Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: San Francisco

Hedda Gabler, Shocktoberfest!! 2010 and
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum


Off Broadway West Production of Hedda Gabler


Jocelyn Stringer and Adam Simpson
Off Broadway West Theatre Company is presenting Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler through November 13th at the Phoenix Theatre. Stella Adler called Hedda Gabler the greatest heroine of the stage. The character is one of the first fully developed neurotic heroines. Hedda has been called the "female Hamlet" by critics.  I have seen many actresses play this role, including Diana Rigg, Annette Benning, Fiona Shaw and Glenda Jackson.  Oregon Shakespeare Company did a take on the story called The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler several years ago that I found hilarious.

Hedda Gabler was written by Ibsen in 1890 and was one of the first dramas to be called a classic of realism.  There have been many versions of this traditional story. Director Richard Harder decided to use the William Archer adaptation that was the first English translation of the play.   This version is full of complex and complicated sentences using such words as "du" when speaking to a loved one or "de" when speaking with a passing acquaintance or stranger. It becomes a point of contention between the Hedda and her husband when the wife refuses to use the familial "du" with her new in-laws.

Cecilia Palmtag puts a different spin on her characterization of Hedda.  She plays it almost like she might be at home on Wisteria Lane of "Desperate Housewives" (I'm thinking of Bree who is cold hearted and oh so very stiff).  It is an interesting take on the heroine, I will say.  You get some sort of humanity of the woman, especially toward the end of the final act.

Adam Simpson gives an interesting performance as Hedda's husband George. He has a nerdish voice, expansive gestures, and a curve smile, ending most of his sentences with "eh." Peter Abraham gives an unusual performance as Judge Brack. He looks and acts more like a Norwegian mafia czar and somewhat overplays the character's lecherousness. Paul Baird's performance as Eilert Lovberg is compelling and very melodramatic.

Alison Sacha Ross, Maureen L. Williams and Jocelyn Stringer are effective in their respective roles in this two and a half hour drama.  Bert van Aalsburg has designed a conventional set of a Norwegian drawing room on the small three-sided stage. Sylvia Kratins' costumes are handsome 19th century wear.

Hedda Gabler plays through November 13 at the Phoenix Theatre, 414 Mason Street, San Francisco.  For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.OffBroadwayWest.org.

Photo: Barbara Michelson-Harder


Shocktoberfest!! 2010 at The Hypnodrome


Eric Tyson Wertz and Flynn DeMarco
Once again, those crazy people at Thrillpeddlers are doing their thing for this season of ghosts and spirits. The group is presenting three bloody horror shows through November 19 at their intimate theatre on 10th Street.

The Thrillpeddlers Company is one of the few Grand Guignol groups that present these types of plays in this country.  I remember when I used to go to Paris in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and went to Le Theatre du Grand-Guignol horror theatre to get my fill of horror.

Two of the evening's shockers are by New York playwright Rob Keefe. They are aptly titled Lips of the Damned and The Empress of Colma.

Lips of the Damned features a life-size functional guillotine, torture devices, and enigmatic antiques set amid a French museum now closed because of an uncontrollable infestation of starved rats. This is a story of an illicit amorous tryst of two lovers doomed to die that involves a fiendish head cage that was used in the 15th century to silence outspoken women. It was called "a scold's bridle"; when a woman started to talk, a sharp pin would go into her tongue, causing blood to drip from her mouth. The acting headed by James Toczyl and Kara Emry is a good campy style reminiscent of a Victorian melodrama.

A rousing Victorian music hall song is led by Russell Blackwood who has terrific vocal cords;  he is dressed as the "Empress of Colma" Crystal and the song is a highlight of the evening. I wish there were more of this type of entertainment.   Following the song fest is the very talky The Empress of Colma with a bunch of drag queens headed by Birdie-Bob Watt as Sunny, an air-headed blonde who loves using a hot iron to straighten her hair (you can guess what will happen to her), and "butch" drag queen Patty Himst trying to unseat the reining queen Crystal. They have easy access to pharmaceutical drugs with disastrous results.  It is a big bitch-talking fest that goes on much too long ending with all of the queens dead.  Don't ask why.

The main highlight of this evening of terror is the one-act 1929 piece Kiss of Blood, written by Jean Aragny and Francis Neilson; this is really Grand Guignol theatre.  It opens with a brain surgery gone horribly wrong and ends with dismemberment and death.  It's "the real McCoy" with blood everywhere.

The drama is based on M. Joubert (Eric Tyson Wertz), who is bordering on insane and thinks he has a dastardly digit. The weird individual says he is in so much pain that he is contemplating suicide.  He begs the doctor (Flynn DeMarco) to cut off the finger. It sort of reminds me of the film The Hand. Doctor Marcel thinks there is nothing wrong with the finger or the hand. Yes, there is blood all over the place before this 50-minute repulsion fest is over.

The acting in this skit is very good over-the-top melodramatic, especially by Flynn DeMarco and Eric Tyson Wertz.  Vincent Price would be proud of these performers. 

The set of plays are directed by Russell Blackwood who is the chief Thrillpeddler.

Shocktoberfest!! 2010 ends with all of the lights going out and you sit in pitch darkness and watch ghosts and ghouls flying through the air.  This horror fest continues through November 19, running on Thursdays and Fridays. Pearls Over Shanghai continues on Saturdays through December 19. The Hypnodrome Theatre is located at 575 10th Street, San Francisco For tickets call 800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/125107.

Photo: David Wilson


A Wiz Bang Production of A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, with a score by Stephen Sondheim, book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, has been presented in every regional, community and high school company since it originally opened in New York in 1962. 42nd Street Moon director Greg MacKellan, choreographer Tom Segal, actress Megan Cavanagh and the supporting cast should be applauded long and loudly for bringing this fast-paced musical farce all together without a snag, offering up a nearly perfect production. The superb cast gave engaging and energetic performances.

I have seen many wonderful productions of Forum since it first appeared in New York starring the hilarious Zero Mostel as Pseudolus and the wonderful Ruth Kobart playing Domina. I have seen Phil Silvers, Nathan Lane and Whoopi Goldberg play the lead role in this country and the funny Frankie Howerd as Pseudolus in London.  The recent 42nd Street Moon production was my first time to see a regional production of the musical.

Megan Cavanagh (films A League of Their Own, Robin Hood: Men in Tights and many TV appearances) was a female Zero Mostel.  She engaged all of Zero's mannerisms and facial expressions. This talented actress relentlessly drove the action with her frenetic energy, flat-voiced wisecracks and occasional shtick.

I could write a paragraph about nearly every cast member as these eccentric characters kept the audience in stitches throughout the musical travesty. Luke Chapman (Very Warm for May at 42nd Street Moon, Rent at Royal Underground Company) captured the naivety of Hero. He showed melodious vocal chops singing "Love, I Hear,"  "Lovely" and "Pretty Little Picture," and Michael Rhone (Swing at Cabrillo Stage, several shows at Foothill Music Theatre) gave a hysterical performance as the slave Hysterium. He displayed crowd-pleasing vocal cords in the complicated song "I'm Calm" and made a very good drag queen in the second act.

Bob Green (Do Re Mi and Fiorella at 42nd Street Moon, Twentieth Century at TheatreWorks) showed a great flair for shtick comedy playing Senex.  He played the role like a wonderful vaudeville comedian from the 1940s or '50s. His asides reminded me of a cross between Groucho Marx and Bert Lahr. Rudy Guerrero (Lady be Good, High Spirits, Irma La Douce) was a perfect slave owner Lycus.  His great theatrical voice added to the merriment.

Meghan Ihle (national tour of Strega Nona the Musical) was irresistible as the virgin from Crete, Philia. She had a bell clear voice singing "Lovely" and "Pretty Little Picture."  As Miles Gloriosus (Latin for "boastful soldier"), Rob Hatzenbeller's (Wildcat, Call Me Madam) rendition of "Bring Me My Bride" was strong and powerful. Chris Macomber (Roberta, Minnie's Boys ) was marvelous as Senex's dominating wife Domina. She shined with a mellifluous voice singing "That Dirty Old Man" in the second act. Then there was Elmer Strasser (Seussical the Musical) marvelously stopping and tying up the show in the cameo role of Erronius. The three Proteans played by Isaiah Boyd, Tyler Costin and Jack Sale were entertaining, doing everything from slapstick comedians to piracy.  Kate Paul, Sophia Rose Morris, Christine Bagube and Janine Burgener were great as as Courtesans, undulating rapturously.

Tom Segal's choreography was very vigorous and full of life, especially the opening scene. The cast was dressed in Louise Jarmilowicz's fabulous costumes: rich ethereal gowns for the women and provocatively short tunics for the men. Kudos to Dave Dobrusky and Nick Di Scala for providing a great musical background for the cast. Set design by Jon Wai-Keung Lowe for the small stage was excellent.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Forum played through October 24 at the Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco. Now playing through November 21 is the West Coast debut of Murder for Two: A Killer Musical at the Eureka Theatre. For tickets call 415-255-8207 or visit www.42ndstmoon.org.


Cheers - and be sure to Check the lineup of great shows this season in the San Francisco area

- Richard Connema