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”
5 E
“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”
“The House of Yes”
The House of YesWendy MacLeodCustom Made Theatre Casey Robbins & Caitlin EvensonLightning flashes; winds howl; and the rains pound the multi-paned windows. But the approaching hurricane’s fury cannot begin to compare to the maelstrom that is brewing in The House of Yes, Wendy MacLeod’s 1990 play that is a modern version of a Jacobean tragi-comedy. Like its … [Read more...] about “The House of Yes”
“Noises Off”
Noises OffMichael FraynSan Francisco PlayhouseMonique Hafen, Richard Louis James, Kimberly Richards, Craig Marker, Nanci Zoppi “[W]e’ve got bags, we’ve got boxes. Plus doors. Plus words. You know what I mean? ... I’m just saying. Words. Doors. Bags. Boxes. Sardines. Us. OK? I’ve made my … [Read more...] about “Noises Off”
“A View from the Bridge”
A View from the BridgeArthur MillerPear TheatreApril Culver, Jeffrey Fiorito, and Marjorie HazeltineOn its small, intimate stage and with an annual budget that likely cannot come close to matching many of its Bay Area counterparts, Pear Theatre has a reputation for staging classic plays that are bigger in scope than it probably should tackle and then doing so with a keen, fresh … [Read more...] about “A View from the Bridge”
“John”
JohnAnnie BakerAmerican Conservatory TheatreStacey Yen, Georgia Engel & Joe PaulikSilence speaks loudly and often in Annie Baker’s 2015 play, John – so often that without all the periods of pause, the three-hour play might be half-to-two-thirds that length. But it is those moments when the characters are silently taking in what was just said, when someone is thinking … [Read more...] about “John”
“peerless”
peerlessJiehae ParkMarin Theatre CompanyL: You and thenM: You, that’s what we planned for.M: Me and thenL: Me.M: That’s why we came here.L: That’s what it’s always been.Tiffany Villarin & Rinabeth ApostolL & M: Identical twins. The prettiest and smartest girls in their Midwestern high school. Of Asian descent. Perfect SAT scores. Perfect … [Read more...] about “peerless”
