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”
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“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”
“Eclipsed”
EclipsedDanai GuriraCurran Theatre in Conjunction with Public TheatreStacey SargeantMen start wars. Men leave home and family and fight wars. Yet, women and children bear so much of the actual brutality, pain, and suffering – usually silently and in the shadows. Their stories are rarely told, superseded in the poems of Homer, the plays of Shakespeare, and the … [Read more...] about “Eclipsed”
“Leaving the Blues”
Leaving the BluesJewelle GomezNew Conservatory Theatre CenterDesiree Rogers as Alberta HunterWhat does a nurse who is told to retire at age seventy (but who is really eighty-two since she once lied about her age) do next with her life? Half singing, half whispering, she tells her unseen patient with some evident sadness, “Trouble, looks like I had it all my day ... looks … [Read more...] about “Leaving the Blues”
“Roe”
RoeLisa LoomerBerkeley Repertory Company(In co-production with Oregon Shakespeare Festival and ArenaStage)Sara Bruner & Sarah Jane AgnewAlmost forty-five years later after Justice Blackmun offered the Supreme Court’s decision and in a time when the country is now more divided than ever on almost every important social, environmental, and political issue, nothing still … [Read more...] about “Roe”
“Into the Woods”
Into the WoodsStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); James Lapine (Book)SHN & Fiasco TheatreThe Cast of "Into the Woods"As the audience meander into their seats, actors in various smocks of muslin white wander about, too -- waving at arrivals, coming down to say hello, and generally chatting with themselves and whomever. In a cross between what could be a bunch of … [Read more...] about “Into the Woods”
“Side Show”
Side ShowBill Russell (Book & Lyrics); Henry Krieger (Music); Bill Condon (Additional Book Material)Foothill Musical TheatreThe Cast of Side ShowWith much critical acclaim and yet two failed attempts in winning a Broadway audience (1997 and 2014, with major reworking in between), Side Show may have a troubled White Way history but has time and again thrived in numerous … [Read more...] about “Side Show”
“Daughter of a Garbage Man”
Daughter of a Garbage ManMaureen LanganThe MarshMaureen LanganMaureen Langan -- accomplished stand-up comedian, journalist, and talk show host – has a fixation on the Kardashians. She can hardly stop talking about Kim, especially when comparing their two lives and the unfair difference between their fame and fortune. One of the two followed the advice of her … [Read more...] about “Daughter of a Garbage Man”
“Assassins”
AssassinsStephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics); John Weidman (Book)Bay Area MusicalsWith a white-painted face and its black-encircled eyes and lips blood-red, a big-smiling clown -- more demon than not -- steps forward, luring in one-by-one a bizarre collection of passers-by to his side. In an upbeat, tempting voice, this Proprietor cajoles, “Hey pal, I mean you ... You … [Read more...] about “Assassins”
“A Thousand Splendid Suns”
A Thousand Splendid SunsAdapted by Ursula Rani SarmaBased on the Novel by Khaled HosseiniDavid Coulter (Music)American Conservatory Theatre David Coulter and Cast of "A Thousand Splendid Suns"For many years -- actually several decades -- daily headlines have presented themselves about the ongoing wars, devastation, atrocities, and yes, human suffering of a faraway land most of … [Read more...] about “A Thousand Splendid Suns”
“Hand to God”
Hand to GodRobert AskinsBerkeley Repertory TheatreTyrone & Michael DohertyIn a brightly hued room full of rainbows, craft materials, and more than one happy Jesus, a friendly looking sock puppet pops out of a small, make-shift, cardboard theatre and starts telling us his version of the world’s beginning. This is not the Genesis, seven-day version usually coming from a … [Read more...] about “Hand to God”
“Fool for Love”
Fool for LoveSam ShepardMagic TheatreJessi Campbell, Andrew Pastides & Patrick RussellClassic Shepard: It is all here. The dry, dusty, desert setting of the American Southwest. The unmade, iron-frame bed and yellow kitchen chair leftover from the ‘50s (only missing the usual, out-dated Frigidare in the corner). The bare electric light hanging from the … [Read more...] about “Fool for Love”
