita ChakrabartiSan Francisco PlayhouseThe Cast of "Red Velvet"A play a decade in the writing about a story of a Shakespeare actor nine score years in the telling bursts onto the stage with fever, fervor, and fury that the Bard himself would surely admire. That this classical actor is a black American, son of a straw-farming preacher and a floor-scrubbing … [Read more...] about “Red Velvet”
“The Empty Nesters”
The Empty NestersGarret Jon GroenveldFlown the Coop ProductionsJW Walker & Pamela Gaye WalkerShe: “We’re going to have to start to have grown-up conversations.”He: “About what?”She: “Grown up things.”He: “Then let’s talk.”She: “About what.”He: “I don’t know.”Such back-and-forth, circle exchanges often make the interactions of wife Frannie and husband Greg sound like scenes … [Read more...] about “The Empty Nesters”
“Kinky Boots”
Kinky BootsCyndi Lauper (Music & Lyrics); Harvey Fierstein (Book)SHN The Cast of "Kinky Boots"Sometimes it just feels right to start with dessert. When a musical ends with a stage full of people of every shape, size, race, sex, and sexual orientation all dancing in stiletto-heeled boots that rise to hug their hips, it is difficult not to start there with the … [Read more...] about “Kinky Boots”
“Disney’s Newsies”
Disney’s NewsiesAlan Menken (Music); Jack Feldman (Lyrics); Harvey Fierstein (Book)Broadway San JoseThe Newsies in FlightHow better to get a packed audience, from first row to last seat in the balcony, rip-roaring excited about a little-told piece of history than through a stage full of high-jumping, midair-flipping, split-legging, fist-pumping guys in perfectly coordinated … [Read more...] about “Disney’s Newsies”
“Sweet Charity”
Sweet CharityNeil Simon (Book), Cy Coleman (Music), Dorothy Fields (Lyrics)Hillbarn TheatreMonique Hafan as Charity With a cast of twenty-plus who know how to dance and to sell a story full of heart and laughs, Hillbarn Theatre presents a Sweet Charity whose title character rarely leaves the stage and thoroughly steals the show.Please click this link to read my full review … [Read more...] about “Sweet Charity”
“When the Rain Stops Falling”
When the Rain Stops FallingAndrew BovellDragon Productions Theatre Felix AbidorEpic in scope of time, place, and theme but intimate in focus on individual pain, loss, and loneliness, When the Rain Stops Falling is Australian playwright Andrew Bovell’s 2010 complex, multi-layered family saga proclaimed by Time Magazine as ‘Best New Play of the Year’ and … [Read more...] about “When the Rain Stops Falling”
“Rodger + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CinderellaRichard Rodgers (music), Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics and original book),Douglas Carter Beane (new book)SHNAndy Huntington Jones as Prince Topher & Kaitlyn Davidson as Cinderella with CastOnce upon a time originated a now-centuries-old tale with origins both East and West about a little girl in unfortunate, oppressive home circumstances who … [Read more...] about “Rodger + Hammerstein’s Cinderella”
“The Heir Apparent”
The Heir ApparentDavid IvesAdapted from Le Légataire universel by Jean-François RegnardAurora Theatre CompanyLisette, (Katie Rubin*), Madame Argonte (Elizabeth Carter*), Eraste (Kenny Toll), and Isabelle (Khalia Davis*) watch Geronte’s imposter (c. Patrick Kelly Jones*) sign his will in Aurora’s Bay Area Premiere of The Heir ApparentPandora’s Box has tumbled open at Aurora … [Read more...] about “The Heir Apparent”
“Treasure Island”
Treasure IslandAdapted by Mary ZimmermanFrom the Novel by Robert Louis StevensonBerkeley Repertory Theatre Demetrios Troy as Israel Hands & John Babbo as Jim HawkinsBouncing balls as cannon shot, a wooden box pulled on a rope as a boat crossing the sea, and cut branches to dodge as trees in a thick jungle. Gnarly pirates full of “Arrrrgh,” wild chases and fierce … [Read more...] about “Treasure Island”
“The Most Happy Fella”
The Most Happy FellaFrank Loesser (Book, Music & Lyrics)Based on Sidney Howard’s They Knew What They Wanted42nd Street Moon Martin Rojas Dietrich as Tony & Amanda Johnson as RosabellaWhen a musical begins with a waitress on stage’s edge taking off her shoes, rubbing her tired toes, and singing nasally in Texas drawl (addressing each of her toes, one by one, as if an old … [Read more...] about “The Most Happy Fella”
“Into the Woods”
Into the WoodsStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); James Lapine (Book)Palo Alto PlayersAdrienne Walters, Timothy Sanders, Chris Janssen & Elizabeth SantanaContinuing its 85th Anniversary, touted the “Toniest Season Ever,” Palo Alto Players ventures into a forest previously much traveled by many of its sister Bay Area stages. What more can possibly be squeezed out of … [Read more...] about “Into the Woods”
“Boeing Boeing”
Boeing BoeingMarc CamolettiTranslation by Beverly Cross & Francis EvansThe StageJoshua Hollister, Halsey Varady & Michael Barrett AustinSeeing seven doors across the stage wall can only mean one thing: Buckle your seat belt because it’s going to be a wild and wooly night of loud slams, just misses, surprise comings, and split-second goings. And be prepared … [Read more...] about “Boeing Boeing”
“Above and Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Showgirls”
Above and Beyond the Valley of the Ultra ShowgirlsD’Arcy Drollinger (Book) Enrique (Music & Lyrics); Steve Bolinger (Additional Music)OasisD'Arcy Drollinger, Nancy French & John Paul GonzalezHard rock, drug overdoses, murder, lots (and lots) of T & A, miracles from heaven, space invaders, and of course wild and wooly sex. What else would we expect from D’Arcy … [Read more...] about “Above and Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Showgirls”
“Enchanted April”
Enchanted AprilRichard B. Evans (Music); Charles Leipart (Book & Lyrics)Pacific Coast Repertory TheatreAmy Franklin Leonards, Joy Sherratt & Rachel Powers Two wives find themselves dodging raindrops on the streets of dark and dreary London and being ignored in small, equally dreary apartments by husbands much more focused on themselves than on … [Read more...] about “Enchanted April”
“Sojourners”
SojournersMfoniso UdofiaMagic TheatreKatherine Turner as AbasiamaIn the mid-to-late 1960s, the neighborhoods and streets of urban America were too often in flames with lives and property destroyed as African Americans protested white America’s prejudiced resistance to their voting and economic rights. An ocean and a world away, Nigerian Africans were at the same time … [Read more...] about “Sojourners”
