tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85020136775315735802024-03-15T20:19:35.775-07:00AISLE SAY San FranciscoJudy Richter has been reviewing San Francisco Bay Area theater for more than 40 years. She is a retired newspaper journalist who lives in the Bay Area.Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comBlogger212125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-56450561000698943242024-03-14T15:40:00.000-07:002024-03-15T20:19:02.207-07:00More than bees are threatened in 'Queen'<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrDuFztaHX1ZvO2tqJxcI54rmWcVDXmxFapN04tYdO05GaHt3u4KEsfXkXlOMi0EHZmUAewYqtdbF6k3Ll6QS1hek3EVDFZAy28XDbe_kcecU-1V6Rj9rUYfPUBAHMufmM4Gq8tJ-N3tU0mY03fUxh6dCETqV38z0Zr7c2SgF5fFSzkHRuz_T0lfoDd0N/s2450/TW_Queen_KevinBerne11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2450" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrDuFztaHX1ZvO2tqJxcI54rmWcVDXmxFapN04tYdO05GaHt3u4KEsfXkXlOMi0EHZmUAewYqtdbF6k3Ll6QS1hek3EVDFZAy28XDbe_kcecU-1V6Rj9rUYfPUBAHMufmM4Gq8tJ-N3tU0mY03fUxh6dCETqV38z0Zr7c2SgF5fFSzkHRuz_T0lfoDd0N/w640-h426/TW_Queen_KevinBerne11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike Ryan (left), Uma Paranjpe and Kjerstine Rose Anderson are featured in 'Queen.' <i>(Kevin Berne photo)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><i><br /></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Friendship and ethics are both challenged in Madhuri
Shekar’s “Queen,”<i> </i>presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ariel (Kjerstine Rose Anderson), an ecology
researcher and single mother, and Sanam (Uma Paranjpe), an applied
mathematician from India, are UC Santa Cruz Ph.D. students who have been
studying bee colony collapse for several years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In bee colony collapse, the worker bees abandon the queen and disappear.
Therefore, they no longer pollinate the food crops that the world needs.
Continued unabated, it could lead to mass starvation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The two women, who have developed a close working
relationship and friendship, believe that agricultural pesticides have caused
the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They’re close to publishing their findings in the
prestigious journal Nature when Sanam finds additional data that don’t agree
with their previous numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Their supervising professor, Philip (Mike Ryan),
wants them to publish anyway, as does Ariel, but Sanam doesn’t. It’s an ethical
dilemma that threatens the women’s friendship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the meantime, Sanam has had a dinner date with
Arvind (Deven Kolluri), an Indian American financier, as a prelude to an
arranged marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At first, he bores her by bragging about a poker
game in which he uses his skill with numbers. However, that skill interests her,
so she asks him to help her find any flaw in her new numbers for the bee
research.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This intriguing play, with its cast of skilled
actors, is directed by Miriam A. Laube, known to many Bay Area theatergoers for
her years as an actor and director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In keeping with the bee theme, the set by Nina Ball
features honeycomb panels, while the sound design by James Ard often buzzes.
The costumes are by Lisa Claybaugh, the lighting by Kent Dorsey.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Queen” runs about an hour and 45 minutes with no
intermission at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto,
through March 31.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (877)-662-8978 or
visit www.theatreworks.org.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-62871181470881239152024-03-06T17:30:00.000-08:002024-03-06T21:13:12.487-08:00Foothill stages fun, upbeat 'Legally Blonde"<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauBuv3comgu2OyOqrZU13j36PT6d9WEGayco5jZ33CCoE0vaaT_JjOsHs1nDWYYvra0a5CdAGrPHk6NpnbwzRau5myFqEyJZVH3EGKly3M7PtFmiULmoTCowz34i3JH7-vROTf7A5Pv_PBTlJjOX3jgE8padWvUmQw0rgEeTp7b9hyFR9TpDmSusssVV4/s3900/Elle%20&%20Trio%20-%20study.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2465" data-original-width="3900" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauBuv3comgu2OyOqrZU13j36PT6d9WEGayco5jZ33CCoE0vaaT_JjOsHs1nDWYYvra0a5CdAGrPHk6NpnbwzRau5myFqEyJZVH3EGKly3M7PtFmiULmoTCowz34i3JH7-vROTf7A5Pv_PBTlJjOX3jgE8padWvUmQw0rgEeTp7b9hyFR9TpDmSusssVV4/w640-h404/Elle%20&%20Trio%20-%20study.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Greek chorus encourages Elle (Rachelle Schaum, second from left) to study for Harvard Law. (Photo by Misty McDowell)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s easy to like Foothill Music Theatre’s
production of “Legally Blonde: The Musical.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It has an energetic, likeable cast of students and
community members who are fully invested in their characters, thanks to
direction by Milissa Carey and choreography by Stacey Reed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The feel-good plot by Heather Hach features Elle
(Rachelle Schaum), who goes from frivolous sorority girl to legal maven, thanks
to some good friends and her own intuition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As it begins, Elle and her UCLA sorority sisters expect
that she will become engaged to her boyfriend, the full-of-himself Warner
(Jason Mooney). Instead, he breaks up with her because he thinks she isn’t
serious enough as he pursues his plans to attend Harvard Law School and go on
to a political career.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Still in love with him, Elle studies hard and gets
into Harvard Law School, too. That’s where she encounters a taskmaster,
Professor Callahan (Hank Lawson), as well as Warner’s new girlfriend and fellow
student, Vivienne (Grace Margaret Craig).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She also makes friends, notably another student,
Emmett (Andrew Cope), and hair salon owner Paulette (Sarah Bylsma).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After proving herself in court, she winds up being
valedictorian of her class.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell
Benjamin are mostly upbeat pop tunes that are sung well. Music director Michael
Horsley conducts five other musicians from a keyboard behind an onstage scrim.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Yusuke Soi's simple set is lighted by Pamila Gray
with sound by Dan Holland. The many colorful costumes are by Y. Sharon Peng.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Two other characters of note are Bruiser (Pippa),
Elle’s six-pound Chihuahua mix, and an unnamed chocolate-colored pup. Pippa is
on loan from Pets in Need and available for adoption after the show closes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The one drawback to this production is that the
women’s chorus, serving as the sorority sisters and a Greek chorus, is too
squealy, especially in the opening number, “Omigod You Guys.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Otherwise it’s a well done show that runs about two
hours and 15 minutes with an intermission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It will continue through March 17 at Foothill
College’s Lohman Theatre, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (650) 949-7360 or
visit www.foothill.edu/theatre. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-28446281507573967742024-02-15T15:54:00.000-08:002024-02-15T15:57:03.867-08:00Hillbarn stages award-winning 'Rent'<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWM3zwi4wKlxQpiUA4pP73xfOimQXsquFxO2j8Nn1q7xeMb8Ov29zepISFvRDNAVCZzpFMa1dm0mSyikQ_kLMWoh8LGkvSmfjOo6UiUtRmz_XOuMTTTW4MXsrCpZ1bW8uAZ3575UtinejgfF6dtIIrwimVQTylUfTZzyrG0ljwXg7mBNGf5buNzAGF6g1s/s600/rent%20tracy%20martin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWM3zwi4wKlxQpiUA4pP73xfOimQXsquFxO2j8Nn1q7xeMb8Ov29zepISFvRDNAVCZzpFMa1dm0mSyikQ_kLMWoh8LGkvSmfjOo6UiUtRmz_XOuMTTTW4MXsrCpZ1bW8uAZ3575UtinejgfF6dtIIrwimVQTylUfTZzyrG0ljwXg7mBNGf5buNzAGF6g1s/w640-h426/rent%20tracy%20martin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-indent: 48px;">Dedrick Weathersby plays Collins in Hillbarn's "Rent." <i>(Tracy Martin photo)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span> </span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>“Rent” made a big splash on Broadway in
1996, going on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for Best
Musical.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It was seen in San Francisco in 1999,
and now it’s at Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Jonathan
Larson, who wrote the book, music and lyrics, loosely based it on Puccini’s
beloved opera, “La Boheme.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s set in the Lower East Side of New
York City starting on Christmas Eve in 1989. That’s where Roger (Brandon
Leland), a rock guitarist, and Mark (Edward Im), an aspiring filmmaker, share a
bare bones apartment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">They can’t afford to pay the rent, and
AIDS has cast a pall over them and the entire country.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Their friends include Collins (Dedrick
Weathersby), a gay professor; Angel (Jesse Cortez), a drag queen with AIDS;
Joanne (Solona Husband) and her partner, Maureen, (Danielle Mendoza); and Mimi
(May Ramos), an exotic dancer and drug addict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Several people in the 14-member cast
play multiple roles as the action continues through the year to the following
Christmas Eve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Despite all the accolades it has
accumulated over the years, “Rent” can be hard to follow because the plot is
somewhat convoluted. Moreover, much of the action is propelled through song,
but the lyrics can be difficult to understand because Sheraj Ragoobeer
over-amplifies Jeff Mockus’ sound design.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Nevertheless, people who aren’t familiar
with the show will be able to get a semblance of what’s happening thanks to a
well-chosen, talented, energetic cast and astute direction by Reed Flores. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Musically it’s enjoyable because the
actors sing well. Musical director Diana Lee conducts the small, on-stage
instrumental ensemble from the keyboard. Dancing also is enjoyable thanks to
Gabe Igtanloc’s choreography.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Costumes by Nolan Miranda help to define
the characters and era. The set and projections by Hillbarn artistic director
Steve Muterspaugh, with lighting by Pamila Gray, do the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Rent” will continue at Hillbarn
Theatre, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, through Feb. 25. For tickets and information, call (650) 349-6411 or visit www.hillbarntheatre.org. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span></span></p><p></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-45346210363936997492024-01-24T22:17:00.000-08:002024-01-24T22:17:04.674-08:00Playwright tells 'How I Learned What I Learned'<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2Vul8FIiwFg518lh7dQRsSyiulAy6PooZPuJfCE3ExQxyhMvjipX2VJ_-wvBd4G300IB8WUtEp8ZXdlLqNZKoq6ybQD-WgjSN7Vno5VjViaVTxStxvyWSvvY57KMIz648j4bWurwK7g4orQ5GTd0KwpB2udKXikuwQYXBJkYYA_DBTRHSnSvGGdbbxQD/s2450/OSF_HowILearnedWhatILearned_JennyGraham7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1782" data-original-width="2450" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2Vul8FIiwFg518lh7dQRsSyiulAy6PooZPuJfCE3ExQxyhMvjipX2VJ_-wvBd4G300IB8WUtEp8ZXdlLqNZKoq6ybQD-WgjSN7Vno5VjViaVTxStxvyWSvvY57KMIz648j4bWurwK7g4orQ5GTd0KwpB2udKXikuwQYXBJkYYA_DBTRHSnSvGGdbbxQD/w640-h466/OSF_HowILearnedWhatILearned_JennyGraham7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steven Anthony Jones portrays playwright August Wilson. <i>(Jenny Graham)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></p><p><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">August Wilson (1945-2005) was one of the
greatest playwrights of the 20</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; text-indent: 0.5in;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> century.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He’s best known for his 10-play cycle
chronicling the Black experience in each decade of the 20<sup>th</sup> century.
However, in his autobiographical “How I Learned What I Learned,” co-conceived
with Todd Kreidler, he harks back to his formative years in the mostly Black
Hill District of Pittsburgh. Most of the plays in the cycle are set there, too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley,
this one-man show is performed by Steven Anthony Jones. He embodies the young
person who quit high school at 16 but haunted the library, immersing himself in
books.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He takes us through Wilson’s first
menial jobs and his struggle to pay his rent. He also talks of Wilson’s various
romantic interests, starting in seventh grade and continuing through to his
marriage. Wilson’s widow, Constanza Romero, serves as costume designer,
dramaturg and creative consultant for this production. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Racism is a pervasive theme. In the
opening scene, Jones as Wilson wears a black T-shirt reading “I am supposed to
be white” on the front and slyly says it would suit Supreme Court Justice
Clarence Thomas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In another, he talks about the
difficulty of cashing a check at a Los Angeles bank, where the teller told him
she didn’t have any envelopes after finally giving him his cash. A few weeks
later, he cashed a check and got an envelope from a different clerk with no
hassle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wilson describes the numerous characters
he befriended and speaks lovingly of his mother.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nina Ball’s set (lit by Xavier Pierce) is
dominated by a monolithic brick wall that serves as a screen for projections
designed by sound designer Rasean Davonté Johnson. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This production is directed by former
TheatreWorks artistic director Tim Bond, now in the same position at the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It runs about an hour and 45 minutes
without intermission. Though it could benefit from careful pruning, it offers
fascinating, often amusing insights into Wilson’s early life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“How I Learned What I Learned” continues
through Feb. 3 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts,” 500 Castro
St. After that it will go on a Bay Area tour for a week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>For tickets and
information, call (877) 662-8978 or visit </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.theatreworks.org/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">www.theatreworks.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">. </span>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-21623653110979355872024-01-23T10:21:00.000-08:002024-01-23T10:21:54.992-08:00Palo Alto Players stage riveting 'Misery'<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCls9kQgWxibZyjZU7wxn7_wdMFkcGMPDWFWYzRIHCx8d3qRxJMLA2hNFBKvFx3PNwLI3aI9nbLLMG0HYhWwZX0LLu5CiHw8EQSlUkQszELS78tdNDjmkaq-1PPh5MQ4mXxjKnI0MX9PJwog4GSSLlj-0tWeiWFhJRg-WRK9qI0TTWAJ_EwQ3Cd1qNSrF/s5100/MISERY%20scott%20lasky.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3400" data-original-width="5100" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCls9kQgWxibZyjZU7wxn7_wdMFkcGMPDWFWYzRIHCx8d3qRxJMLA2hNFBKvFx3PNwLI3aI9nbLLMG0HYhWwZX0LLu5CiHw8EQSlUkQszELS78tdNDjmkaq-1PPh5MQ4mXxjKnI0MX9PJwog4GSSLlj-0tWeiWFhJRg-WRK9qI0TTWAJ_EwQ3Cd1qNSrF/w640-h426/MISERY%20scott%20lasky.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul (Christopher Mahle) wakes up in Annie's (Maria Marquis) home. <i>(Scott Lasky photo)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Misery is not only the name of a popular novelist’s
heroine but is also the situation in which he finds himself in “Misery,”
presented by Palo Alto Players.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In William Goldman’s stage adaptation of Stephen
King’s novel, writer Paul Sheldon (Christopher Mahle) wakes up in the home of
Annie Wilkes (Maria Marquis) after a horrendous car accident in snowy Colorado
in 1987. Serious injuries have left him in great pain and unable to walk. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When Annie, who repeatedly calls herself his No. 1
fan, learns that her favorite character, Misery Chastain, has died in his next
novel, she badgers him to write a sequel in which Misery has somehow survived.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Realizing that his fate lies in the hands of the
increasingly unstable and menacing Annie, he starts to work on that sequel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As her mental state continues to decline, violence
ensues. For Paul it’s a life or death struggle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The other character in the play is the sheriff,
Buster (Zachary Vaughn-Munck), who stops by occasionally to see if Annie knows
anything about Paul’s disappearance. She plays innocent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Director Kimberly Ridgeway elicits the emotional
nuances and calculations of the two principal characters. She also brings out the humor, which alleviates <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some
of the tension.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The plot has some unanswered questions, such as how
Annie, a former nurse, has managed to obtain all of the medical supplies and
devices that Paul needs. There are other holes, but revealing them would reveal
some of the play’s devious twists.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Otherwise, all three actors fully inhabit their
characters, making them believable in this unbelievable situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Complemented by Edward Hunter’s lighting, Gillian
Ortega’s set design uses a turntable to revolve from the bedroom to the living
room and the kitchen. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The sometimes ominous sound is by Samuel Fiedel with
costumes by Greet Jaspaert. Dave Maier is the fight coordinator.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Because violence, obscenities and other
factors give the play an R rating, Palo Alto Players says it’s not appropriate
for anyone under 17. Others are likely to enjoy this riveting drama. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about an hour and 45 minutes with no
intermission, “Misery” will continue through Feb. 4 at the Lucie Stern Theater,
1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (650) 329-0891 or
visit <a href="http://www.paplayers.org/">www.paplayers.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-66864437950122606422023-12-07T11:04:00.000-08:002023-12-07T11:04:09.231-08:00Quirky characters face challenges in 'Spelling Bee'<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUK7llDSUrsRFWHhc85mAROUIMaDO8tQ5GMPQ4C9eMLgKg8z_u0eeo1kq3JgO3Udw_poCD63_g-_zelwKoToSUq98PHsK8atrzFn6hEvDzN7gRjf_-bZaNGSG8b4OcdhJsmri9TvJjLPKDulx9a5NutN3Q5LUZQiqjLOr8P4vJnNwF8UZAouYiq7b-5bm/s2450/spelling%20bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2450" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnUK7llDSUrsRFWHhc85mAROUIMaDO8tQ5GMPQ4C9eMLgKg8z_u0eeo1kq3JgO3Udw_poCD63_g-_zelwKoToSUq98PHsK8atrzFn6hEvDzN7gRjf_-bZaNGSG8b4OcdhJsmri9TvJjLPKDulx9a5NutN3Q5LUZQiqjLOr8P4vJnNwF8UZAouYiq7b-5bm/w640-h426/spelling%20bee.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blake Kevin Dwyer of San Mateo plays hippie-reared Leaf Coneybear. <i>(Kevin Berne photo)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Middle school, once known as junior
high, is often a time of angst and anxiety. Just ask the six finalists in “The
25</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; text-indent: 0.5in;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Each of the three boys and three girls
(played by adult actors) has his or her concerns and, in the case of this
musical comedy presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, some quirks, which
they display as they try to spell words that most people have never heard of.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The proceedings are overseen by Rona
Lisa Peretti (Molly Bell), a Realtor, along with vice principal Douglas Panch
(Christopher Reber), who gives out the words and, if requested, their
definitions and use in a sentence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">When they misspell a word, Mitch Mahoney
(Anthone Jackson), who’s fulfilling part of his community service requirements,
gives them a juice box and escorts them off the stage. (In previous
productions, he also gave out hugs.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">They’re joined by four good sport
audience members. At first these volunteers get easy words like “cow” and
“Google,” but soon the words get obscure, leading to an exit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Although Meredith McDonough’s direction
is sometimes too fast-paced, the show is well served by talented actors who
create likable characters. McDonough was director of TheatreWorks’ New Works
Festival from 2009 to 2013. She was called in late in the process after the
original director, James Monroe Iglehart, had to back out because “Spamalot,”
in which he was performing, was moving to Broadway.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Iglehart played Mitch Mahoney in the
Post Street Theatre production in San Francisco in 2006. He also has appeared in
a number of TheatreWorks shows. He’s credited as creative producer for this
show.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Bell is another “Spelling Bee” veteran,
having played a finalist in the San Jose Repertory Theatre production in 2009.
Although everyone in the cast acts and sings well, she’s a standout.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The show has an interesting book by
Rachel Sheinkin and ear-pleasing music and lyrics by William Finn. William
Liberatore serves as music director.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">“Spelling Bee” isn’t a holiday show per
se, but the set by Andrea Bechert evokes the season with colorful gift boxes,
large candles and a reindeer wearing sunglasses arrayed around the stage.
Lighting is by Steven B. Mannshardt with sound by Jeff Mockus, choreography by
Lee Ann Payne and costumes by Courtney Flores-Kerrigan.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">TheatreWorks is celebrating a successful
fund-raising drive, “Save TheatreWorks Now” that ended Nov. 30. It called for
$3 million to make sure the company could produce the rest of its season. Instead
it raked in $4 million from more than 700 donors.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Running about an hour and 45 minutes
with no intermission, “The 25</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; text-indent: 0.5in;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
will continue through Dec. 24 at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield
Road, Palo Alto.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">For tickets and information, call (877)
662-8978 or visit www.theatreworks.org.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-12373445855879106912023-12-03T11:52:00.000-08:002023-12-03T11:52:14.517-08:00Hillbarn stages musical theater classic, 'The Sound of Music'<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKoCBTALbUxjiP2fjIRAw-WBrRckBPdzPyjefrxQTiV-p_3HoNj71KxlQyBeJtg8q0pKRyJm1-GxIA0lZO6z_YZcaEJ6mtIksekfwhn0bd6P_W4CTZMgeoQSkUz4CmMsWVzIcljC72Dhyphenhyphen8Wg3_EIbdup5gcpa2TuILSzLf_SQkUmeKr-UVRW0gdkvdOXJ/s799/sound%20of%20music%20tracy%20martin%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKoCBTALbUxjiP2fjIRAw-WBrRckBPdzPyjefrxQTiV-p_3HoNj71KxlQyBeJtg8q0pKRyJm1-GxIA0lZO6z_YZcaEJ6mtIksekfwhn0bd6P_W4CTZMgeoQSkUz4CmMsWVzIcljC72Dhyphenhyphen8Wg3_EIbdup5gcpa2TuILSzLf_SQkUmeKr-UVRW0gdkvdOXJ/w640-h426/sound%20of%20music%20tracy%20martin%20(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophia Alawi is an ebullient Maria. (Photo by Mark Kitaoka)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Because of its memorable music, a plot based
on a true story and themes of the power of music and resilience, “The Sound of
Music” remains a classic of American musical theater.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory’s
production does full justice to all of those qualities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Set
in a mountainous area of Austria in 1938, the book by Howard Lindsay and Russel
Crouse features a would-be nun, Maria Rainer (Sophia Alawi), whom the Mother
Abbess (Sarah Jebian) says isn’t quite ready<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>for the convent life. Instead she sends Maria to the home of retired
navy Captain Georg von Trapp (Jared Lee), a widower whose seven children need a
governess.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There she finds a home where the
children are treated like martinets with no opportunity for fun or play. Maria
changes all that, mainly with music, teaching the children to sing through
“Do-Re-Mi.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her outspokenness and the results she
achieves with the children soon soften Captain von Trapp’s heart and blossom
into love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Their happiness is clouded by the Nazi
incursion into Austria and an order for the captain to command a German ship.
He’s greatly troubled because his loyalties lie entirely with Austria, but he
fears the consequences if he doesn’t obey the order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An opportunity to escape arises when his
friend Max (Brad Satterwhite) arranges for the family to sing at an important
music festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Singing “So Long,
Farewell,” the family exits the stage one or two at a time and takes refuge in
the abbey. They then decide to escape to the safety of Switzerland by crossing
over Maria’s beloved mountains.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Directed by Dennis Lickteig, known to
Gilbert and Sullivan fans for his work with Lamplighters in San Francisco, the
cast is topnotch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Chief among the standouts is Alawi’s
ebullient Maria with her crystal clear soprano voice and captivating stage
presence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another outstanding singer is Jebian as
the wise, kindly Mother Abbess. Everyone else is good, too, especially the
likable youngsters, making for full enjoyment of the music by Richard Rodgers
with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And what music it is with such hummers
as the title song along with “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss”
and more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jayne Zaban adds some nice choreographic
touches, most notably in the dancing by telegram delivery boy Rolf (Nicki
Weppner) and Liesl von Trapp (Chloe Fong) in “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On the keyboard, Debra Lambert directs eight
musicians in offstage. The serviceable set is by Hunter Jameson with sound by
Joshua Price, lighting by Sarina Renteria and costumes by Stephanie Dittbern.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Running more than two hours and 45
minutes with one intermission, “The Sound of Music” will continue through Dec.
17 at Hillbarn Theatre. 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For tickets and information, call (650)
349-6411, Ext. 2, or visit www.hillbarntheatre.org.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p><p></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-64055254207605823762023-11-08T15:16:00.002-08:002023-11-08T15:16:41.297-08:00Palo Alto Players stages movie classic, 'The Wizard of Oz'<p> </p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d157682e-7fff-abdd-463f-1a7f7594a520"><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 416px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="416" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/9W-PY6nSWu3gCSfm7TD6fConpi0VKQbqKkwuPS0x-1LVujF615GK4PlF5toxq6xxWgvfE9L_MgPBoDJkiNJayZ2HKRYhHNyfkymfgjRTqPSTHQp4jAU4muOTlBciB7pcdfHrOX_iQhoYwwDrZ0C8BTs" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></h3><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">They’re off to see the Wizard (from left): Michael D. Reed as the Cowardly Lion, Noelle Wilder as the Scarecrow, Lauren D’Ambrosio as a crow, Ian Catindig as the Tinman and Libby Einav (alternating with Penelope DaSilva) as Dorothy Gale. (<i>Scott Lasky photo</i>)</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A movie that remains vivid in my memory is “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Palo Alto Players’ stage production of L. Frank Baum’s classic story, as adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company, aims to create such memories in new generations while recalling them for the older crowd.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Directed and choreographed by Stacey Reed, the PAP cast of two dozen kids and adults does justice to the adventures of young Dorothy Gale (Penelope DaSilva, double-cast with Libby Einav) after a tornado swoops her from her Kansas home to the Emerald City of Oz.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">While she’s on a quest just to get home, she meets three characters who have their own needs that they hope the wizard can provide.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Scarecrow (Noelle Wilder) wants a brain. The Tinman (Ian Catindig) wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion (Michael D. Reed) wants courage.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Together they overcome various perils, thanks in part to Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Jessica Ellithorpe), who grants their wishes. Their archenemy is the Wicked Witch of the West (Barbara Heninger).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When they finally see the wizard (Chloë Angst), it’s a big letdown.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But Dorothy, with her beloved dog Toto, finds her way back by clicking the magic ruby red slippers and repeating “There’s no place like home” three times.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Thus she wakes up in a wagon in her yard surrounded by familiar faces. It was all a dream brought on by the tornado. Her companions in Oz were actually people in her home life.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Although the reviewed Nov. 5 production had a shaky start, it soon picked up steam, thanks to a talented cast. Among the standouts is Heninger, who does double duty as the Wicked Witch of the West as well as Miss Gulch, the cantankerous neighbor who wants to take Toto away from Dorothy.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wilder as the Scarecrow and farmhand Hunk is a deaf performer who signs and mouths their lines and songs while outstanding singer Lauren D’Ambrosio, costumed as a crow, speaks and sings them. The limber-limbed Wilder also is such a talented dancer and actor that the deafness becomes secondary.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Another outstanding singer is the imposing Reed as the Cowardly Lion. His “If I Were King of the Forest” displays his operatic bass voice. He does double duty as designer of the fearsome tornado projections.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The orchestral music is recorded while Rachel Michelberg serves as music and vocal director of the music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The colorful costumes are by Jenny Garcia. The set and props are by Kevin Davies with lighting by Edward Hunter and sound by Sheraj Ragoobeer.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The two-and-a-half hour running time might be a bit much for the very youngest viewers, many of whom squirmed and talked aloud. (PAP advises that no children under 3 will be admitted.) Still, the show is a good introduction to quality, live theater and an enjoyable experience.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“The Wizard of Oz” continues through Nov. 19 at the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For tickets and information, call 650-329-0891 or visit</span><a href="http://www.paplayers.org/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">www.paplayers.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></p><br /></span>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-64164219512197977912023-10-12T14:27:00.001-07:002023-10-12T14:27:25.826-07:00Playwright explores mysterious disappearance in ‘Mrs. Christie’<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4IKnPoAA9C8WR1-iXg7TVCMQVFEmUvRKfgpyH7srW3APJt63pruiPVkHP41rMsqnsNX9tCbLDOjQUka9J9wSw1R4aLFhKAa_lhoV7IYVXtmhslBR2Z3ORYdo_0RStyOLOQEecm4xrDic6K2zZRI_GvES1YeWOQwbeJmdn3VUshT8pbqUxCSLBamkDhaT/s2450/TW_MrsChristie_KevinBerne13.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2450" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4IKnPoAA9C8WR1-iXg7TVCMQVFEmUvRKfgpyH7srW3APJt63pruiPVkHP41rMsqnsNX9tCbLDOjQUka9J9wSw1R4aLFhKAa_lhoV7IYVXtmhslBR2Z3ORYdo_0RStyOLOQEecm4xrDic6K2zZRI_GvES1YeWOQwbeJmdn3VUshT8pbqUxCSLBamkDhaT/w640-h426/TW_MrsChristie_KevinBerne13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jennifer Le Blanc (left) is Agatha Christie with Elissa Beth Stebbins as Charlotte. <i>(Kevin Berne photo)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><span> </span><span> </span>Acclaimed mystery writer Agatha Christie
became the center of her own, still unsolved, mystery in 1926. That’s when she
disappeared for 11 days and never said why or where she went or what she did
during that time.</span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> <span> </span> </span>Playwright Heidi Armbruster theorizes
what might have happened in the intriguing “Mrs. Christie,” being staged by
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.<span> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>The action shifts between the past and
present as Christie fan Lucy (Nicole Javier) tries to figure out what happened
by seeking a missing notebook</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">from the
author’s papers. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>Her rival in the search is William (Max
Tachis, who doubles as Christie’s publisher, Collins). She’s aided by an older
woman, Jane (Lucinda Hitchcock Cone). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>In the past scenes, Christie (Jennifer Le
Blanc) frets over the affair that her husband, Archie (Aldo Billingslea), is
having with the much younger Nancy Neele (Kina Kantor). Christie’s secretary,
Charlotte (Elissa Beth Stebbins), tends to her needs and listens.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>The play posits that Christie disappears
by checking into a hotel under a false name. She seems to lose all track of
time despite efforts by the maid, Mary (Stebbins).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>She’s also confronted by Le Detective
(William Thomas Hodgson), a stand-in for her fictional sleuth Poirot.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>As past and present characters meet in
her home, a possible murder gives Le Detective a chance to show his p</span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;">r</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">owess.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>The action is easy to follow because of
artistic director Giovanna Sardelli’s direction and a talented cast that
clearly defines each character. The only drawback is that sometimes the
dialogue is hard to understand because of the English accents.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>The flexible set is by Christopher
Fitzer with lighting by Wen-Ling Liao and sound by James Ard. Cathleen Edwards
designed the handsome period costumes.<span> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>Running about two hours with an
intermission, “Mrs. Christie” will continue through Oct. 29 at the Mountain
View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span> </span><span> </span>For tickets and information, call (877)
662-8978 or visit </span><a href="http://www.theatreworks.org/" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">www.theatreworks.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-22682053246862071462023-10-09T18:47:00.004-07:002023-10-09T18:47:43.796-07:00Hillbarn opens 83rd season with 'Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery'<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq34HRj8GgdhbV9I57_BqLukusQbBGdiJUTBeVxoe9vICffVKm-fqZwyHDhKbB-VuNYO9T7qmIZ43H0PYjuRly2tYAmu4HoBjE1h0TlFAFpOdh8TP7tGF6Ju1qSGcIwttZ8KMXvXoTocFVIn9P-1BnY7harNloddgpK5cD23GRYLOQQ_JTjk9xNEwcZdMy/s600/baskerville%20tracy%20martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq34HRj8GgdhbV9I57_BqLukusQbBGdiJUTBeVxoe9vICffVKm-fqZwyHDhKbB-VuNYO9T7qmIZ43H0PYjuRly2tYAmu4HoBjE1h0TlFAFpOdh8TP7tGF6Ju1qSGcIwttZ8KMXvXoTocFVIn9P-1BnY7harNloddgpK5cD23GRYLOQQ_JTjk9xNEwcZdMy/w640-h426/baskerville%20tracy%20martin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Champlin (left) is John Watson, Alicia M.P. Nelson is Actor 3, and George Psarras is Sherlock Holmes. (Tracy Martin photo)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16px;">Five talented actors take Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory audiences on a fun-filled romp through Ken Ludwig's "Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery."</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Two men play Holmes and his sidekick,
Dr. John Watson. Two other men and a woman, called Actors 1, 2 and 3, play three
dozen or so male and female characters.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The cast is so small because in Ludwig’s
interpretation, a theater company was supposed to travel to the Theatre Royal
of Barnhill-on-Foster in Hampshire, England, in 1892. However, all but five of
them missed the train, and all but a few trunks of costumes arrived, Watson
(Michael Champlin) explains.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">In true show biz tradition, though, the
intrepid troupe makes do with what it has. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span> </span>Sir
Henry Baskerville, a Texan who has inherited his title and a tidy fortune, has
asked Holmes (George Psarras) and Watson to his newly inherited estate in the
desolate moors to investigate the mysterious death of the previous heir.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Moreover, Sir Henry has received an
unsigned note warning him not to go to the estate, which is supposedly stalked
by a huge, vicious dog.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Holmes and Watson soon encounter several
characters, some of them quite strange. After a series of adventures and close
calls, they unravel the mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As Actor 1, Ted Zoldan’s characters
include an attorney and an eccentric butterfly chaser. Actor 2, Darrien
Cabreana, is seen mostly as Sir Henry. Actor 3, Alicia M.P. Nelson, plays
several female characters, but like her colleagues, she cross-dresses. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Each character is clearly defined,
thanks to Leslie Martinson’s astute direction of this versatile cast.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Costumes designed by Nolan Miranda aid
quick character changes with minimal additions or deletions, but one can only
imagine how busy the stage crew is behind the scenes. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Lighting and projections are by Spenser
Matubang. Cindy Ng designed the props, which also aid in character definition, Kevin
Davies designed the functional set. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Jeff Mockus’s sound design features
snatches from classics like “Pictures at an Exhibition” and operas like “Tosca”
and “Falstaff.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Running about two hours with an
intermission, “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” has opened Hillbarn’s 83<sup>rd</sup>
season, which has a new artistic director, Steve Muterspaugh.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-87870669799580071702023-09-14T18:00:00.003-07:002023-09-14T18:00:31.155-07:00Talented, energetic cast enlivens 'Matilda the Musical'<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_YpctG3kHhxSgapLgZrJ1kY6in83BDEJgUeul9SlsLn9-N4ptorD2RDY2uPs_MxAFzfMMwursAQgXYkC2iGxQ_n73YxyFcmg-VjUP86EzO4PdKmS_6qZmJos_Cy3gMUaoJqr4fX8dkksrCPi68oVoI0c9xR3a0htBJb0m7_7uxQarDAUm4qIHc5bMSJ4/s5543/Matilda_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3695" data-original-width="5543" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_YpctG3kHhxSgapLgZrJ1kY6in83BDEJgUeul9SlsLn9-N4ptorD2RDY2uPs_MxAFzfMMwursAQgXYkC2iGxQ_n73YxyFcmg-VjUP86EzO4PdKmS_6qZmJos_Cy3gMUaoJqr4fX8dkksrCPi68oVoI0c9xR3a0htBJb0m7_7uxQarDAUm4qIHc5bMSJ4/w640-h426/Matilda_3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug Santana as Miss Agatha Trunchbull harangues her students. <i>(Photo by Scott Lasky)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A talented cast of 29 energetic adults and
youngsters brings “Matilda the Musical” to the stage for Palo Alto Players.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Adapted from Roald Dahl’s popular story, the plot
focuses on Matilda Wormwood (Sofia Zamora, who alternates with Araceli Grace),
an exceptionally bright, imaginative little girl.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though her mother (Brigitte Losey) would rather
be dancing than mothering, and her father (Randy Lee), a sleazy used car
salesman, disparages her because she’s not a boy, she taught herself to read –
and not just kids books but the classics.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She gets adult support from a librarian, Mrs. Phelps
(Kayvon Kordestani), whom she entertains with elaborate stories, and from her
teacher, Miss Honey (Madelyn Davis), who recognizes and encourages her
intelligence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The super villain of the play is Miss Agatha
Trunchbull (Doug Santana), the cruel school principal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because of the youngsters’ treble voices and the
cast’s use of English accents, the lyrics and some of the dialogue are hard to
understand. Thus it’s not easy to follow the plot if one isn’t familiar with
it, but the acting helps to convey the gist of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Director Janie Scott and choreographer Whitney
Janssen probably had their challenges in working with so many kids, but they have
molded a precision, disciplined ensemble. Hence it’s great fun watching how
well everyone does.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The adults are all noteworthy, especially Davis as
the supportive Honey, Losey as the self-centered Mrs. Wormwood and Santana as
Miss Trunchbull, who galumphs about the stage and seems to delight in making
the students’ lives miserable. It’s a drag role but not campy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dahl’s book was adapted for the musical by Dennis
Kelly. Tim Minchin supplied the music and lyrics with orchestrations and more
music by Chris Nightingale.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The music is well executed by music director/adult
vocal director Amanda Ku, who leads the pit orchestra from the keyboard. Pamela
Serrano does a great job as the youth vocal director.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kudos to costume designer Greet Jaspaert, especially
Losey’s outfits. Set and props designer Kevin Davies aids smooth transitions
between scenes. Lighting is by Pamila Z. Gray, sound by Jeff Grafton. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those who aren’t familiar with the story would do
well to look up a synopsis beforehand, but most of the adults and youngsters at
the Sept. 10 matinee seemed to know the story and reacted enthusiastically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Advance ticket sales were so brisk that Palo Alto
Players added another Saturday matinee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Matilda the Musical” will continue through Sept. 24
at the Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (650) 329-0891 or
visit <a href="http://www.paplayers.org/">www.paplayers.org</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-58558464012229890072023-08-02T15:28:00.000-07:002023-08-02T15:28:43.711-07:00TheatreWorks to present 20th New Works Festival<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW6L3qc-PcZiHqgoCfyJMt-LrZW-beguCD2A-eElClo8U4EgYUAvHog52D0IiIkkV9Ni5J-1sI0sfZCsZ36lRYjBZxJHjxBYFR-62D8FBza5vlk3Dqk5D5U2c7wTyn9MR4UYDGJLnSQT-yZwPYCBjKrixJRRRTT1F654C_32HqhE-HRAZPhaHZwnPdGUY/s2560/new%20works%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1691" data-original-width="2560" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW6L3qc-PcZiHqgoCfyJMt-LrZW-beguCD2A-eElClo8U4EgYUAvHog52D0IiIkkV9Ni5J-1sI0sfZCsZ36lRYjBZxJHjxBYFR-62D8FBza5vlk3Dqk5D5U2c7wTyn9MR4UYDGJLnSQT-yZwPYCBjKrixJRRRTT1F654C_32HqhE-HRAZPhaHZwnPdGUY/w640-h422/new%20works%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: #333333; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; text-align: left;">"My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding," written by "Come From Away" duo Irene Sankoff and David Hein was presented in the 2017 New Works Festival.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Audiences for TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will have a chance to see what might become the next big hit when the company presents its 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary New Works Festival Aug. 11-20 in Palo Alto.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Some of the hits that have emerged from
the festival have included Tony-winning “Memphis” as well as “Nan and the Lower
Body,” “Jane Austen’s Emma” and others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This year’s event will feature staged
readings of one musical, three plays and some special events. In a staged
reading, the actors use scripts with limited movement and no sets or costumes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Dinner and a conversation with
playwrights David Henry Hwang and Rajiv Joseph start the festivities at 8 p.m.
Aug. 11. Admission is $325 for both events or $75 for the conversation only.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Happy Pleasant Valley: A Senior Sex
Scandal Murder Mystery Musical” by Min Kahng and directed by Jeffrey Lo, is the
first new work, playing at 8 p.m. Aug. 12, 7 p.m. Aug. 16 and 8 p.m. Aug. 19.
When a woman learns that her grandmother is about to be kicked out of her
senior apartment, she springs into action. Grandma is in hot water because her
active sex life seems to kill the men she sleeps with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Coming up next is a dark comedy, “Nerve”
by Minita Gandhi,” at 3 p.m. Aug. 13 and 3 p.m. Aug. 19. Described as a multigenerational
journey that explores the legacy and the love of food, it will include dishes
cooked on stage and served to the audience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Food also is involved in “Madeleines” by
Bess Welden at 8 p.m. Aug. 17 and 3 p.m. Aug. 20. Jewish sisters, whose mother
has just died, grapple “with how to love each other through haunted pasts,
shared grief and the solace of baking together.” Leslie Martinson directs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Giovanna Sardelli, the festival’s
longtime director who has just been named TheatreWorks artistic director,
directs, “Low Expectations” by Michael Gaston, slated for 7 p.m. Aug. 15 and
noon Aug. 19. Encouraged to write about his family, Gaston wrote a true
monologue about relatives during the Civil War and later and a fictional short
story set in Northern California. They’re combined into a play with music.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Besides the conversation with
playwrights Joseph and Hwang, special events will include a performance by
actor and transgender activist Shakina followed by an after party at 7 p.m.
Aug. 18. Tickets are $150 for the show and party, $50 for the show only.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The festival will wrap up with a chance
to meet and hear from the playwrights and composers at noon Aug. 20. Moderated
by Lo, TheatreWorks casting director and literary manager, it will allow
questions by the audience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Season passes for the staged readings
and the latter are $60 ($55 for Season 53 subscribers). Tickets for it and the
individual readings are $20. There are no assigned seats.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">All events will take place at the Lucie
Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For tickets and more information call
(650) 463-1960 or visit <a href="http://www.theatreworks.org/">www.theatreworks.org</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><p></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-82085034603654075522023-06-20T18:30:00.003-07:002023-06-20T18:30:40.300-07:00'Puffs' relates seven years at school of magic<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp3Qv4FutIWbb-EY_u6YiNtYw9CaqhCiUY43g0jfZhgUz8pikjYS_BbHh8z1mkUI8KzpFZJn5Q8-_-d8rCniwBGfevE4U5v67-UqnE6ehOEu_YLzP_8kw8EEiX00nwgjLEhQHcHb_0vw_WvafAEylKvEO0GMmGUaRG3Q3ox9BWVJkCpXqqoVlw8VkknkG/s5430/PUFFS%209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3620" data-original-width="5430" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjp3Qv4FutIWbb-EY_u6YiNtYw9CaqhCiUY43g0jfZhgUz8pikjYS_BbHh8z1mkUI8KzpFZJn5Q8-_-d8rCniwBGfevE4U5v67-UqnE6ehOEu_YLzP_8kw8EEiX00nwgjLEhQHcHb_0vw_WvafAEylKvEO0GMmGUaRG3Q3ox9BWVJkCpXqqoVlw8VkknkG/w640-h426/PUFFS%209.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their classmates challenge (from right) Megan (Michelle Skinner) and Wayne (Will Livingston). <br /><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Photo by Scott Lasky</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matt Cox’s “Puffs,” subtitled “or: Seven
Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic,” is being
staged by Palo Alto Players.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Inspired by the enormously popular Harry Potter
series by J.K. Rowling, it takes place at the same time that Harry is attending
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in England. However, it’s not
Harry’s story. Rather it’s the story of other students, called Puffs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It features an ensemble cast of 14 mostly young
adults. It revolves around three of the students: Wayne (Will Livingston) and
his friends Oliver (Nicholas Athari) and Megan (Michelle Skinner). Another
major character is the Narrator (Tiffany Nwogu).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During their seven years together, they encounter
numerous challenges and dangers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Harry Potter fans probably will recognize many of
the characters and events mentioned. Those who aren’t at familiar with the
series might find themselves wondering what’s going on despite a talented,
likable cast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Director Kristin Walter doesn’t help because she allows
too much shouting and jumping around. Group hugs get to be old hat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These factors probably contributed to the reason why
several people left during intermission of the reviewed June 18 matinee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other hand, many in the audience seemed to
enjoy it, often laughing throughout the performance and cheering loudly at the
end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The purposely gloomy set is by Kevin Davies with
lighting by Edward Hunter, sound design by the playwright and costumes by Jenny
Garcia. Brian Metolius composed the background music.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to a PAP statement, the show “is not
authorized, sanctioned or endorsed by J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. or any person
or company associated with the Harry Potter books, films or play.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about two and a half hours with an
intermission, “Puffs” will continue through July 2 at the Lucie Stern Theater,
1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (650) 329-0891 or
visit <a href="http://www.paplayers.org/">www.paplayers.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><i> </i></o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-5784810305133815202023-06-15T21:38:00.000-07:002023-06-15T21:38:06.312-07:00'Steel Magnolias' blossoms at TheatreWorks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXouB-6jxFhUUAfQd7luUxPLjVjw3_ImasRoxV7cx8riKL96SqgkBn9yjcVcAamkcakoJLGevT6Jfmajpmab_TNbx2DXR2nZlPjqy88gaViBNVzhPeNzh4W_P7s1TTqSVq2bYJhRHggMHHwWtwqUdKi0AVP3ABH5Uspui8DlpfVAxJJFkdhgq0Kvv-Fg/s2450/TW_SteelMagnolias_KevinBerne5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2450" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXouB-6jxFhUUAfQd7luUxPLjVjw3_ImasRoxV7cx8riKL96SqgkBn9yjcVcAamkcakoJLGevT6Jfmajpmab_TNbx2DXR2nZlPjqy88gaViBNVzhPeNzh4W_P7s1TTqSVq2bYJhRHggMHHwWtwqUdKi0AVP3ABH5Uspui8DlpfVAxJJFkdhgq0Kvv-Fg/w640-h426/TW_SteelMagnolias_KevinBerne5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelby (Jasmine Milan Williams, center) shows pictures of her baby to (from left) Annelle (Alexandra Lee), Clairee (Marcia Pizzo), Ouiser (Nancy Carlin) and Truvy (Lisa Strum). <i>Kevin Berne photo</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div class="fg-media-caption-title" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Steel Magnolias,” playwright Robert Harling’s loving portrait of women in a small Louisiana town, is being staged by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Harling didn’t intend to write a play. He just wanted to write something for his nephew to know more about Harling’s sister, the boy’s mother.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Afflicted with diabetes, she defied medical advice by having a baby and thereby overtaxing her body. Her kidneys failed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">She went on dialysis until she received a kidney transplant from her mother, but it failed. She died when the boy was 2 years old.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Taking on a life of their own, Harling’s
recollections evolved into a play set in a beauty shop. Every Saturday morning
six women gather there to get their hair done, exchange recipes and talk,
mostly about themselves and their families.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Covering about 2 ½ years, the play shows how these
women cope and get on with their lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Earlier productions, including the one that
TheatreWorks staged at the Burgess Theater in Menlo Park in 1991, have featured
an all-white cast. However, director Elizabeth Carter has selected a
multi-racial cast of white, Black and Asian women.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Their ethnicity doesn’t matter. Their warm camaraderie
and caring do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The shop is wedged between the patio and garage at
the home of Truvy (Lisa Strum), the owner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Her regular customers include M’Lynn (Dawn L.
Troupe); her daughter, Shelby (Jasmine Milan Williams); and two neighbors,
Clairee (Marcia Pizzo) and Ouiser (Nancy Carlin).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In addition, Truvy has just hired Annelle (Alexandra
Lee), a young newcomer to the town.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the play opens, Shelby and M’Lynn are having
their hair done for Shelby’s wedding that afternoon. Clairee, widow of the
town’s recently deceased mayor, and the eccentric, curmudgeonly Ouiser arrive
for their appointments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In a later scene, Shelby announces that she’s
pregnant, much to her mother’s dismay. When the baby arrives, it’s three months
premature but survives. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the meantime, Clairee has found new interests,
including travel, theater and a male friend. She also has bought the local radio
station. Ouiser, too, has started seeing an old boyfriend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the play proceeds, it becomes more serious, but
it’s offset by the friendly banter, warmth and humor throughout the action.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Harling has a keen ear for Southern speech and
hilarious comments. For example, Shelby loves pink and has used it for
everything in her wedding, including the church. Her mother says the church
looks like it has been sprayed with Pepto-Bismol. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Although the action opens in 1986, some moments are
familiar today. For example, a local fundamentalist preacher objects to calling
the town’s high school sports teams the Devils because it encourages Satanism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Carter does a superb job of directing this ensemble
cast while each actor creates a believable, very human character.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Adding to the play’s enjoyment is the detailed set
by Andrea Bechert with lighting by Steven B. Mannshardt, costumes by Dana
Rebecca Woods and sound by Christopher Sauceda.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The production’s only drawback is that some of the
Southern accents are difficult to understand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Otherwise, this is a highly entertaining play that
captures the importance of friendship in women’s lives.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about 2 ½ hours with one intermission, it
will continue through July 2 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing
Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (877) 662-8978 or
visit <a href="http://www.theatreworks.org/">www.theatreworks.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-15246494899997344852023-05-03T18:10:00.001-07:002023-05-03T18:10:36.870-07:00Hillbarn has a hit with 'The Producers'<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHNJHwH0FpfgG7zeVgttz9P9TCDs3wTohvgrDNb5qycdI7ki_dDsJi6gcjyMwPA1kaJpa5d3OwQ8Db580niBQeFJ2bx4KLD55uhhQCso4hWtmDtlFfbDEasXHDseMrqcIL66ZJ2U1ztjOM3yGAnYLLbWkl9sRjDJUWMEbHBtxan29lfLS-qQByZMmiw/s600/producers%20tracy%20martin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHNJHwH0FpfgG7zeVgttz9P9TCDs3wTohvgrDNb5qycdI7ki_dDsJi6gcjyMwPA1kaJpa5d3OwQ8Db580niBQeFJ2bx4KLD55uhhQCso4hWtmDtlFfbDEasXHDseMrqcIL66ZJ2U1ztjOM3yGAnYLLbWkl9sRjDJUWMEbHBtxan29lfLS-qQByZMmiw/w640-h426/producers%20tracy%20martin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ulla (Renee Deweese Moran) dances for Max (Edward Hightower, left) and Leo (James M. Jones).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When Mel Brooks wrote the book (with Thomas Meehan),
music and lyrics for a musical about a musical that was supposed to be a flop
but turned out to be a hit, he created his own hit with “The Producers.” The
stage version is based on the 1968 film of the same name.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory is staging its
own hit thanks go sharp direction and a talented cast and design team. All of
these elements add up to laughter and enjoyment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As the show opens, once-successful Broadway producer,
the brash Max Bialystock (Edward Hightower) has just seen his latest show,
“Funny Boy,” close after its opening night.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Shortly thereafter, a mousey accountant, Leo Bloom
(James M. Jones), shows up to go over Max’s financial records. When he sees
that $2,000 is still in the account, he comments that Max could make more money
with a flop than a hit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Max latches onto this comment and decides that he
wants to produce a flop by finding the worst play, worst director, worst
designers and worst actors for it. After some persuasion, Leo joins him as
co-producer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This leads them to “Springtime for Hitler,” a play
by Hitler admirer Franz Liebkind (the versatile Keith Pinto), who forces them
to meet several conditions before allowing them to produce it. These conditions
include a silly dance and an oath swearing allegiance to Der Führer. Franz also
keeps a collection of wing-flapping pigeons with Nazi insignia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Once rights to the play are secured, Max and Leo
prevail upon their worst director, Roger DeBris (John Mannion). He greets them
wearing a glittering gown topped by a tall tiara. He looks like the Chrysler
Building, one of the men says. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">His sidekick is the tres gay Carmen Ghia (Jesse
Cortez). His chosen designers also are quite gay. They decide that it’s
important for the show’s success to “Keep It Gay.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One other person who shows up in their orbit is a
gorgeous blond Swedish woman, Ulla (Renee Deweese Moran), who celebrates her
sexiness (“When You’ve Got It, Flaunt it”) and leaves both Leo and Max
salivating.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Max then sets about raising money for the show via
his usual route: romancing elderly women who like to play risqué games in
return for giving him money.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Quite unexpectedly, “Springtime for Hitler” turns
out to be a huge hit. The two producers’ financial manipulations lead to big
trouble with the law, but of course there’s a happy ending.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Given the subject matter of “The Producers,” there’s
a fine line between bawdy shtick and bad taste in the hilarious lines and
situations. Director Erica Wyman-Abrahamson and her well-chosen actors stay on
the right side of that line. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Recorded music provides instrumental accompaniment
for the singing, which is overseen by music director Rick Reynolds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Dancing is a huge part of the show’s enjoyment,
thanks to choreography by Christopher Childers. Just one example is “Along Came
Bialy,” in which several of Max’s women friends dance with their walkers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Credit for the ingenious costumes goes to Y. Sharon
Peng. Scenic designer Kevin Davies keeps the show moving along despite the
numerous scene changes and Hillbarn’s smallish stage. The lighting is by Pamila
Gray with sound by Sheraj Ragoobeer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The 20-member cast is likable, performing the
acting, singing and dancing with ease. Those in the ensemble create a variety
of characters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about two and a half hours with one
intermission, “The Producers” will continue through May 14 at Hillbarn Theatre,
1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (650) 349-6411,
Ext. 2, or visit <a href="http://www.hilbarntheatre.org/">www.hilbarntheatre.org</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Photo by Tracy Martin</i></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-74087849106143431012023-05-02T17:15:00.001-07:002023-05-02T17:15:35.818-07:00SpongeBob SquarePants takes to the stage as a musical<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BaM9I127_Tar1YPYQ93z4SlEfcpoB1UL7mPRP0oYYi2vey0bB72OGZx9PtTHmV00BsV48cYA_QRetSDD4aV9f5jieiawa83CuHFKMzv93xMtXgfKaKDfF5MAwXDiFV8UCPKxLQ_gXWcX8xsDMkmBdM_xfi5QgN5-bvhf4f_oJZei6QKSgEY2brTSNw/s5472/Spongebob%20scott%20lasky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BaM9I127_Tar1YPYQ93z4SlEfcpoB1UL7mPRP0oYYi2vey0bB72OGZx9PtTHmV00BsV48cYA_QRetSDD4aV9f5jieiawa83CuHFKMzv93xMtXgfKaKDfF5MAwXDiFV8UCPKxLQ_gXWcX8xsDMkmBdM_xfi5QgN5-bvhf4f_oJZei6QKSgEY2brTSNw/w640-h426/Spongebob%20scott%20lasky.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The SpongeBob Musical" cast takes its curtain call.<i> (Scott Lasky photo)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“SpongeBob SquarePants,” the popular TV cartoon
series created by Stephen Hillenburg, has taken to the stage as “The SpongeBob
Musical” presented by Palo Alto Players.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This version, with its book by Kyle Jarrow and songs
by several rock artists, finds Bikini Bottom and its underwater inhabitants threatened
with annihilation by a volcanic eruption coming in about 48 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SpongeBob SquarePants (Joe Galang) and his friends
Sandy Cheeks (Solona Husband) and Patrick Star (Rocky James Concepcion) take it
upon themselves to ascend the volcano and try to plug it up, thus preventing
the eruption.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Attempting to thwart them are Sheldon Plankton (Nico
Jaochico) and his wife, Karen the Computer (Kristy Aquino). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the meantime, The Mayor (Alea Selburn) thinks she
can solve the problem by forming committees to study it – otherwise known as
bureaucracy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Others in SpongeBob’s sphere are Squidward Q.
Tentacles (Andrew Cope); Eugene Krabs (Zachary Vaughn-Munck) and his daughter,
Pearl (Gillian Ortega); Larry the Lobster (Nicholas Hintzman); and others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">PAP artistic director Patrick Klein has directed
this production and created its colorful, versatile set. Richard Hall is
musical director with vocal direction by D. Asa Stern.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The imaginative, ingenious costumes are by Raissa
Marchetti-Kozlov with lighting by Edward Hunter and sound by Jeff Grafton.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The energetic, athletic choreography is by Stacey
Reed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The 23-member cast is outstanding, offering fine
singing, dancing and acting. Galang as the ever-optimistic SpongeBob is
especially noteworthy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This show likely has its greatest appeal for people
who are familiar with the TV series. The April 30 matinee was well received by
many in the audience, with many of them cheering after every scene and singing
along with the cast at its curtain call. However, those who know little or
nothing about the series might not be so enthusiastic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about two and a half hours with an
intermission, “The SpongeBob Musical” will continue through May 14 at the Lucie
Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (650) 329-0891 or
visit </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.paplayers.org/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">www.paplayers.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-88398741410738662582023-04-11T17:40:00.001-07:002023-04-11T17:40:21.970-07:00Cross-border library site of 'A Distinct Society'<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEkGV6j70p0W2o1wfXQ9saRXEQjfOwdn04Co5b3ceASbfhGKMEFecWMmNE2WrPSR-JExsEds3pCqpRw8rKVJDkpLrLDsZeJbE5UhiE56FW4oyTFgnTY_4VgpBRg3D1auiIeqhuljUJ7Ih0OtU8TtvJjRmoesGBbmonQt2N27eJJnwZj_GUqYTuTcjRg/s2450/distinct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2450" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEkGV6j70p0W2o1wfXQ9saRXEQjfOwdn04Co5b3ceASbfhGKMEFecWMmNE2WrPSR-JExsEds3pCqpRw8rKVJDkpLrLDsZeJbE5UhiE56FW4oyTFgnTY_4VgpBRg3D1auiIeqhuljUJ7Ih0OtU8TtvJjRmoesGBbmonQt2N27eJJnwZj_GUqYTuTcjRg/w640-h426/distinct.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8); color: #333333; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; text-align: left;">Manon (Carrie Paff) greets Shirin (Vaneh Assadourian) in the library.<i> (Kevin Berne photo)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The border between Derby Line, Vermont, and
Stanstead, Quebec, runs right through the Haskell Free Library and Opera House.
It’s marked with tape across the library floor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This actual geographic anomaly is the setting for Kareem
Fahmy’s “A Distinct Society,” being given its world premiere by TheatreWorks
Silicon Valley in association with Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The play takes place in November 2017 after the
Trump administration imposed the so-called Muslim ban, which at the time didn’t
allow citizens of seven majority Muslim countries to enter the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Therefore, the library became a place where families
separated by the ban could see one another.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the play, Peyman Gilani (James Rana), a
50-year-old Iranian cardiac surgeon has gone there to see his daughter, Shirin
(Vaneh Assadourian), a medical student in the U.S., and to give her some food.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Food is against library rules, says librarian Manon Desjardins
(Carrie Paff), a French Canadian known as a Québécoise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Furthermore, Bruce Laird (Kenny Scott), a U.S.
Customs and Border Protection officer assigned to the area, tells Peyman that
he has only five minutes to visit with his daughter before he must leave.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Declan Sheehan (Daniel Allitt), a teenager from
Ireland who is forced to attend a French language school in Quebec, sees much
of this because he hangs out at the library. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Part of the reason is that he’s an avid fan of its
fantasy adventure comic books, which he calls graphic novels. Another part is
that his classmates give him a hard time, and he has no friends.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the meantime, Bruce flirts with Manon, who agrees
to have dinner with him before she plays the title character in Bizet’s
“Carmen” in the opera house upstairs. After the opera, they return to the
library, where he persuades her to dance on a table, which Carmen does in the
opera.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Complications arise as Bruce tries to enforce the
tougher rules dictated by his supervisor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During the course of the play, the characters reveal
more about themselves and their family backgrounds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For example, Manon talks about the 1995 referendum
asking Quebec citizens if they wanted to secede from Canada and form a distinct
society. It failed in the close vote. Her parents had opposite views that
eventually ended their marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This production is skillfully directed by Giovanna
Sardelli, TheatreWorks artistic associate and director of New Works, who
elicits fine performances from all five actors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paff, for example, is a Bay Area favorite who
creates a nuanced character. However, the character’s French accent tends to
distance viewers who must focus on each word rather than the overall meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The other characters also are multi-faceted, quite
human and believable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jo Winiarski’s detailed, inviting set is filled with
book-lined shelves, a children’s corner, a comfortable sofa and that border tape
on the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Costumes by Dina El-Aziz, lighting by Pamila Z. Gray
and sound by Elton Bradman enhance the production.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about an hour and 35 minutes with no
intermission, “A Distinct Society” will continue through April 30 at the
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and more information, call (877) 662-8978
or visit <a href="http://www.theatreworks.org/">www.theatreworks.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-12309149103401487872023-03-15T18:14:00.003-07:002023-03-16T18:21:15.831-07:00'Fannie' tells of one woman's quest for voting rights<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb43z_tpk0cX2JgPpalFlteephMOKtMObq-oPGjC-FKGI0agSAGwnPuKzvn_J2GATs8jvFfmwm586DJAtEbNJfqGkpfZuUbz2HXNwG_kEikMFn-QIHwo3u7vmbi4lpBlc3ybrDDYuG7bjPKiWht4BnnxdCzsvEKWalHmCFrZZPxTDdtf9RDuLl0UXQA/s250/fannie%20kevin%20berne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb43z_tpk0cX2JgPpalFlteephMOKtMObq-oPGjC-FKGI0agSAGwnPuKzvn_J2GATs8jvFfmwm586DJAtEbNJfqGkpfZuUbz2HXNwG_kEikMFn-QIHwo3u7vmbi4lpBlc3ybrDDYuG7bjPKiWht4BnnxdCzsvEKWalHmCFrZZPxTDdtf9RDuLl0UXQA/w400-h320/fannie%20kevin%20berne.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greta Oglesby plays Fannie Lou Hamer. <i>(Kevin Berne photo)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer,”
presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, should be a must-see for students.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This one-woman play, written by Cheryl L. West and
featuring Greta Oglesby, details Hamer’s brave efforts to secure voting rights
for Black people in the 1960s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She was 44, a Mississippi sharecropper with only a
sixth grade education and the youngest of 20 children, when she attended a
meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and became a tireless
advocate for voting rights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Her activism led to her and her husband being forced
to leave their plantation home, thus losing their home, jobs and possessions. She
received death threats. Nevertheless she persisted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />In one harrowing scene, she describes being arrested
and thrown into a cell with five Black men who were ordered to beat
her or risk severe punishment themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Her story is interspersed with songs like “This
Little Light of Mine” and “We Shall Not Be Moved” that have the audience
singing and clapping along with her. She’s accompanied by a three-man band
seated upstage. Music director is Morgan Stevenson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Directed by Tim Bond, TheatreWorks artistic
director, Oglesby’s performance is a tour-de-force of brilliant acting and
singing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Projections by Miko S. Simmons illustrate the events
and people who also were devoted to the cause with photos from that time.
Viewers who are old enough to remember that turbulent period in history will
surely recognize them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Andrea Bechert’s scenic design includes pro-voting
rights signs adorning the theater’s walls. Costumes by Lydia Tanji, lighting by
Lonnie Rafael Alcaraz and sound by Gregory Robinson add to the enjoyment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The reason why this play is so important for
students to see is that it has such relevance to events today, when some
political leaders are trying to suppress voting rights, especially by people of
color. TheatreWorks recognizes this and has scheduled a student matinee for 11
a.m. March 30.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about 70 minutes without intermission,
“Fannie” will continue through April 2 at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305
Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (877) 662-8978 or
visit </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.theatreworks.org/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">www.theatreworks.org</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-51649912398064589572023-03-13T11:00:00.001-07:002023-03-13T11:00:43.509-07:00'Perfect Arrangement' at Hillbarn resonates today<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5BTwb5d9LUgzT1wi274Q8LMv3HfOdiyR6zvVH9eFroH8QIpJJEi1uzSsWkz0tjDOTuvEXOt5DaswUUWtClud4vRzvErMlW0Txvgx77Fiu_w1HI_4jqmekGNtTF0flokWDD9sW-_X9mDyF9ZEnSs8StCAEacij4KFTJsXe5FgfocKmALNFjSYtVrilw/s600/perfect%20tracy%20martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5BTwb5d9LUgzT1wi274Q8LMv3HfOdiyR6zvVH9eFroH8QIpJJEi1uzSsWkz0tjDOTuvEXOt5DaswUUWtClud4vRzvErMlW0Txvgx77Fiu_w1HI_4jqmekGNtTF0flokWDD9sW-_X9mDyF9ZEnSs8StCAEacij4KFTJsXe5FgfocKmALNFjSYtVrilw/w640-h426/perfect%20tracy%20martin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norma (Leslie Waggoner, left), Millie (Amanda Farbstein), Jim (Alex Rodriguez) and Bob (Brad Satterwhite) discuss their dilemma.<i> (Photo by Tracy Martin)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although Topher Payne’s “Perfect Arrangement,” being
staged by Hillbarn Theatre and Conservatory, is set in the very early ’50s, it
resonates today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Back then, officialdom focused on rooting out
Communists in government and other areas and then extended its reach to
homosexuals who could be blackmailed into revealing government secrets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today the focus is on “wokeness” and “don’t say
gay,” especially in schools.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Inspired by a true story, “Perfect Arrangement”
features two gay couples, one male, one female, who enter legal but sham
marriages to hide their true leanings. They live in adjoining apartments with a
walk-in closet connecting them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of the men, Bob Martindale (Brad Satterwhite),
is a State Department official tasked with identifying and removing employees
deemed security risks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Norma Baxter (Leslie Waggoner), the wife of his
partner, high school teacher Jim Baxter (Alex Rodriguez), is Bob’s secretary.
Millie Martindale (Amanda Farbstein) is Bob’s wife and Norma’s partner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bob manages his job well until his boss, Theodore
Sunderson (John Mannion), orders him to go after gays, too, leading to an
ethical and moral dilemma for the couples.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the appearance of Barbara Grant (Tanya Marie),
a State Department employee who had been living overseas, the couples’
arrangement starts to unravel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As pressures mount and pretenses become more
difficult to maintain, the four spouses must decide whether to stay in the
closet or come out and face the certain fallout in hopes of paving the way
toward acceptance of themselves and others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All of this makes for serious subject matter, but
the play is billed as a comedy. Yes, it has some inherently amusing moments but
director Tyler Christie has the excellent cast overplaying the comedy. Toning
it down would be beneficial.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is especially true in the early scene with the
two couples plus Bob’s boss and his high society wife, Kitty Sunderson (Erica
Wyman). The three women squeal like overexcited teenagers at a rock concert.
Thus it’s a relief when the two couples are<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This production benefits from its design elements,
such as the stylish costumes by Bethany Deal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The comfortable living room set, with its symbolic
walk-in closet, is by D’Angelo Reyes. It’s supposedly occupied by the
Martindales, but it’s actually the women’s home. The men live next door.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sound by Jules Indelecato and lighting by Aya
Matsutomo enhance the production. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about two hours with an intermission,
“Perfect Arrangement” will continue through March 26 at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285
E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. For tickets and information, call (650)
349-6411 or visit <a href="http://www.hillbarntheatre.org/">www.hillbarntheatre.org</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-35013591497701063402023-03-07T16:55:00.001-08:002023-03-07T16:55:46.486-08:00Foothill stages terrific 'Into the Woods'<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q2nEjyLLx1U9qfk_qJviIM2oTMc5up8HUpiFuG_g6MGwZldr-phAGmgKIpToiJx8xGixqL0QptVCWTQhS9PUlvCjhwmRq6WEbYw8aegpHLgShsCrGOftoWqI1w1KAAal9ePepVWOsTnPkR-q2PYxTog7Bx8BpFr0xUVgNhpJWLLVcH6h07-SQ_kOAg/s3448/woods%20david%20allen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="3448" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Q2nEjyLLx1U9qfk_qJviIM2oTMc5up8HUpiFuG_g6MGwZldr-phAGmgKIpToiJx8xGixqL0QptVCWTQhS9PUlvCjhwmRq6WEbYw8aegpHLgShsCrGOftoWqI1w1KAAal9ePepVWOsTnPkR-q2PYxTog7Bx8BpFr0xUVgNhpJWLLVcH6h07-SQ_kOAg/w640-h482/woods%20david%20allen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kama Belloni (left) as Jack's mother, Ryan Liu as Jack and Mateo Urquidez handling Milky White. <i>(David Allen photo)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Combine Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack of
beanstalk fame and Rapunzel with some other characters and you get the 1987
Tony-winning musical “Into the Woods” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
and a book by James Lapine, being given a terrific production by Foothill Music
Theatre.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Opening with the classic lines, “Once upon a time,”
the show has each major character saying, “I wish.” While those wishes come
true in the first act, which is mostly bright with some chuckles along the way,
the second act turns darker. There’s very little happily ever after.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Foothill director Milissa Carey skillfully guides
the 20-member cast, a mix of students and community members. Each performer
creates a believable character and blends into the ensemble. Because every
performer does so well, it’s difficult to single anyone out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The story is introduced by the affable narrator
(Michael Paul Hirsch, who also plays the mysterious man).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Soon we meet Cinderella (Sam Mills), who wishes to
go to the festival. Then there’s Little Red Riding Hood (Mai Abe), who buys
bread from the Baker (James Schott) and the Baker’s Wife (Alicia Teeter) before
going into the woods to visit her grandmother.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The not-too-bright Jack (Ryan Liu) has a pet cow,
Milky White (manipulated by Mateo Urquidez), but she gives no milk. Therefore,
his mother (Kama Belloni) wants to sell her.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The baker and his wife want a child, but they learn
from the witch (Caitlin Gjerdrum) that she has put a spell on his house,
rendering him childless because his father made a mess of her garden.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In order to break the spell, they must go into the
woods to find four items in three days. In their quest, they encounter the
other fairy tale characters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This show features Sondheim’s memorable music as
well as his fast-paced, witty lyrics. For example, Jack’s mother sings that
Milky White’s “withers wither with her,” and the witch names all the
vegetables, such as rutabaga and arugula, that the baker’s father ruined.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In addition to Carey’s direction and the talented cast,
this production benefits from Yusuke Soi’s set design, which easily flows from
one setting to the next despite the small stage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Also noteworthy are the costumes by Sharon Peng,
choreography by Kayvon Kordestani, sound by Andy Heller and lighting by Pamila
Gray. Music director Michael Horsley leads the nine-member orchestra, seated
upstage, from the keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite its fairy tale themes and because of the
events of the second act, this show isn’t suitable for youngsters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about two hours and 40 minutes with an
intermission, “Into the Woods” will continue through March 19 in the Lohman
Theatre at Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. For tickets
and information, call (650) 949-7360 or visit www.foothill.edu/theatre. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-73124877608170991512023-02-02T12:51:00.001-08:002023-02-02T12:51:35.880-08:00Jewish history, traditions explored in 'In Every Generation'<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyl4epzDH9PfsKq0r5OBXNysg_tXHq9qcx4zHQOvyFVR83Xa0CGOsnM2YuK4Ed8WtrTxSu8xdQsubGEzPuJxyuvoYXR1VKG3wT_Rqb11iIW9vLkRH4xNPdg0K4jzINq1Fa-5gAI0JV9pE_ljn2dd1pL0liEfRMwGu3N5zx2kbH5YiUDRj-QQRKORGpg/s2450/TW_InEveryGeneration_KevinBerne1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2450" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJyl4epzDH9PfsKq0r5OBXNysg_tXHq9qcx4zHQOvyFVR83Xa0CGOsnM2YuK4Ed8WtrTxSu8xdQsubGEzPuJxyuvoYXR1VKG3wT_Rqb11iIW9vLkRH4xNPdg0K4jzINq1Fa-5gAI0JV9pE_ljn2dd1pL0liEfRMwGu3N5zx2kbH5YiUDRj-QQRKORGpg/w640-h426/TW_InEveryGeneration_KevinBerne1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three generations celebrate Passover in 2019. <i>(Kevin Berne photo)</i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What does it mean to be Jewish and how have Jews
managed to survive and maintain their traditions?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the 2022 “In Every Generation,” presented by
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, playwright Ali Viterbi explores these questions
and others over the years of a multi-generational family’s Passover dinners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before the show opens, significant events in Jewish
history, going back to 1416 BCE, are displayed as supertitles on the proscenium.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It then starts in 2019 in Los Angeles as Valeria
Levi (Cindy Goldfield) hosts a Seder in her modern apartment for her parents,
Paola (Luisa Sermol) and Davide <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Levi
(Michael Champlin), and daughters, Yael Levi-Katz (Olivia Nicole Hoffman) and
Devorah Levi-Katz (Sarah Lo).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paola and Davide, who uses a wheelchair because of
ALS, are Italian immigrants. Devorah is Chinese and adopted. Family dynamics
are evident as rituals are observed and traditional foods eaten.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Action then goes back to 1954, when Paola and Davide
are Italian newlyweds who have escaped the Holocaust and have moved to a modest
apartment in Los Angeles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It then fast-forwards to 2050. Devorah, now a gay
rabbi, and Yael, a doctor, are celebrating with their mother, Valeria.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like her father in the first scene, she uses a
wheelchair and can’t speak, but modern technology enables her to project her
thoughts onto a tablet. Therefore, when her daughters squabble, she implores
them to stop.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By this time, anti-Semitic events throughout the
country have left the family super-cautious. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The setting segues to the Exodus in the Sinai Desert
in 1416 BCE. The five family members express hopes of “next year in Jerusalem”
after the Jews’ ordeal in Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Director Michael Barakiva has assembled an
outstanding ensemble cast with each of the five actors creating believable
characters at different ages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nina Ball’s set, with lighting by Kurt Landisman,
defines changing times and circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Costumes are by Suzanne Chesney with sound by
Sharath Patel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about two hours with an intermission, this
interesting, informative play will continue through Feb. 12 at the Mountain
View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (877) 662-8978 or
visit <a href="http://www.theatreworks.org/">www.theatreworks.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-77061845126759894122023-01-31T17:55:00.001-08:002023-01-31T20:45:45.266-08:00Motives examined in 'Assassinations' at Hillbarn<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQRNOrfZ0xXZ-h5HAbRuo6GG6s71ftMoXuWOACZ-5x0kLPajFB7183uuw8vsstp8AzT39cr2oeTe8x1rjqFLkBNxQfgyMivG8QpvDmvlmE6xq3kJ-_ztkLc-rRFxPumrnwA6Lyu4d3zGZVcSo2a4r-KkI_7CWQDT4r2I5Wkk3SpzgElY3p9YWdnUJuw/s799/assassins.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQRNOrfZ0xXZ-h5HAbRuo6GG6s71ftMoXuWOACZ-5x0kLPajFB7183uuw8vsstp8AzT39cr2oeTe8x1rjqFLkBNxQfgyMivG8QpvDmvlmE6xq3kJ-_ztkLc-rRFxPumrnwA6Lyu4d3zGZVcSo2a4r-KkI_7CWQDT4r2I5Wkk3SpzgElY3p9YWdnUJuw/w640-h426/assassins.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sara Jane Moore (Hayley Lovgren, left) and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme (Brigitte Losey) share a joint. (Photo by Tracy Martin)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Although “Assassins,” with its music and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman, seems like an unlikely topic for a
musical, this 1991 creation examines motives leading to assassinations and
attempted assassinations of presidents and relates them to current events.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Presented by Hillbarn Theatre and Conservatory, it
features 17 actors in lead and supporting roles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The emcee, called the Balladeer or Proprietor (Keith
Pinto), introduces the assassins. The first is 27-year-old actor John Wilkes
Booth (Andre Amarotico), who killed Abraham Lincoln in 1865. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Others include Charles Guiteau (Ted Zoldan), 40. who
killed James Garfield in 1881; Leon Czolgosz (Benjamin Ball), 28, who killed William
McKinley in 1901; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Giuseppe Zangara
(Jesse Cortez), 33, who tried to kill President-elect Franklin Roosevelt in
1933.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lee Harvey Oswald (Julio Chavez), 24, killed John F.
Kennedy in 1963. Samuel Byck (Andrew Cope), 44, planned to kill Richard Nixon
by crashing a hijacked plane into the White House in 1974 but was killed during
the hijack attempt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Two women, Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme (Brigitte
Losey), 27, and Sara Jane Moore (Hayley Lovgren), 45, separately tried to kill
Gerald Ford in 1975. Also unsuccessful was John Hinckley (Nick Kenrick), 26,
who tried to kill Ronald Reagan in 1981.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All nine of these people had traits in common,
according to Joshua Marx in his director’s notes. They felt different, inferior
and destined. They wanted recognition, and they felt that they were justified
“to use violence to realize your American right to be happy,” Marx wrote. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In short, they were mentally unbalanced.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sondheim and Weidman have several characters
interacting over the years. Booth, for example, urges some to act on their
impulses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In “Unworthy of Your Love,” Fromme sings of her love
for mass murderer Charles Manson, and Hinckley says he wants to impress actor
Jody Foster with his love.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Gun Song” talks about how easy it is to shoot a
gun. Guns are a crucial prop in the show, but the program says that all of them
“are replicas that were procured from, checked and rendered inoperable by a
weapons specialist.” They’re locked up between performances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps the most telling and timely song is
“Something Just Broke,” sung by the ensemble. This follows the scene when
Oswald shot Kennedy and says that things won’t be the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In his director’s notes, Marx alludes to events that
have taken place since “Assassins” was written. They include Jan. 6 and mass
shootings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">All of the songs showcase Sondheim’s musical and
lyrical genius, and all of them are performed well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The actors are uniformly excellent singers and
performers. Some, including Pinto, also dance well (choreography by assistant
director Leslie Waggoner).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The multi-level set, with its collection of old TVs,
radios and other items, is by scenic and props designer Christopher Fitzer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sound is by Jules Indelicato, lighting by John
Bernard and costumes, wigs and makeup by Y. Sharon Peng. Jad Bernardo is the
music director.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Assassins” is thought-provoking, absorbing and
entertaining for mature audiences. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about 105 minutes with no intermission,
“Assassins” will continue through Feb. 12 at Hillbarn Theatre, 1285 E.
Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (650) 349-6411 or
visit <a href="http://www.hillbarntheatre.org/">www.hillbarntheatre.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-27399726574672528612023-01-26T14:43:00.002-08:002023-01-26T14:43:47.446-08:00Laughter abounds in 'The Play That Goes Wrong'<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT68dpkgYQtnX3dU6y1jcNBoTb4BbrNVAEFC0eEqIufFmtXFNpa-YD6RdiaKQ9Eqq3TAMcdI6v-rmPc-OAhThlLTh87eMmJghUMvPdz3dGlc19NK53GZrFSFe5GTtNfyo8SWBPaGQvM4LJbg4-j0Vh4N1PaoxkraNfCzHxnhYqObtp_GaRQ8RU4csiA/s5810/play%20goes%20wrong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3873" data-original-width="5810" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT68dpkgYQtnX3dU6y1jcNBoTb4BbrNVAEFC0eEqIufFmtXFNpa-YD6RdiaKQ9Eqq3TAMcdI6v-rmPc-OAhThlLTh87eMmJghUMvPdz3dGlc19NK53GZrFSFe5GTtNfyo8SWBPaGQvM4LJbg4-j0Vh4N1PaoxkraNfCzHxnhYqObtp_GaRQ8RU4csiA/w640-h426/play%20goes%20wrong.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guests at Haversham Manor drink a toast to their departed host. <i>(Photo by Scott Lasky)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It takes great skill and talent to stage a play
that’s supposed to be as glitch-ridden as “The Play That Goes Wrong” by Henry
Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luckily, Palo Alto Players’ cast and crew have an
abundance of both in this 2012 play within a play. Six of the eight actors are
double-cast, playing roles in the inner <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>play, “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” which is
supposedly presented by an English company, the Cornley Drama Society.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Its convoluted plot involves the murder of Charles
Haversham (Drew Benjamin Jones on opening night, alternating with Christopher
Mahle), the night of the party celebrating his engagement to Sandra (Michelle
Skinner).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The suspects are everyone there that evening,
including his brother, Cecil (Braden Taylor), and the butler, Perkins (Brandon
Silberstein). Inspector Carter (Brad Satterwhite) is looking into the case as
complications arise.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Along the way, everything that could possibly go
wrong does. The Cornley actor playing Charles can’t get comfortable on the
chaise. Decorative items fall off the wall. A stretcher tears apart. Even the
upstairs library collapses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sandra disappears, forcing Annie (Jen Maggio,
alternating with Damaris Divito), a reluctant, then preening stage hand to fill
in for her. Cornley actors flub their lines. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The action evolves into hilarious farce, leaving the
plot somewhat irrelevant and requiring the actors to be ever more acrobatic and
agile. Small wonder some strenuous roles are double-cast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Director Katie O’Bryon Champlin guides the cast
through all this mayhem with spot-on timing. Great credit goes to scenic
designers Patrick Klein and Kevin Davies for building a set fraught with danger
while keeping the actors safe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The fight and fall consultant is Dexter Fidler.
Costumes are by Jenny Garcia, lighting by Carsten Koester and sound by Jeff
Grafton. Others were crucial in <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>creating
this show.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Plot is secondary to the visual and aural delights
in this hilarious play with its talented cast and crew.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Running about two hours with an intermission, “The
Play That Goes Wrong” will continue through Feb. 5 at the Lucie Theater, 1305
Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For tickets and information, call (650) 329-0891 or
visit <a href="http://www.paplayers.org/">www.paplayers.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-66246029613882173772022-12-08T17:39:00.003-08:002022-12-08T17:39:51.742-08:00<p> <img height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/tnBh1nQ3ZGn2OYXaqCXfrH942IOmEd4Imu37xxOGfnZu78sWf4wQ_Ng26KpAKAqpHeyTUfc3eQHLR5YyTPgKg1CvZIlztLwdl6SYHcfTefIAyefsyFTCEuBpYmV--RDxBRkMfhdeDlQKkWcaOVBgOVSOQXhhN7VKg5IZLycN36a_IGTW2VasAw5Bmt3m5w" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="600" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f4ead00b-7fff-8daf-9721-1125e711492b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buddy (Dave J. Abrams in green) dances in Santa’s workshop. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Mark and Tracy Photography)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hard hearts melt in ‘Elf the Musical’ at Hillbarn</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kicking off the holiday season, Hillbarn Theatre & Conservatory is staging “Elf the Musical,” an adaptation of the popular film.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s the story of Buddy (Dave J. Abrams) who was an infant in an orphanage when he crawled into Santa’s toy bag. Santa (Russ Bohard) didn’t realize he was there until he returned to the North Pole. He and Mrs. Claus (Lisa Appleyard) decided to raise him as one of their elves.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Buddy became an adult, he learned that he was human, not an elf. Not only that, his father, Walter (Brandon Savage), lived in New York City and worked in the Empire State Building.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite knowing nothing about New York, Buddy found his way there, showed up at Walter’s office and insisted he was Walter’s son. Walter thought he was crazy and had him tossed out.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over time, though, the hard-hearted Walter not only acknowledged that Buddy was his son but became imbued with the true Christmas spirit.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the meantime, Buddy had won over Walter’s wife, Emily (Jessica Coker), and his 12-year-old son, Michael (Josh Parecki ). He also had fallen in love with the skeptical Jovie (Allison J. Parker), who worked in a department store.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hillbarn artistic director Randy O’Hara directs the energetic diverse cast, eliciting fine performances from all the principals except Abrams as Buddy. He’s too loud and childish, eagerly embracing everyone he meets.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the other hand, he’s a terrific dancer in the many scenes that feature Jeanne Batacan-Harper’s choreography.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Among the standouts in this fine cast are Savage as Walter, Jessica Coker as his wife and Parecki as his son. Also noteworthy are Bohard as Santa and Nadiyah Hollis as Walter’s boss and other characters. Other actors also play multiple roles.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The show features bouncy music by Matthew Sklar with lyrics by Chad Beguelin and a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joe Murphy serves as musical director. The flexible set is by Matt Owens with lighting by Pamila Gary and over-miked sound by Sheraj Ragoobeer. The colorful, imaginative costumes are by Pam Lampkin.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Running just over two and a half hours with an intermission and suitable for all ages, “Elf” will continue through Dec. 18 at Hillbarn’s venue, 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City. For tickets and information, call (650) 349-6411 or visit www.hillbarntheatre.org.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8502013677531573580.post-52782090510220643912022-12-08T17:38:00.035-08:002022-12-14T02:32:05.869-08:00TheatreWorks moves 'Little Shop of Horrors’ to Chinatown <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 415px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="415" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/05cVC9rQ7P6o5AkjQKzjYN2CCo1_tpKKVLezjo-KqzB30UNy5Vu_L7sYWap0ueP0SkfIb9III2KjYwuPtVDLW3gRzT1PExTsLzvREtmAESg2ZJqAHSRPxDtoqfbcxluGYu5L2xdu0n8LGBgDy-BWZh4hj11ZRWWc-s0-sHYzdjsdhfijEXxjhFuV_jhaeg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Seymour (Phil Wong) contends with Audry II. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(Kevin Berne photo)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Director Jeffrey Lo moves TheatreWorks
Silicon Valley’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors” from New York City’s
skid row to an alley in San Francisco’s Chinatown. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">The change in venue doesn’t make much
difference except for Christopher Fitzer’s set and a mostly Asian American
cast.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Otherwise Alan Menken’s music and Howard
Ashman’s book and lyrics are still entertaining. They tell the story of Seymour
(Phil Wong), a nerdy employee of a rundown flower shop and his strange and
interesting plant that changes life for everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The other employee in the flower shop
owned by Mr. Mushkin (Lawrence-Michael C. Arias) is Audrey (Sumi Yu ), whom
Seymour secretly loves so much that he names the plant Audrey II. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">However, she already has a boyfriend,
Orin (Nick Nakashima), a sadistic, abusive dentist who rides a motorcycle and
is addicted to nitrous oxide, or laughing gas.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Serving as a kind of Greek chorus is a
trio of Black women: Naima Alakham as Crystal, dance captain Alia Hodge as
Chiffon and Lucca Troutman as Ronette.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Although the plant leads to improved
business and fame for Seymour, it’s decidedly fickle. As it droops, Seymour
implores it “Grow for Me.” He then discovers that human blood makes it grow –
and grow. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Thus, it claims human victims leading up
to the tragic ending.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The three Black women provide highlights
in songs like the title number, “Da-Doo” and “Dentist!” sung with Orin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Audrey, who has low self–esteem, sings
the plaintive “Somewhere That’s Green” to describe her ideal suburban home in a place like
Levittown, the name given to several low cost, cookie cutter suburbs in places
like Pennsylvania, New York and elsewhere. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">After she and Seymour finally get
together, he tells her he wants to take her to a fancy restaurant like Howard
Johnson’s.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Brandon Leland plays a derelict before
becoming the manipulator of Audrey II. Katrina Lauren McGraw supplies her voice
and her demand, “Feed Me (Git It).”</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As directed by Lo, the show features
noteworthy acting by the entire cast. It also has lively choreography by
William Thomas Hodgson to go with sound by Jeff Mockus and lighting by Wen-Ling
Liao. Fumiko Bielefeldt designed the character-specific costumes.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Although “Little Shop of Horrors” is
unconventional holiday fare, it’s nevertheless entertaining.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Running about two hours, it now continues
through Dec. 31 at the Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto.
Tickets and information are available by visiting </span><a href="http://www.theatreworks.org/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">www.theatreworks.org</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> or calling (877)
662-8978.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;">
</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-89ea5f1f-7fff-2695-a197-6dfcb183269b"><br /></span></p>Judy Richterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822790799298247786noreply@blogger.com