"Shakespeare Goes to War"John FisherTheatre RhinocerosJesse F. Vaughn, Gabriel A. Ross, John Fisher & Sean KeehanSubtitled “Everything I needed to know about Shakespeare I learned from my high school English teacher,” John Fisher’s latest play, "Shakespeare Goes to War," is clearly his personal homage to one or more teachers who pointed him toward his career in … [Read more...] about “Shakespeare Goes to War”
“My Mañana Comes”
"My Mañana Comes"Elizabeth IrwinMarin Theatre CompanyThe Cast of My Mañana ComesThey are all around us, silently hustling and bustling, every time we go to our favorite eatery. Water appears, hot bread is replenished, and plates are delivered to the right person while we continue our conversations (or flip through our IPhone messages). What does happen behind … [Read more...] about “My Mañana Comes”
“Awake and Sing”
Awake and SingClifford OdetsSanta Clara University Theatre DepartmentThree generations of a working-class Jewish family are crammed into a Bronx flat where a suitcase can serve as a combined bureau and closet, Yiddish-rich accents from Eastern Europe fill the air, and escape from Depression-era struggles is variously sought via Caruso recordings, frequent visits to the silver … [Read more...] about “Awake and Sing”
“Clybourne Park”
Clybourne ParkBruce NorrisPalo Alto Players The Cast of Clybourne ParkClybourne Park lands on the suburban stage of Palo Alto Players, where its story line of ethnically changing neighborhoods, disputes over remodels, and petitions over historical significance of vintage buildings quickly hits home in this tony town. Add its underlying themes of racial … [Read more...] about “Clybourne Park”
“Kiss Me, Kate”
Kiss Me, KateCole Porter (Music & Lyrics); Sam & Bella Spewack (Book)Broadway by the BayThe Cast of Kiss Me, KateFor anyone with even a mild interest in American Musical Theatre, walking into a production of Kiss Me, Kate has to be close to a dream come true. Broadway by the Bay ends their 50th anniversary year reviving Cole Porter’s … [Read more...] about “Kiss Me, Kate”
“Sail Away”
Sail AwayNoel Coward42nd Street Moon Theatre Nathaniel Rothrock, Khalia Davis, Allison F. Rich, Jordan Martin & Darlene PopovicLooking for love in the next ten days? Or, do you just want to have a merry ol’ time with people you’ll probably never want to see again? Got your bags all packed? Then head to 42nd … [Read more...] about “Sail Away”
“Ah Wilderness”
Ah, Wilderness!Eugene O’NeillAmerican Conservatory TheatreCan a coming-of-age story of a sixteen-year-old boy in 1906 Waterbury, Connecticut still speak to a 21st Century audience? When it is Ah, Wilderness, the only comedy and still most-widely produced and loved of all Eugene O’Neill’s plays, as being currently excellently and imaginatively revived by American … [Read more...] about “Ah Wilderness”
“The Rocky Horror Show”
The Rocky Horror ShowRichard O’Brien (Book, Music, Lyrics)Ray of LightD'Arcy Drollinger as Frank-n-FurterHot men and women in sensuous, black corsets of lace and leather who are raised on high by spiked stilettos, all singing and dancing in rock numbers that are precursors of later musicals like Grease or Hairspray can mean only one thing: The Rocky Horror Show is yet … [Read more...] about “The Rocky Horror Show”
The Hypocrites’ “Pirates of Penzance”
The Hypocrites’ Pirates of PenzanceW.S. Gilbert (Book); Arthur Sullivan (Music)Adapted by Sean Graney; co-adapted by Kevin O’DonnellBerkeley Repertory Theatre Matt Kahler as Major-General with Other Hypocrites CastDodging flying beach balls, stepping over ice chests and around kid’s swimming pools full of rubber duckies, and often stopping by the straw-roofed tiki-hut for … [Read more...] about The Hypocrites’ “Pirates of Penzance”
“The Rover”
The RoverAphra BehnShotgun Players Justin Gillman, Dan Saski, Jeremy Kahn & Alex LydonShotgun Players boldly brings a pioneering playwright’s play of yesteryear to a 21stCentury audience where we discover her writing about our own current issues of sexual assaults against college coeds, difficulties of women to be given deserved equality in the workplace, … [Read more...] about “The Rover”
“Ghost Quartet”
Ghost QuartetDave Malloy (Composer & Writer)Curran: Under Construction Brittain Ashford, Gelsey Bell, Dave Malloy, and Brent ArnoldPhoto by Jim Norrena Ghost Quartet -- a 90-minute song cycle by Dave Malloy now playing as part of the "Curran: Under Construction" series -- is an intermingling of quirky, eerie, captivating stories covering several centuries that … [Read more...] about “Ghost Quartet”
“HEROMONSTER”
HEROMONSTERNathaniel Justiniano & Ava Roy; Music by Charlie GurkeWePlayersNathaniel Justiniano and Ava RoyHEROMONSTER, created and performed by Nathaniel Justiniano and Ava Roy of We Players, is less a play with a story line and more poetry in motion with loose, vague references to the original Beowulf. The result is always intriguing, often mesmerizing, and at times … [Read more...] about “HEROMONSTER”
“Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the Cobra”
Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the CobraDamien Chacona, Rob Keefe, Scrumbly Koldewyn, Nicolas Torre & Andy WengerThrillpeddlersReady to get your Halloween started in a gory and ghoulish, frightfully funny, blood-screaming way? Then forego the usual evening at a local haunted house or screening of a B-grade, horror flick and head instead to Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the … [Read more...] about “Shocktoberfest 16: Curse of the Cobra”
“Star Trek Live! Mudd’s Women”
Star Trek Live! Mudd’s WomenGene Roddenberry (Original Story); Stephen Kandel (Original Teleplay)D’Arcy Drollinger & Laurie Bushman (Co-Directors, Oasis Production)OasisAmber Sommerfield as Spock, Leigh Crow asJames T Kirk and Honey Mahogany as UhuraAs the stage lights come up on the Enterprise deck with Captain Jim Kirk in his command chair and all other key crew … [Read more...] about “Star Trek Live! Mudd’s Women”
“Proof”
ProofDavid AuburnTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyL. Peter Callender as Robert & Michelle Beck as CatherineIf x = the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, y = the inspired casting and direction choices by Leslie Martinson, and z = a decision by Artistic Director Robert Kelley to revive at this particular time his company’s 2003 production of David Auburn’s Proof, the impressive total … [Read more...] about “Proof”
