All That Chat - My Top Ten Regional Productions of 2013--Dramas and Comedies--Plus Honorable Mention of Other Regional Productions

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My Top Ten Regional Productions of 2013--Dramas and Comedies--Plus Honorable Mention of Other Regional Productions

Posted by:	Richard Connema 08:23 pm EST 12/30/13

Yesterday we saw our 139 production and that concluded our year of theatre going. Here are my top ten regional non-musical bests dramas and comedies plus honorable mention to other fine productions that we saw this year. These do not include such touring productions of such as No Man's Land since that was a pre-Broadway run. (They were listed on the prior touring productions of SHN and ACT category) NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER . WAITING FOR GODOT---MARIN THEATRE---a superb revival with a brilliant cast directed by Jasson Minadakis. THE MOUNTAINTOP—THEATRE WORKS---a beautiful production of the last days of Martin Luther King. Acting and direction first rate. THE ARONIST---AURORA THEATRE---Mark Jackson’s direction and great acting made this a top production of the year. It was a chilling metaphor about the dancers of a philosophy of denial. REASON TO BE PRETTY—SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE---This was a dazzling production with a superb cast of actors. This was a piercing interpretation on friendship and romance and sexual arrogances and body-images issue. THE WHIPPING MAN---MARIN THEATRE---an electrifying production of Kimberly Senior’s drama. It was evocative, emotional and remarkably a powerful play All gave outstanding performances especially L Peter Callender, Tobie Windham and Nicholas Pelczar. ABIGAIL’S PARTY---SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE—This was a brilliant production of Mike Leigh London hit. This had one of the most dazzling cast of a two hour fast production of a party. Susi Damilano was superb as the hostess. . The brilliant “Mother F##with the Hat” at San Francisco Playhouse with one of the best ensembles of the year. ROMEO AND JULIET---Cal Shakes---I thought before going to Cal Shakes “another production of “R & J” but it was pleasantly surprise a brilliant production with a great cast. It’s a great streamlined, no hold bared version of Shakespeare’s classic. SAM SHEPARD’S “BURIED CHILD” was a mesmerizing production about probably one of the most dysfunctional families on the American stage. THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE---This was stunning production at Berkeley Repertory Company. It was as highly emotional story of Mona Golabek Jewish’s mother who live in Vienna when the Nazi occupied the city. HONERABLE MENTION There were many other good productions this year as “Something Cloudy, Sometime Clear”a little known Tennessee Williams drama presented by Theatre Rhinocerous, A great production of “Little Foxes” by the Tides Company . The impressive production of Octavio Solis’s “Se Llama Chistina” at the Magic. This was Sam Shepard meets Eugen Ioneso. It was raw and real. The brilliant “Mother F##with the Hat” at San Francisco Playhouse with one of the best ensembles of the year. New Conservatory Theatre Center did a splendid Berkeley Rep presented the powerful “Fallaci and Shotgun Players did the second part of Tom Stoppard’s The Coast of Utopia Voyage and Shipwreck. A sterling production. Word for Word did a intense production of life in the military in You Know Where the Men Are Gone DEAR HARVEY---NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER—This was an 85 minute absorbing production on the first openly gay public official in Calfornina Shotgun Players did a compelling production of “Bonnie & Clyde” with two excellent actors does a terrific job of portraying these famous outlaws. Center Repertory of Walnut Creek did a powerful production of Old Wicked Songs with two brilliant actors. Dan Haitt and Patrick Russell Marin Shakespeare Company an enthralling production of the little known Elizabethan tragedy The Spanish Tragedy with a superb cast of actors. The great small company did a wonderful production of “Tennessee Williams’s Sweet Bird of Youth with a splendid cast. Desert Cities a smart and entertaining production by TheatreWorks with a great cast of actors that could have played off Broadway. Good People Marin Theatre did an enthralling production of the play by David Lindsey-Abaire. It featured a great cast of actors. Berkeley Rep scored a coup by presenting Christopher Durang’s Tony Winning Farce Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike soon after it closed on Broadway with a terrific cast. It was marveloous fast pace comedy San Francisco Playhouse did an excellent version of Rakiv Joseph Bengal Tiger and the Baghdad Zoo This was a clever and ferociously comedy with a terrific cast . American Conservatory Theatre did an exquisite production of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia with a great cast It was an exhilarating production of directed by Carey Perloff. New Conservatory Theatre Center did a top notch production of Arc Acito’s Birds of a Feather played by a radiant cast. Custom Made did an inventive production of Craig Lucas Prelude to a Kiss which was charming . The cast gave excellent performances. Berkeley Rep did a stunning production of Sarah Ruhl’s Dear Elizabeth with two fine actors portraying the poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell. Marin Theatre did an remarkable production of Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane with a great cast headed by Beth Wilmurt, Rod Gnapp and Joy Carlin. California Shakespeare went all out to present an uproarious production of American Night:The Ballad of Juan Jose This was the second time I had seen this zany production, the first being at the OSF in 2010. It was a great romp with the comedy styling of a Monte Python film Theatre Rhinoceros presented a thought provoking production of Caryl Churchill’s Drunk Enough to Say I love You? with two excellent actors portraying Sam and Jack who represent the American and British government in this modern American political play. Aurora Theatre presented an engrossing production of Neil LeBute’s This is How It Goes. It was shocking and it induced to the audience tremendous agitation and some of the members got very provoked at the language. Edward Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness I save the last since I saw it yesterday. A wonderful production with a brilliant cast of a actors. It is full of Pirandelian flourishes. It currently plays at Ashby Stage in Berkeley and is presented by the Shotgun Players.

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