Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); Hugh Wheeler (Book)The StageNoel Anthony The Stage takes the Sondheim favorite, Sweeney Todd, that has graced Broadway three times, the West End four, and grand opera stages in at least ten countries worldwide and strips the musical down to a bare minimum of cast, set, and orchestra, putting … [Read more...] about “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
4 E
“The Gondoliers, or The King of Barataria”
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”
“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”
“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”
“The Santaland Diaries”
The Santaland DiariesDavid SedarisAdapted by Joe MantelloTheatreWorks Silicon ValleyMax Tachis Waking up one morning and realizing that he is thirty-three-years-old and without a job was bad enough for David Sedaris, but realizing that one actually needs a skill to gain employment was the real kick-in-the-butt for him. (“How come I’d never … [Read more...] about “The Santaland Diaries”
“Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley”
Miss Bennet: Christmas at PemberleyLauren Gunderson & Margot MelconCity Lights Theatre Company James Lewis & Melinda MarksThere is so much to like in the script by Laura Gunderson and Margot Melcon if one is looking for a light, pre-holiday diversion. The director and cast of this City Lights production sparkle and glow in their evident joy in … [Read more...] about “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley”
“Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets”
Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic BulletsWilliam S. Burroughs (Book); Tom Waits (Music & Lyrics)Shotgun PlayersThe Cast of Black RiderWhat kind of play will be penned by a writer who, as a young man, shoots and kills his wife while playing with her a drinking game of “William Tell”? Imagine his then discovering an old German folktale where an unsuccessful suitor makes a … [Read more...] about “Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets”
“Le Switch”
Le SwitchPhilip DawkinsNew Conservatory Theatre CenterRyan Vásquez & Steve Rhyne“Welcome to Library School. When you leave this program you will be able to classify everything.”And with that, David in his trademark cardigan of questionable colors and accompanying bowtie begins his first lecture of the new term. When he goes on to tell the librarian novitiates, … [Read more...] about “Le Switch”
“The Eva Trilogy”
The Eva TrilogyBarbara HammondMagic TheatreJulia McNealWith ocean waves crashing somewhere in an unseen nearby and invisible sea gulls noisily swooping overhead, she sits on the stage’s lone brick doorstep. Forehead furrowed deep for someone only in midlife, cheeks alternating between long and pooched but always with cheerful dimples, and red hair giving away her Irish heritage … [Read more...] about “The Eva Trilogy”
“The Prince of Egypt”
The Prince of EgyptStephen Schwartz (Music & Lyrics); Philip LaZebnik (Book)TheatreWorks Silicon Valley (in collaboration with Fredericia Teater, Denmark) Diluckshan Jeyaratnam & Jason Gotay Almost twenty years later, the creators of the 1998 animated film, The Prince of Egypt – Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Philip … [Read more...] about “The Prince of Egypt”
“Durst Case Scenario”
Durst Case ScenarioWill DurstThe MarshWill DurstIn early summer 2016, Will Durst -- political comedian extraordinaire and a San Francisco Treat if there were ever one – took The Marsh stage by storm in a one-person show entitled Elect to Laugh in which he skewered one-by-one all the many, many candidates then running for president in both parties. Even then, the missteps, … [Read more...] about “Durst Case Scenario”
