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MY TOP TWENTY DRAMAS/COMEDIES & TOP TWENTY REGIONAL MUSICALS OF 2014

Posted by:	Richard Connema 02:21 pm EST 12/26/14

This year I reviewed 140 productions and here are my top 20 regional dramas/comedies and top 20 regional musicals in order of their appearance here in the Bay Area MY TOP TWENETY DRAMA/COMEDIES OF 2014 CLYBOURNE PARK---CENTER REP COMPANY OF WALNUT CREEK---this Edward Norris Tony winning controversial drama got a razor sharp production with a brilliant cast. I have to say it much better than the production at the American Conservatory Theatre. GIDION’S KNOT---AURORA THEATRE—Stacy Ross and Jamie Jones made this an intense production who held the audience spellbound for 75 minutes. THE SPEAKEASY---BOXCAR PRODUCTIONS—This was the event of the year which three innovated productions in three room of a speakeasy of the 20’s. 39 actors participated in this event. BAUER---SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE---San Francisco Playhouse presented the world premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s superb new drama. It had a terrific cast and was beautifully presented. SHIPWRECK---SHOTGUN PLAYERS---The second of Tom Stopprd’s “Coast of Utopia”. This was the certainly the most theatrical evening so far. An excellent acting assembles. THE WHIPPING MAN---MARIN THEATRE---an electrifying production of Kimberly Seniors’’s great play It was evocative, emotional and remarkably powerful play with three superb actors playing master and slaves no longer bonded. HABIT OF ART---THEATRE RHINOCEROS-----This was a wonderful and sometimes naughtily humorous play that was also genuinely and unexpectedly moving. EVERY FIVE MINUTES---MAGIC THEATRE---a mesmerizing drama that exams the human anguish and power of restoration in the most perplexing and theatrical way. SLEUTH---CENTER REPERTORY OF WALNUT CREEK---This was just as good as the original play I saw in New York thanks to two brilliant actors Kit Wilder and Thomas Gorrebeeck. THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL GUIDE TO CAMPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES---BERKELEY REP----This long titled play by Tony Kushner had a magnificent cast and the wide ranging themes in the three hour and forty five minute dram was flawlessly incorporated with class struggles, integrated politics, religion, homosexuality and family dynamics. All the performances were ferocious and engrossing. FAILURE: A LOVE STORY---MARIN THEATRE COMPANY—An ingenious production and this enchanting play would about love and loss and the actors played multiple characters. All gave great performances . AMERICAN BUFFALO---This was wonderful volatile production of David Mamet’s play with three superb actors. AS YOU LIKE IT---MARIN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY---This was a charismatic production in the classical style of the Bard’s play. Director Robert Currier pulled out all stops in this almost three hour production with a great cast. DRACULA INQUEST---CENTRAL WORKS---This world premiere play by Gary Graves was a completely different and intelligent version of the legend. He brought this production to vivid life as, in 1895 Scotland Yard where four inmates of an asylum are interrogated by a Scotland Yard detective on who was Dracula. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF---TIDES THEATRE---I had seen this Tennessee Williams play many times in the past including the original at the Morosco Theatre in 1955. This was one of the best production by this innovated company. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT DREAM---CAL SHAKES---One of the most innovated productions of the year and this large cast of Bay Area favorites knocked this production right of the park. Every one in the cast was fantastic. This was the first time that I had seen a woman play Puck and Margo Hall was dazzling in the role. SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE—Custom Made---This small company produced a vividly play with a multitude of characters to inhabit the story. Director Brian Katz put these fine actors through their paces in this 90 minute production. DIE, MOMMIE, DIE---NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE CENTER---This was probably one the best comedies this year. When I saw it I could not help thinking of those late carreer films of Joan Crawford or Bette Davis or those little known actresses that plays in this film. It was high camp especially J. Conrad Frank. PETER AND THE STARCATCHER---THEATRE WORKS—This was better than the road company I saw last year. It was full of youthful energy and a hell of a lot more fun than the road company. Wonderful cast. It was full of sidesplitting banter, one-liners and some vaudeville songs thrown in . A CHRISTMAS CAROL---CENTER REP OF WALNUT CREEK---A stunning production of this annual favorite. The company outdid themselves with 39 actors, digital picture of Jacob Marley on Scrooges’ front door, a quartet of carolers to move the show, a white dress that shines and is covered with white lights , chain-clacking ghosts, a tall back figure with skeleton hands, plus an array of sparking apparitions. SPECIAL ENCORE PRESENTATION TO IDEATION—SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE —The psychological thriller got a new look this year. It had one of the great casts of the year. It was on my top ten last year with the same cast. MY TOP TEN REGIONAL MUSICALS ROAD SHOW---Theatre Rhinoceros ---I saw happy someone finally did this Sondheim musical and John Fisher did a stunning production of the little known musical. Outstanding cast of singers and actors in this fast paced one hour and forty minute musical. ONCE ON THIS ISLAND—THEATRE WORKS---I have to admit that when I first saw the touring production of this Stephen Flaherty musical I was not impressed. However TheatreWorks did stunning poignant show with a wonderful and energy driven cast of singers and dancers directed dazzlingly by Robert Kelley. TINSEL TARS IN A HOT COMA---THRILLPEDDLERS—This was a lively camp musical that reminded me of a 70’s musical Pure camp all the way BEING EARNEST---THEATREWORKS---a new musical by Paul Gordon that had a certain Burt Backerack beat to the melodies while others sound like a Beatles song. This was effervescence musical STUCK ELEVATOR---AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER---This was a visionary musical based on a true event. The diverse score shifted smoothly from unfussy operatic arias to gentle songs to a tango and bragging rap. SHOW ME YOURS—NEW MUSICAL THEATRE OF SAN FRANCISCO—a great revue by the Pen and Piano composers with a five member cast that all shined in their individual songs. PAINTING THE CLOUDS WITH SUNSHINE---42nd Street Moon---this was a wonderful tribute to musical films of the great 30’s depression area. It was the “cat’s pajamas” if I wanted to use a 30’s saying for a great musical. It supported a great cast of singers and dancers headed by Ryan Drummond and Allison F. Rich. DU BERRY WAS A LADY—42nd Street Moon---This was hilarious production thanks of Bruce Vilanch and company. Zack Thomas Wilde beautifully directed the musical by Cole Porter. He also devised the chorography from gavottes to a hot tap dance number reminiscent of the Rockettes. THOU SWELL! THOU WITTY!---42nd Street Moon---I really cannot call it a musical but it was more like a revue of Rodgers and Hart songs starring Faith Prince and a host of great 42nd Street Moon singers. All sang their hearts out and it was a very entertaining evening. THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE---CENTER REP OF WALNUT CREEK---The talented ensemble morph into the idiosyncratic spelling-obsessed character. Great production. TRIASSIC PARQ---RAY OF LIGHT—A Fast pace madcap production that satirizes the Jurassic Park theme park ride. Great energy driven young singers and dancers. SHOW BOAT---SAN FRANCISCO OPERA---a magnificent production of Jerome Kern’s masterpiece. This was a glorious and bold recreation of the 1927 version of the show. Great singers. MARRY ME A LITTLE----THEATRE WORKS---This was an appealing and moving musical with two outstanding singes making it a wonderful romantic evening. INTO THE WOODS---SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE---This was an ambitious undertaking and the company did themselves proud by it. The performances were beautifully detailed and the lyrics were mined for every nuance. LIFE COULD BE A DREAM—CENTER REP OF WALNUT CREEK—A great doo-wop musical that was clever and full of life which featured 23 seasonal songs by a talented cast. DO I HEAR A WATLZ?---42nd Street Moon—this was a charming production with Emily Skinner in the lead. It was witty and charming and the score was luscious and memorable especially in the second act. YEAST NATION---RAY OF LIGHT---This was strange production of the composers of “Urinetown”. It did have a large cast of excellent singers. THE BOY FRIEND---42ND STREET MOON---This was a wonderful recreation of the musical spoof of those lightweight, frivolous baubles that filled theatres during the jazz age of the 20’s. It was wonderful. PROMISES, PROMISES---SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE---A bright and bubbly production of Burt Bacharach’s musical. The cast was effectively perfect. SOMETHING FOR THE BOYS---42ND STREET MOON---This was performed with energy, vim and vigor by a talented cast. It brought back memories of the 1943 escapist musical by Cole Porter. Later today or tomorrow my top ten actors & actresses in drama/comedy & musicals plus solo performers and specials events

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