|
Regional Reviews: San Francisco First Day of School, A Midsummer Night's Dream,a
A group of dedicated parents decide to make their children's first day of school a first of their own. Married couple Susan (Zehra Berkman) and David (Bill English) meet in the hallway to evaluate their kids' new teachers. They decide to proposition other parents for sexual fun and games at their house while the kids are in school. Bill Aronson has written three equal scenarios as David and Susan matter of factly approach each naive parent. Susan asks a very shy Peter (Jackson Davis), who becomes hysterical and gives a superb monologue about hidden wishes and matrimonial fears. David approaches beautiful and stunning blonde Kim (Mario Pizzo), who is somewhat a demanding and self-centered person. However, she finally accepts the offer. Then he asks Alice (Stacy Ross), who is very paroxysmal when asked. Finally, they all meet in Susan and David's living room. From there on, you have to see the shenanigans for yourself. First Day of School ends four years later, and one can see the problems the group is having. The climax is sweetened as two smart teenagers (Torie Laher and Myles Landberg) come stumbling into the house with the group upstairs. Jackson David is wonderful as the ill-at-ease and neurotic Peter. His rapid speech is hilarious. Stacy Ross is perfect as the aloof Alice who shows her needy susceptibility when it comes to sex. Marcia Pizzo is charismatic as righteous PTA activist Kim. Zehra Berkman gives a good performance as Susan, while Bill English handles his performance with self-confidence. Torie Laher and Myles Landberg are charming as the teenagers in the last scene. Bill English also designed a marvelous detailed set for Susan and David's living room. Chris Smith's direction is sharp and smooth. His cast has excellent timing in the seductions and absurd small talk. First Day of School plays through November 7 at the SF Playhouse, 533 Sutter Street, San Francisco. For tickets please call 415-677-9596 or www.sfplayhouse.org. Photo: Rebecca Martinez
I am not sure how many Midsummer Night's Dreams I have seen over the years. I recall the classic Max Reinhardt version with Mendelssohn's music years ago, a Royal Shakespeare version that took place in the deep American South with an opening party scene straight out of Gone with the Wind, and a very fey version last year at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Modern interpretations of this comic masterpiece can be hit or miss, but this production fits the hit category. It is a real hep version of the very dreamlike comedy, performed by wonderful actors for two hours and thirty minutes on an outdoor stage. I felt an emotional interest in the characters, especially the crazy mixed up antics of Lysander (Avery Monsen), Demetrius (Richard Thieriot), Helena (Lindsey Gates) and Hermia (Erin Weaver). The scenes of the amateur players led by Bottom (Danny Scheie) are crowd pleasing. Keith Randolph Smith gives strong performances as both Oberon and Theseus, and Pegge Johnson gives devilish performances as both Titania and Hippolyta in stunning modern gowns by Olivera Gajic. Doug Hara is one of the most acrobatic Pucks I have ever seen. He is captivating, with his sharp Shakespearian voice, slight of hand tricks, and singing in iambic pentameter. Sometimes he is before you and sometimes high above the stage next to the gigantic wooden moon. Avery Monsen, with a wonderful silver tongue, is one of the best Lysanders I have seen in recent years. He is a very cool cat with a ukulele in hand. Erin Weaver charmingly portrays Hermia while Lindsey Gates makes a wonderful feisty rebel as Helena. Richard Thieriot gives a stylish performance as Demetrius. This is one of the most physical groups of players I have seen in a long time. The play's amateur players, that you would not even see in a community theatre production, are uproarious with egocentric Danny Scheie playing the lead actor in the play within a play, The Tragedy of Pyramus and Thisbe. He sings snippets of Broadway songs in several scenes. The tone of his voice when he mincingly says the word "ladies" is hilarious. As Pyramus, he is completely and hilariously over the top in ham acting. Peggy Gallagher is a real hoot doing the whole thing with a Scottish accent straight out of Brigadoon. Joan Mankin, who plays the Lion, has a roar that MGM would be proud to use. Lance Gardner gives a delightful performance, especially when playing Thisbe. Dan Hiatt warbles a wild west ditty playing the wall. Director Aaron Posner has opted to use little red hand-held lights to represent the fairies in this production. It is an ingenious plan and it works. Erika Chong Shuch's choreography is very naturalistic and athletic, especially the four romantic couples' scamper about the stage in their last scene. Scenic designer Andres Pluess features a gigantic set with a large wooden moon at the top. Lighting of the real trees by Peter West on the outdoor stage in the second act is awesome. A Midsummer Night's Dream closed on October 11th and plays in Red Bank, New Jersey for a four-week run. For those in the New York area it is worth a trip to this town to see this most innovative production. Photo: Kevin Berne
42nd Street Moon is reviving one of Irving Berlin's rarely performed works, Call Me Madam, at the Eureka Theatre. Thanks to the wonderful Klea Blackhurst as Mrs. Sally Adams, this is a vibrant production with some of Irving Berlin's most hummable songs. I first saw this musical during the winter of 1950 at the Imperial Theatre with the legendary Ethel Merman as Sally Adams and Paul Lukas as Cosmo. A young Tommy Rall was the principal dancer. Later I saw Elaine Stritch take over the role of the "hostess with the mostes'." The last time I saw the production was at the UCLA Freud Playhouse in 2000 with Karen Morrow as the ambassador to Lichtenburg and Michael Nouri portraying the handsome politician Cosmo. Dyan McBride has assembled a great cast of singers and dancers to perform 13 Irving Berlin songs. Jayne Zaban has devised lively choreography for the small stage. The Howard Lindsay/ Russell Crouse book revolves around Sally Adams (Klea Blackhurst), a flamboyant Washington hostess during the Harry Truman administration. This impetuous and beguiling woman is sent to the small mystical kingdom of Lichtenburg as a good will ambassador with a handful of money to give to the large duchy. She is accompanied by her intense political-minded assistant Kenneth (Charlie Levy), who falls in love with Princess Maria (Giana DeGeiso). All's well that ends well in this charming musical. Klea Blackhurst is the terrific pro you would expect, and she belts out "The Hostess with The Mostes' On the Ball," "Can You Use Any Money Today?" and "Something to Dance About." She sings along with Charlie Levy with great panache, "You're Just In Love." Rob Hatzenbeller is charming as Cosmo Constantine and has a powerful voice in "Lichtenburg" and "Marrying for Love." Charlie Levy and Giana DeGeiso are enchanting singing "It's A Lovely Day Today." The rest of the cast—Peter Budinger, Gabriel Grilli, Scarlett Hepworth, John-Elliott Kirk, DC Scarpelli, Lillian Asker, Sarah Kathleen Farrell, Benjamin Kroll and Allison Rich—are excellent in various roles ranging from Washington senators to citizens of the Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg. I tip my hat to choreographer Jane Zaban for doing good work on such a small stage with the energetic dancers in the numbers "The Ocarina" and "Washington Square Dance." Brava to Dyan McBride for instilling commendable pace, charm and humor to the proceedings. David Dobrusky on piano and Nick DiScala on sax provide great back-up for the singers and dancers. Call Me Madam plays through October 18th at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco. For tickets, call 415-255-8207 or visit www.42ndstmoon.org. Their next production will be Harold Rome's Destry Rides Again.
San Francisco's favorite dance company opens its 2009-2010 season with the return of Fly Me To the Moon, a rollicking Sinatra tribute. Also on the program are Michael Smuin's dramatic ballet <>Medea and the world premiere of Amy Seiwert's Soon These Two Worlds. The eclectic program opens with Seiwert's latest world premiere, Soon These Two Worlds, which uses Kronos Quartet's "Pieces of Africa" with its crazy, beautiful complex rhythms against a string quartet. The full company does exciting dances to four movements of the chamber piece. Erin Yarbrough-Stewart and Aaron Thayer are sublime in the "Tilliboyo" segment of the ballet. Sometimes this presentation reminded me of Martha Graham's ballets, with the weaving of hands and the magic of bodies in pairings and trios and quartets celebrating the joy of living. Michael Smuin's 1977 Medea is a sensational dramatic ballet based on the ancient Greek myth. This is a fast-paced melodrama of marital infidelity and revenge that provides the dancers with roles demanding great forcefulness of stage presence. Robin Cornwell is a commanding Medea. Mathew Linzer has strong dance moves as Jason. Terez Dean is alluring and impulsive as Princess Creusa. Ryan Camou and John Speed Orr are excellent in their interpretations of the Medea's sons. Music by Samuel Barber is exciting. Michael Smuin's Fly Me to the Moon is full of pizzazz with dances choreographed to Frank Sinatra hits. The couples wear matching sherbet-tone costumes and dapper hats. Shanon Hurlbert dances with dynamism and energy in "That's Life." Robin Cornwall is vigorous dancing "I Won't Dance" to her "non-dancing" partner played by Matthew Linzer. John Speed Orr literally flies around the stage in "Fly Me to the Moon." The last number, danced to "New York, New York," is reminiscent of A Chorus Line. Smuin Ballet's Fly Me to the Moon performed at the Palace of Fine Arts through October 10. The same program will be held in Walnut Creek, Mountain View, Cupertino and Carmel during the first three months of 2010. For more information on the dates of the program go to www.smuinballet.org. The company will also present their annual Christmas Ballet at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Howard Street, San Francisco from December 16 through December 27th.
|
