Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: San Francisco

A Beautiful Production of Lauren Gunderson's Bauer

Also see Patrick's reviews of The Book of Matthew (Leibowitz) and Of Mice and Men and Jeanie's review of Amadeus


Ronald Guttman
San Francisco Playhouse is presenting the world premiere of Lauren Gunderson's superb new drama Bauer based on the life of brilliant abstract artist Rudolf Bauer. Lauren Gunderson is probably the most prolific playwright of the Bay Area. She has written three dramas that have had their first showing during the past 16 months. Bauer is by far her best work.

Rudolf Bauer is considered by many art historians and critics to have had a major impact on modern artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. In the 1930s, the German painter was hailed as the next Kandinsky. He was also jailed by the Nazis for many months during that period for "subversive art." Following his release from prison he fled to America. He found a patron of the arts in Solomon R. Guggenheim who promised that he would build an art museum to show his paintings. Unfortunately, Guggenheim's estate ultimately went against him by taking all of his works off the walls and burying them in the basement. The estate also told him that they would own everything he painted in the future. However, you don't need to know about abstract painting to appreciate this taut drama.

The haunting drama opens in the studio of Rudolf Bauer. The artist is married to Louise and she has secretly telegraphed Hilla Rebay, his former lover, counsellor and fierce champion, to come to their New Jersey studio in an effort to get the artist out of his funk. Bauer is now in the barren studio waiting to die, knowing that his images have fallen out of favor, and deploring the patron and his former lover who had done him wrong.

Ronald Guttman, (has worked a lot in television, including Mad Men) gives a charismatic performance as the stoic Rudolph Bauer. He has a fantastic speaking voice and it resonates throughout the theatre.

Stacy Ross is powerful playing Baroness Hilla. She makes the role believable as Bauer's past lover and mentor. Watching her performance I was reminded of the legendary Lynn Fontanne who I saw on stage in my early years. There is something the way she conveys a line that makes each word perfect. Susi Damilano is superb as the headstrong wife who wants closure for her husband.

Bill English's direction is sharp and he brings out the best in all three actors. He also designed the all-white innovative studio set of the artist's studio. The lack of distraction puts unyielding focus on the agonized trio. However, from time to time the set is covered with expansive projections of Bauer's works.

Bauer plays through April 19, 2014, at the San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post Street, San Francisco. For tickets call 415-677-9596 or on line at www.sfplayhouse.org. Bauer will be playing at 59E59 Theatre in New York starting in August with the same cast. Coming up next at SF Playhouse will be Theresa Rebeck's Seminar opening April 29th and running through June 14th.


Photo: Jessica Palopoli


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

- Richard Connema