Wednesday, February 25, 2015

BERKELEY PLAYHOUSE You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

CLASSIC CHARLEY AND HIS QUEST FOR

 THE RED HEAD, IS SMART AND FUNNY

 at BERKELEY PLAYHOUSE


“Peanuts” comic strip was one of the iconic creations of the 20th century. And while you can’t say the same for the 1967 musical based on that comic, the Berkeley Playhouse production appropriates enough charms from Charles M. Schulz’s strips to keep six actors agreeably busy for two hours.
Welcome Charley and his gang to the Berkeley Playhouse stage in a well produced version of the nostalgic musical. The show is a series of comic-strip vignettes tied with some clever musical numbers.  And our hero Charlie on a quest for this red haired girl.
Zac Schuman plays Charlie and has that look which is so well known. He keeps the audience in a very cool state of sympathy with his awkwardness and missteps for his red haired crush.  His featured number “The Kite” is well done and maintains the boyhood mannerisms that keep the number cute.
Alex Rodriguez is the adorable Snoopy and steals the show with his opening number “Snoopy” and his show stopping second act classic “Suppertime”.  Alex brings some amazing charm as an actor in a white jump suit playing the iconic dog.   Ashley Cowl is Lucy and is over the top as the little girl as expected. The scene with her in the psychiatrist booth always brings back lots of memories when I read those strips during the heyday of Peanuts.
Harmony Livingston as Sally, the adorable sister of Charlie, is just as funny as Lucy in her innocent but mischievous way. Sally and her coat hanger monologue is very funny and lead into the song  “New Philosophies”
Bay Area favorite Kevin Hammond is cast as the thumb sucking Linus and is highlighted in the wonderfully well choreographed “My Blanket and Me”.  Director and Choreographer Christina Lazo uses the cast in the number to work the blanket into one of the characters in the song.
Danny Quezada plays a perfect piano loving Schroeder, the Beethoven impresario Lucy loves. Danny delivers his over the top portrayal of the very funny “Beethoven day”.
The Berkeley Playhouse production team is stellar including, Daren A.C. Carollo, artistic director, Chris Lazo, director, Matt Smart, musical director, Debbie Shelly’s oversized props are perfect to duarf the company, Tammy Berlin, costume design, and Mark Hueske, very clever lighting and set design.  Clark Gesner original music and book was first designed for a more intimate house, but this show still works well in a larger venue.

As Charlie Brown expresses what makes him happy everyone is touched by his love of life in the closing number “Happiness”. Right then, Charlie realizes that being a "good man" means trying your best and making the most of the things you've been given in life. Lucy walks over and as he reaches out, she shakes his hand firmly, then tells him, "You're a good man, Charlie Brown.”
The Berkeley Playhouse production is well done and sweet. It brings back many fond memories of seeing this show over the years.  This is a great cast and will generate a new audience for Mr Brown as you share this comic strip family with your family.

"You're a good man, Charlie Brown.”
Feb 19 - March 15 - The Berkeley Playhouse
Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Additional Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Additional Dialogue by Michael Mayer
Directed by Christina Lazo
Tickets http://berkeleyplayhouse.org/charlie-brown

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

CCCTs Superb production of DOUBT: A Parable

DOUBT: A Parable - Conta Costa Civic Theatre, Engaging production of Nun vs Priest



Playwright John Patrick Shanley’s scripts for stage and screen are well known (Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Moonstruck, Joe Versus the Volcano) all popular they strike many different chords. You never know if you’ll get funny, sad, talkative, poetical, or quirky. He hasn't before or since written anything else like DOUBT: A PARABLE, moral thriller about what happens when a Catholic nun principal of a Bronx elementary school in 1964 suspects the young, popular parish priest who comes to teach religion classes and coach basketball. The play won four Tony Awards in 2005, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was a 2008 film  starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

DOUBT is a play that grabs hold and doesn't let go for 90 fast minutes, and Conta Costa CT is doing it right. Daren A.C.Carollo, directed his talented four member cast to “wow” Contra Costa fans. Amber Devlin Scarlett Hepworth is Sister Aloysius and Steve Rhyne is Father Brendan Flynn and once these two local pro’s take on these characters its hard not get the power of Shanley’s award winning play.
Sister Aloysius is the principal of St. Nicholas, where the mostly Italian and Irish Catholic students are “uniformly terrified of you,” says Sister James, well played by Mikkel Simons, the green young nun who teaches eighth grade. “Yes. That’s how it works,” says Sister Aloysius. Sister James hopes to befriend and inspire her students, but Sister Aloysius tells her she’s there to be a “fierce moral guardian” and not a buddy.  Sister James is more in sync with young Father Flynn, who wants parish families to see priests and nuns as “members of their family.” He talks like a regular guy, in sermons. He’s okay with a secular song or two for the Christmas play.
Sister Aloysius meets with Sister James about her teaching skills, she’s worried about the school’s first “Negro” student, a boy in young Sisters’ class who was singled out for special attention from Father Flynn. Sister Aloysius is old-school. What happens next is an extension of doubt, both on and offstage. Who can we believe.  Shanley is great at giving us moments that seem to shine a light on truth, but questioning that in the next scenes and casting us back into confusion. Perhaps, the Father is all that he seems, caring, sociable, progressive. We want to like him. Sister Aloysius’s doubts will only “create something by saying it” and ruin the work of a good man. Even Sister James’ innocence comes under suspicion, what’s more important to her, her own “peace of mind” or her student's welfare.  Shanley treats every one of his characters with compassion, he lets us see the priest’s loneliness, the young sister’s yearning to be loved by her students, the older nun’s struggle to keep the faith with her church and her chosen life.
Hepworth's Brooklyn accent and poker-faced is perfect as Sister Aloysius, whose occasional flashes of wit hint at a past life she keeps under wraps. As Sister James, Simons does a amazing job of projecting the young nun’s idealism. She’s perfect as she’s pulled back and forth by the opposing argument of Flynn and Aloysius.
The boys mom, Mrs. Muller, played by Kim Rideway begins by sounding small and tentative in the face of Sister’s authority. But as she fights for what her son needs, the role needs more emotion. Steve Rhyne is appealing as the young priest. His down-to-earth warmth makes it hard for us to wonder if there’s something colder, darker to be found.  Just as Shanley wants, Father Flynn keeps us guessing.
A view of the principal’s office and courtyard is the play’s single set by designer Kuo Hao Lo.  It is filled with detail a heavy black telephone, crucifixes, and a picture of the pope. Outside, a courtyard in winter, with bare rose bushes. Lisa Danz, costumes are precise and right.
Shanley’s script is a tour de force of doubts never quite resolved. It works as a detective story, and as a commentary on issues we struggle with today. In the end, it is a look at the value of doubt itself, perhaps as an antidote to the unshakable uncertainty.
CCCT fine production of this Tony winner is excellent and welcomed back to the bay area. A note about the original production was homebred in SF under the banner of SHN’s producer Carol Shorenstein Hays.

DOUBT: A PARABLE

February 13-March 8, 2015
Did he or didn’t he?
By John Patrick Shanley
Directed by Daren A.C. Carollo
TICKETS:
Adults: $22 in advance, $28 at the door
Youth: $11 in advance, $15 at the door
Discounts for groups of 15 or more

Performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays Feb 13 - March 8. Tickets and details: www.ccct.org.
Photos by:Ben Krantz
Join CCCT on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ContraCostaCivicTheatre/timeline


CHARDONNAY Comedy's FEMALES THE RIDE

FEMALES: THE RIDE - CHARDONNAY COMEDY TROUPE NEW SKETCH SHOW
IS VERY FUNNY AND A MUST SEE



“FEMALES: THE RIDE” is the newest offering from the very funny  “Chardonnay ” sketch team from SF.  Formerly known as “Monday Night Foreplays,” the seven-member sketch group brings a heavy dose of irreverent and timely humor to San Francisco. This is their first performance at the new PIANOFIGHT stage/club venue for this all female comedy troupe.






Kate Jones, an ensemble member of Chardonnay, is a featured player along with Meredith Terry, Emma Rose Shelton, Rachel Rockwood, Jessica Mele, Sarah Wright, Leah Shesky, Chris Cadena and pianist Matt Grandy.


 The new show features some very funny sketches songs and out of step dancing - including a new musical INGENUEL.  Sebastopoles - is a high light capturing some very funny strippers and of course a pole.
The show runs just under two hours at the new PIANOFIGHT Stage and club in the heart of SF’ tenderloin  A brand new 2 theater, 3 stage venue with a full restaurant and bar. Live comedy, music, theater, dance and awesome.  144 Taylor St SF - Near Golden Gate street and one block from SHN’s GoldenGate stage Venue.
Feb 12 - 21 and its sure to run longer - or new shows will be scheduled soon
PHOTOS BY VMEDIA

Monday, February 16, 2015

DMTs Impressive THREE SISTERS

SISTERS SEARCH FOR A BETTER LIFE IN MOSCOW - TRACY LETTS ADAPTED VERSION OF A CHEKHOV CLASSIC

Tracy Letts' adaptation of Anton Chekhov's THREE SISTERS is well played at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre in Hayward - This is a fresh but faithful adaptation by the Chicago playwright an actor who is best known for AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. Letts has sped up the characters and given them all a sharpness with many modern profanities. Letts knows family dysfunction well as seen with the edgy humor and heart that makes this Chekhov classic a pleasure to watch even with 2.5 hour running time.

The story remains the same following the death of their military father the Moscow-bred sisters Olga, Masha, and Irina have lead lonely lives in their Russian town. The older sister Olga who is a teacher yearns for a family of her own. Marsha in an unhappy marriage falls for married colonel. Irina seeks to find happiness and love by trying to get back to Moscow. All three dream of starting a new life in Moscow where life is cultured and intelligent but they remain with their hopes and dreams in the small military town are troubled with the practicalities of their quiet lives. When the army post moves on they resolve to seek some purpose and hope.

DMC director, Susan Evan, takes her talented cast to party moments with the brisk new modern dialogue, and live music and song. Letts’ version brings well deserved humor to the provincial world of these THREE SISTERS.  The story focuses on these small-town dreamers with their O’Neill-like “dreams”.

Daria Hepps (Olga), Kate Tomatis (Masha), and Miriam Ani (Irina) are all excellent as the three women down by bad luck and inertia. They deserve better from life, but they are left wondering if their suffering and disappointment has any meaning. “Why are we here” clearly Olga’s line “ If we could know. If we could only know.”

The characters who revolve around the sisters are excellent. The most interesting character in the story is Solyony, the irrational enemy of the, likable and ill-fated Baron Tusenbach played well by Paul Stout. Tim Holt Jones gives Solyony a psychopathic edge. Craig Dickerson is terrific as Andrey, drenched in disappointment over his failure to become a professor and sad that he has married a harridan who is making him a cuckold as she abuses his household.  We don’t get to know Natasha as much as she enters the Prozorov family, but Lindsey Schmeltzer brings the bitch to life in all her viciousness, angry by her inward knowledge that she isn’t in the same class as the sisters and their friends.

There is also first-rate work from John Baldwin, is humorous as Doctor Chebutykin, a man who continually questions  “what does it all matter” cynicism.  Gene Mocsy, almost unrecognizable as Kulygin, the blinded schoolmaster who lives with the knowledge that his wife Masha loves another man. Nick Louie makes a strong comic impression in the small role of Fedotik, a junior officer in the army. Two elder states persons Marlene Walker and John Hutchinson  are great as the Prozorov nanny and a comical watchman from the district council. Steve Allhoff and Brian Levi round out the other characters as another army junior officer and lieutenant.

Costume designer Daisy Dickerson

Michael Locher’s set designs reveal the rustic provincial feeling of the play.  Allen Willner designed the moody lighting including some well added florescent lights. Brendan Aanes’ sound design, and Daisy Dickerson’s spot-on period costumes are the best.

Like most Chekhov plays, THREE SISTERS ends with journeys that will separate many of the characters from each other for life, including men and women who in a better world would have spent their lives together happily. But that’s not Chekhov’s world. Most of the characters have wasted their lives, but they still retain a spark of bravery and their dignity, wishing for beauty in their lives. They may be a sad and exasperating gang, but it was a pleasure being in their company for 2½ hours in Hayward Ca. as they find their way to their beloved Moscow.

DMC continues to impress me this season - the company continues to improve and that is mainly to more talented bay area actors streaming to the Hayward stage and continue to raise the bar at this east bay venue.

THREE SISTERS, Directed by Susan E. Evans, and featuring Steve Allhoff, Miriam Ani, John Baldwin, Craig Dickerson, Kate Dunlop Tomatis, Daria Hepps, Tim Holt Jones, John Hutchinson, Brian Levi, Nick Louie, Gene Mocsy, Lindsey Marie Schmeltzer, Paul Stout and Marlene Walker.
22311 N Third St, Hayward, California 94546
February 13, 2015. 8pm  - Sunday, March 8, 2015. 2pm
Tickets Online - www.dmtonline.org






Monday, February 9, 2015

GODSPELL Rocks OMG I Love That Show!

DAY BY DAY 
Still is the word after 44 years
OMG I Love That Show = GODSPELL

GODSPELL is one of the those Iconic shows from the 70’s that can take different form from production to production - The original book/writer John Michael Tebelak would only encourage current versions of his show to reflect the times and music and headlines of 2015. Director Jason Hoover accomplishes that - from selfies to Jesus performing in front a tower of computer screens and Sponge Bob. This 2015 romp with son of God and his gang covers the trends and remains faithful to the original heart of the musical.  
With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz who went on to write Pippin and Wicked, the production opened off Broadway in 1971 where it ran for a miraculous 2000 performances, and has become a staple of college, high school and community theatre as well as numerous professional mountings including the most recent 2011 Broadway revival.

44 years of “Day by Day”. Based on the Gospel of Matthew, the show is a mixture of Scripture parables as told by Jesus loosely tied together with songs and dance.  The great news about OMG production is that its exceptionally well sung, musical direction by Alicia Jeffery and choreography by Lauren Rosi.


Director Jason Hoover melds the classic songs with a current mix and diverse elements is a fun family friendly production. Lewis Rawlinson cast as Jesus first shows up on set in just his underwear and soons transforms into the son of G - He has a great voice and “Beautiful City” was a highlight. He keeps the 2 hours moving and is a delight on stage.  

All the cast is talented - each finding a song to call their own. Jacob Judd having a solo in the second act is a great singer and has the best body language since his personality is perfect for the role. Alex Moore is strong as John the Baptist and Judas does a nice version of “prepare ye”. Jessica Coker, Chris Aceves, Jasania Deshong, Shelby Flegel, Sky Wilson and Celia Jones round out the talented cast. They are all charming and little do they seem forced.

The set designed by Clare DeVries - has high tech feel, but a closer look you can see a touch of the original summer of love in the trunks and cases scattered around the set. Eric Johnsons lighting includes costumes with their own glow, well done. Erik Scanlons video design is the deep soul of the show as his images are a constant glow on the video screens.
My only red flag: I would have like to see a more diverse cast - But this Godspell is honest with is the most crucial element of all. The musical continues to have a timeless message of love and this cast has high energy and that will make any audience member 
live life Day By Day.
Godspell
GET RENEWED
February 6 - 22, 2015

OH MY GOD I LOVE THAT SHOW
Tickets 35.00 -  925-943-7469.
AT THE LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
www.omgilovethatshow.com



TOWN HALL THEATRE IMPRESSIVE AIA

THE ANGEL HAS LANDED IN LAFAYETTE CA. TOWN HALL THEATRE

The Angel has landed in Lafayette Ca. and this production of Tony Kushner's "Angels in America the Millennium Approaches” is very impressive.  I first saw the production when it was commissioned for San Francisco's Eureka Theatre by artistic director Tony Taccone (now with the Berk Rep).

"Millennium Approaches" premiered at the Eureka in 1991, and both Tony and Oskar Eustis co-directed the second part "Perestroika" at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.  With 24 years of history this play is not as staged as much because of its running time of 3 hours and 6 hours,  if you do both parts. I have seen a few productions of “Millennium” at area colleges and regional. Its great to see this small Contra Costa company take on this challenging play.


Company Director/Actor Joel Roster - assembled some of his company pros and other vets from local stages to create a fast pace - 2.5 hour version of the play (combining the first and second acts). New Town Hall is also performing the second part "Perestroika" set for Feb of 2016 -

Jeffrey Draper is perfectly cast as Prior Walter, a central character,  suffering from AIDS and visions including seeing the Angel. Prior’s partner, Louis, played by Dennis Markam handles the fact of dealing with his lover’s approaching death by avoiding the topic with some of Kushner's best monologues.

The Mormon connection is played very well by Alan Coyne and Alex Bogorad,  husband and wife Joseph and Harper Pitt. The pill popping Harper who rarely leaves her house sees some great visions including her travel agent played perfectly by LaMont Ridgell. As Kushners intended many of the main cast double in characters including LaMont who later plays Belize, an ex-drag queen who is one of Prior’s only true friend.

Harpers husband, Joe, is being groomed by Roy Cohn, a real life character, that Kushner uses as one of his underlying villains. Cohn is historically correct as the man who killed the soviet suspected spies the Rosenbergs, and was Senator Joseph McCarthy’s main lawyer who destroyed many during the commie witch hunts of the 50’s.  Cohn played by Jerry Motta is powerful in this man’s downfall to the AIDS virus.

Kerry Shawn and Ginny Wehrmeister brilliantly play multiple roles. Shawn as the Mormon mother is perfect, but when she returns as Ethel Rosenberg to witness Cohn’s slow death her performance is outstanding.  Ginny as the Angel only gives a hint of what will come in the second play.

The Town Hall  production team uses their small space at 200% to create 1985 and the Angel approaching, a fast moving breakaway set by Martin Flynn,  David Lams lighting, Hannah Carls sound design and Erik Scanlons Angel are haunting.

AIA works well even after 24 years.  It is moving, powerful and this cast directed by Joel Roster brings out the emotion and honesty of the work. He brings it in at 2.5 hours and only makes us count the 12 months until he stages with this same cast in Part II AIA Perestroika.

'ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENNIUM APPROACHES
By Tony Kushner, presented by Town Hall Theatre Company
Through: Feb. 28 Where: Town Hall Theatre, 3535 School St., Lafayette
Running time: Two and a half hours, one intermission
Tickets: $15-$32; 925-283-1557, www.townhalltheatre.com
PHOTOS BY Randy McMullen and Vmedia