The NanceDouglas Carter BeaneNew Conservatory Theatre CenterP.A. Cooley as the "Nance"Strippers in sparkling pasties wearing little more than fans or balloons, corny jokes and skits that draw laughs and moans even on the umpteenth hearing, short ditties sung bawdily and badly (on purpose), and a flaming and always funny queenie guy called the “Nance” are the basic ‘musts’ for … [Read more...] about “The Nance”
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“Dogfight”
DogfightBenj Pasek & Justin Paul (Music & Lyrics); Peter Duchan (Book)San Francisco PlayhouseThe Marines of "Dogfight"Take an ugly contest and an uglier war; add a soldier, a waitress, music, and a moon over the Golden Gate; and the result is a moving, compelling, sometimes disturbing, and often funny love story at San Francisco Playhouse. With music and lyrics by … [Read more...] about “Dogfight”
“RFK”
RFK Jack Holmes The Stage David Arrow as RFK For anyone younger than 45, the first question might be, “Who is RFK?” and a quick second might be, “And why should I spend two hours listening to a guy in heavy Bostonian accent who constantly swipes at his floppy hair talk about his life?” Only a few mesmerizing minutes of David Arrow playing the solo … [Read more...] about “RFK”
“Lizzie”
LizzieSteven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Tim Maner & Alan Stevens HewittRay of Light TheatreLizzie Borden took an axe,Gave her mother forty whacks.When she saw what she had done,Gave her father forty-one.Elizabeth Curtis as Lizzie, Jessica Coker as Emma, Taylor Jones as Alice and Melissa Reinertson as Bridget. With this children’s ditty probably running through our minds as we … [Read more...] about “Lizzie”
“Amélie: A New Musical”
Amélie: A New MusicalCraig Lucas (Book)Daniel Messé (Music)Nathan Tysen & Daniel Messé (Lyrics)Berkeley Repertory TheatreSamantha Barks as Amélie & CastIf evaluating on a series of 1-10 scales such as ‘quirky,’ ‘imaginative,’ and ‘eye-popping,’ anyone would be hard pressed not to rate Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s world premiere Amélie: A New Musical 10+ on each. … [Read more...] about “Amélie: A New Musical”
“Chicago”
ChicagoFred Ebb & Bob Fosse (Book); John Kander (Music); Fred Ebb (Lyrics)Based on the Play by Maurine Dallas WatkinsPalo Alto PlayersJoey McDaniel, Robbie Reign, Elizabeth Santana, and Michael MonagleA slim, curvy woman in a tight, black gown slinks down the steps tempting us with her sexy "All That Jazz," kicking off in full style Palo Alto Players' 85th "Toniest-ever" … [Read more...] about “Chicago”
“Between Riverside and Crazy”
Between Riverside and CrazyStephen Adly GuirgisAmerican Conservatory TheatreCarl Lumbly, Lakin Valdez & Samuel Ray GatesThe fact the entire suburban flat rolls back and forth a few feet between the ten scenes gives us a good clue that there is plenty of shifting about to occur in the characters and stories on this American Conservatory Theatre stage. Those who … [Read more...] about “Between Riverside and Crazy”
“For the Love of Comrades”
For the Love of ComradesMichael Kerrigan (With Script Development by Patricia Byrne & Mary Connors)New Conservatory Theatre CenterShane Fahey, Paul Rodrigues, Miles Duffield & Stephen McFarlandToo often, important stories intertwined within the blaring headlines of the day are overlooked and soon forgotten as the next big event erases any hope of those stories being a … [Read more...] about “For the Love of Comrades”
“Loveland: Good Grief”
Loveland: Good GriefAnn RandolphThe MarshAnn Randolph as Frannie PottsAs we settle into our seats in the intimate setting of San Francisco’s The Marsh, a familiar greeting echoes out of the dark, warning us to buckle up and refrain from our electronic devices until we reach our cruising altitude. Clearly we are about to be airlifted into a journey of some sort, but none … [Read more...] about “Loveland: Good Grief”
“Eurydice”
EurydiceSarah RuhlShotgun PlayersMegan Trout & Kenny TollSeveral dozen metal water buckets stacked to form a wall facing us a dozen feet tall. More buckets lined up on the floor and others hanging in the air on the opposite side, all connected to ropes and pulleys. Curved, brackish-green, metallic walls with a metal-fenced walkway running along halfway up the … [Read more...] about “Eurydice”
“Triangle”
TriangleCurtis Moore (Music); Thomas Mizer (Lyrics)Thomas Mizer, Curtis Moore & Joshua Scher (Book)TheatreWorks Silicon Valley “Say a name, and you can never forget.Say a name, and it’s not over yet.Maybe no one’s ever gone.” Hauntingly, beautifully sung in the opening moments as audience has barely settled into their seats, these lyrics by Thomas Mizer set to the … [Read more...] about “Triangle”
“Company”
CompanyStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics) & George Furth (Book)San Francisco PlayhouseAll Photos by Jessica Palopoli Expectations for a great evening of musical theatre immediately rise to the top of the scale walking into San Francisco Playhouse’s auditorium with the Bill English and Jacqueline Scott sophisticated, New York, multi-apartment set … [Read more...] about “Company”
“Gruesome Playground Injuries”
Gruesome Playground InjuriesRajiv JosephMade Up Theatre A boy and girl, each 8 years old and in the nurse's station of their school, begin a 30-year journey, punctuated by infrequent but significant encounters that usually involve one or both of them in life-altering accidents and/or self-induced trauma. Along the way, they will fast develop and long keep … [Read more...] about “Gruesome Playground Injuries”
“Arcadia”
ArcadiaTom StoppardThe Pear Theatre With the help of Thomas Stoppard’s challenging script, the astute direction of Jeanie K. Smith, and the astounding interpretation and skill of this excellent cast, The Pear Theatre presents an outstanding production of the now-classic Arcadia. This less-than-50-seat theatre stages the somewhat dense play with … [Read more...] about “Arcadia”
“Choir Boy”
Choir BoyTarell Alvin McCraneyMarin Theatre CompanyAcclaimed playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney does not lightly skirt difficult contemporary issues in any play he writes, especially those confronting African American families and their young males. Yet he often comes at these problems through a lens avoided by most modern stages: Faith and its core role in forming and … [Read more...] about “Choir Boy”
