A Night with Janis JoplinRandy Johnson (Creator & Writer)American Conservatory TheatreKacee ClantonIt’s 1969, homecoming, and the arena is packed. Up to the microphone steps a curly haired woman full of fringes, beads, and bracelets. She grins broadly, shouts out, “Hell-oooo, Knoxville,” and then grabs the now-standing audience in her outstretched hands and … [Read more...] about “A Night with Janis Joplin”
5 E
“Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller”
Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and StollerJerry Leiber & Mike Stoller (Music & Words)Broadway by the BayThe Cast of Smokey Joe's CafeNo reviewer’s words can do justice to an evening of electric entertainment like Broadway by the Bay’s Smokey Joe’s Café. This show grabs hold of its audience in the opening notes, shakes them up in number-after-number’s … [Read more...] about “Smokey Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller”
“The Roommate”
The RoommateJen SilvermanSan Francisco PlayhouseJulia Brothers & Susi DamilanoWho does not remember those terribly awkward, first few minutes (hours? days? years?) trying to size up a new roomie? Sharon is trying her best to welcome Robyn into her big, old home on the outskirts of Iowa City, so much so her smile has uncomfortably and completely commandeered her entire … [Read more...] about “The Roommate”
“Sordid Lives”
Sordid LivesDel ShoresNew Conservatory Theatre CenterLuke Brady, Marie O'Donnell, Cat Luedtke, Michaela Greeley & Scott CoxNow who’s to judge who’s a saint or a sinner,Lord, it’s tough enough to trudge from brunch to dinner....It’s a bitch sortin’ out our sorry little sordid lives.Mama’s dead: Tripped over GW’s wooden legs while screwing him in a cheap motel. GW’s … [Read more...] about “Sordid Lives”
“SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)
SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)Alan BennettZ Space Word for WordPhil Wong, Søren Oliver, Andre Amarotico, Rosie Hallet, Robert Parsons & Nancy Selby (on floor)Mrs. Donaldson, a recent widow left alone in her senior years, clearly is not stricken as much in grief as she is a bit worried about the financial situation that her deceased husband left … [Read more...] about “SMUT: An Unseemly Story (The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson)
“The Events”
The EventsDavid GreigShotgun PlayersJulia McNeal & Caleb Cabrera“Everything I thought was solid is un-solid.What’s the root of this unraveling?Events, dear Boy, events.”In small clumps of chatting friends, they gather around the coffee and tea station (complete with its Costco-size Coffee-mate), music in hand and with of course women far outnumbering men, as is usually the … [Read more...] about “The Events”
“The Mushroom Cure”
The Mushroom CureAdam StraussThe Marsh Adam StraussThere is no way anyone can walk out of The Mushroom Cure without a greater understanding of OCD and an never-to-be-forgotten empathy for its sufferers. But everyone is also ensured to leave feeling uplifted by the true story of how this man, this comedian, and now even this new friend of ours has found in the end … [Read more...] about “The Mushroom Cure”
“Dance Series 02”
Dance Series 02The Poetry of Being (Nicole Haskins); Broken Open (Amy Seiwert); Be Here Now (Trey McIntyre)SmuinThe Company of Smuin's Poetry of BeingThe theatricality of the evening now on the stage in Smuin’s Dance Series 02 is as indisputable as the beauty, athleticism, and wonder of its three, one-act dances. Each tells a story -- even without script and words -- that … [Read more...] about “Dance Series 02”
“Guards at the Taj”
Guards at the TajRajiv JosephMarin Theatre CompanyJason Kapoor & Rushi KotaInnocence. Naiveté. Duty. Abomination. Denial. Guilt. Duty. Two of the lowest ranked grunts of the Emperor’s Imperial Guard prepare for their first night’s watch at the gate leading to the “most beautiful thing ever built,” about to be revealed to the world … [Read more...] about “Guards at the Taj”
“Evita”
EvitaAndrew Lloyd Webber (Music); Tim Rice (Lyrics)Pacific Coast Repertory TheatreAshley Cowl as Eva PerónWith music that ranges from solemn classical, hip-swishing Latin, and grinding rock to soaring ballads and anthems, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita leaves any audience member with enough memorable earworms for a full night’s worth of dreams. The endurance of Andrew Lloyd … [Read more...] about “Evita”
“The Encounter”
The EncounterSimon McBurneyBased on the Book Amazon Beaming by Petru PopescuThe Curran TheatreSimon McBurney & The Binaural Head“I am now so close, in your ears ... I am now going to take a walk across your head.”The voice is somewhere inside each audience member as will be in the next one hundred fifty-five minutes many voices of varying dialects and languages; countless … [Read more...] about “The Encounter”
“Temple”
TempleSteve WatersAurora Theatre CompanyPaul Whitworth Periodically punctuating the constant, background pounding of drums and the waves of a gathered mob’s protest chants are the grand and majestic chimes of St. Paul’s world-famous bells. The glory of the Church and the concerns of the people coincide in chorus as all is heard from the other side of a formal conference … [Read more...] about “Temple”
“Rags”
RagsJoseph Stein (Book); Charles Strouse (Music); Stephen Schwartz (Lyrics)TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Recent Refugees Arrive in "Rags"In 1989, a little company in Palo Alto called TheatreWorks staged a version of Rags -- a 1986, major Broadway failure -- that both helped establish the company’s national reputation as well as send the musical on a long journey of … [Read more...] about “Rags”
“Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin”
Hershey Felder as Irving BerlinLyrics & Music by Irving BerlinBook by Hershey FelderBerkeley Repertory TheatreHershey Felder Introduction to My April 2017 Review of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin:When I rate a production a “5 E,” I am saying by definition, “Loved it ... A classic ... would see it again.” In January 2016, I first saw Hershey Felder as … [Read more...] about “Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin”
“The Baltimore Waltz”
The Baltimore WaltzPaula VogelMagic TheatrePatrick Alparone, Lauren English & Greg Jackson“I’m sorry ... There’s nothing we can do.” How many, countless times have those few words by a doctor sent individuals and their loved ones into a tailspin more uproarious than Dorothy’s tornado and on a journey that sometimes can be as strange, as scary, but somehow in the end … [Read more...] about “The Baltimore Waltz”
