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January/ February reviews

Rose, A Rare Solo Treat at the Traveling Jewish Theatre

In Martin Sherman's Rose at the Traveling Jewish Theatre, Naomi Newman
interprets an eighty year old born in a Ukranian shtetl. Mixing humor with tragedy,
she evokes the sitting shivah ritual mourning the dead adding that she comes
from a culture of sore behinds and despite her bad memory will try to recall
her past. She describes the village of her birth, how her mother struggled to
feed her while her father always lay dying in bed surrounded by bottles of
medecine, how she met the love of her life, a man with a glass eye, who made love
to her the first night they met. She next survives a Warsaw ghetto and like
Mother Courage lives through the second world war, the loss of a child and life
on a refugee ship. She jumps from a moving train to accept the marriage
proposal of a sailor named Sunny who takes her to America and to the new world. She
lives in Atlantic City, in a hippie commune, andin an Israeli settlement in the
West Bank. She becomes a hotel manager, owns her own Rose Hotel and ends up
as a widow and grandmother for the third time.
Rose takes us through a host of experiences that she bears with a wonderful
sense of humor and down-to-earth, philosophical Jewishness.
Adeptly directed by Bay Area director, actress and movement teacher Joan
Mankin, Naomi Newman is made for the role of Rose that she interprets with a
gentle sensitivity and common sense rationality throughout the two hour challenging
solo. The script could be tightened and possibly more variety of movement
introduced in Rose's bench sitting. Sound effects in part One were at times low
but much improved in part Two.
Rose, directed by Joan Mankin and performed by Naomi Newman, is no less than
a rare treat.
For info about shows in Berkeley Feb. 15-25 call 800.838.3006 and in Mountain
View Feb. 1-11 call 650-903.6000.

Basketball, Bible Psalms, and a Mom Battling Sickness

Author and performer Deb Margolin's Three Seconds in a Key at the S.F.
Playhouse combines solo performance, duo and group scenes in a heart wrenching
mother's battle with Hodgkin 's disease to keep her body alive for her small son.
After the opening scene in which the Mother, bundled in a blanket as she
watches T.V., humorouly relates her failed attempts to smoke pot to relieve her
sickness, we witness a New York Knicks star player step our of the T.V. set to
spur her on to fight her ailment. As the star player's visits become more
frequent she teaches him yiddish and he teaches her to play basketball in order to
strengthen her body.
Interspersed with these scenes are the meticulously choreographed Knicks'
game playing along with their lively choral songs Bible psalm
readings. There are also tender mother son scenes in which the young boy begs
his mother not to be sick and be like other mothers.
Expertly directed by Leigh Fondakowski, this highly spirited production,
based on true events regarding a mother's struggle to survive, is a challenging
piece for Amy Resnick, who combines humor with pathos in her lengthy solo, duo
and group scenes. The entire cast provides a well choreographed rendering of
basketball games and group songs along with a convincing performance by Gideon
Lazurus in his role of the child.
Bill English's simple set design includes ample space for basket ball games
and other group activity on a compact stage. Choreography by Krista DeNio is
well coordinated.
Margolin's play contains a spiritually uplifting and empowering message not
only to the physically afflicted but to all who lose courage to forge ahead
with determination to achieve their particular goal.
Three Seconds in the Key plays until Feb.17. For info call 415-677-9596 or
visit www.sfplayhouse.org.

A Horror Thriller with a Sense of Humor at Berkeley Rep

Martin McDonagh's Pillowman is a unique blend of brillant storytelling,
mystery and ironical humor thrown in with a penchant for the morbid and bloody.
This recipe of ingredients renders McDonagh's theatre spellbinding, difficult to
turn one's attention away from for fear of missing a beat.
The dramatic action begins with the interrogaton and torture of writer
Katurian by a policeman and a detective in a totalitarian country where the murders
of small children have erupted. Since writer Katurian has written stories
that describe these kinds of murders, he is a target for having committed the
crime. A second reason is that the toes of a child have been found in a box in
his home where he lives with his mentally challenged brother, Michael, who
Katurian entertains with his lugubrious stories. When brother Michael is
interrogated he avoids torture by confessing to the crime that Katurian is certain his
brother did not commit. Before the mystery is solved, the writer's message is
clear. He, the writer, will support anything, his own torture and death or even
that of his brother as long as his stories are preserved.
Directed astutely by Les Waters, the play is earthy and visceral, suspenseful
and gripping, despite the lengthy stories that both writer and detective take
time to commuicate. And if McDonagh's work borders on the macabre, his sense
of humor keeps ithe action balanced and serves as a relief from the grotesque
exaggeration of turning into another Guignol.
Pillowman closes feb. 25. For info call 510-647-2949 or click berkeleyrep.org.

Word for Word Animates Short Stories at the Magic Theatre

Strangers We Know, produced by Word for Word company at the S.F. Magic
dramatizes Mavis Gallant's short story Mlle de Corta, directed by Amy Kossow, in
which a French widow interacts with her strange tenant.
Performed by a lively cast under the Grotowoski movement training method of
director Kossov, the Canadian author's dramatic conflict provides a European
atmosphere and details about French life that are sometimes obscure but well
interpreted.
In Lorrie Moore's short story Which is More Than I Can Say About Some People,
Abby Mallon drives across Ireland with her mother at the wheel in a hilarious
tale of their adventures that is directed under the baton of Joel Mullennix.
The piece is interpreted in a fresh and youthful physical movement style with
actors playing sheep, cows and inanimate objects with imagination and a sense
of fun. Patricia Silver's role as Mrs. Mallon deserves special mention as the
hard-headed, perservering, mother.
Founded in 1993 by Susan Harloe and Jo Anne Winter, as in all of their
stagings, Word for Word Company performs short stories in their entirety while
retaining the author's language and literary intent. In their stagings, company
members as well as their workshop students animate prose selections through the
use of expressive physical movement and vocal theatricalization. The movement
not only expresses emotions and feelings but also conveys props and objects.
Word for Word brings literature to the stage through a dynamic use of physical
movement along with vocal dramatization.
The program plays at the Julia morgan Center from Jan 31 to Feb. 4. For more
info about Word for Word productions call (415) 415-437-6775 or visit
www.zspace.org.

Dominican Fringe Festival Performs in Santa Rosa

Three award winning fall 06 Dominican Fringe Festival new plays and solos
performed at Santa Rosa's Mobile Home Parks' Country auditorium dinner theatre to
an enthusiastic audience.The program began with Linda Vito's Debut portraying
a first time actress's devastating dismission from a role before performing
it. Susan Donnelly as the actress offered a sensitive interpretation of the
harrowing experience that culminates in a semi philosophical acceptation of her
dilemna.
Bad Coffee by Santa Rosa writer Anthony Martinez centers around a woman's
attempt to help a young man get revenge for a lost job by placing rat poison in
coffee. Cindy Brillhart-True and Scott Maraj perform harmoniously together in
this cleverly written comedy.
Steve North's original improvisational solo How To Kill a bear in Alaska
brings audience members on stage to play a bear and other characters while North
leads the dramatic action. North's charismatic stage presence and outlandish
sense of humor brought the house down.
Co-host of the event Greg Angeo, along with helpers Roger and Nancy
McConnell, artfully coordinated the theatre program while Suzanne Angeo cooked up a
cordon bleu Daube de Boeuf, which gave rise to a standing ovation for the fine
contributions of these and other Mobile Home Park volonteers.
A Few Good Men at the Ross Valley Barn

Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men, a present day film favorite, is currently
staged at the Ross valley Players by veteran Bay Area stage director James Dunn.
One of Dunn's best directed porductions, the play's exacting




timing and pace are in keeping with the play's military spirit. Dunn, a former
member of the Marine Corps in 1950 to 1952, has integrated this experience
into his directorial talent to render the production one of R.V.P.'s finest.
The dramatic action takes place at the marine base of Guantanomo Bay, Cuba,
before it became a prison for combattants. The dramatic action depicts military
standards of behaviour relating to the justification of utilizing military
force that lead to the death of marines who disobey orders. The dynamic action
around the judgment of certain marines' conduct that takes place in a military
court holds the spectator's attention throughout these and other scenes.
Scenic design by Don Cate adapts to the need of spacious court scenes as well
as that of more intimnate scenes. Apprecation for fine acting goes to the
cast as an ensemble and in particular to Jennifer Reimer for her interpretation
of an officer morally tormented by the actions of her marine colleagues.
A Few Good Men plays until Feb. 18. For information visit
www.rossvalleyplayers.com.

Relationships at the S.F. Playwright's Center

The reading of A Place Where One Can Go, originally performed at
the Dominican University Marin Fringe Festival, could be entitled No place to
Go since it deals with the dilemma of the isolation and alienation of Gays.
The play depicts same sex marriage that male partners discuss as they attend a
regular wedding. While one desires a wedding like others have, his partner
feels it would be a waste of time and money since no one would come. The play
reveals how Gay couples are socially repudiated and deprived of the same rights
as male/ female couples, presented in a realistic and subtle manner along with
humor throughout. The play's apolitical approach renders it all the more
moving and effective. Director Caroline Altman inserts liveliness and comic moments
into a debate between the male partners well performed by Jeff Larson and
Benjamin Pither.
Allston James' Duet in Platinium centers around a couple who meet on a
United Flight 505 from here to there.Their conversation reverts to the rings on
their fingers. We gradually learn that neither is attached but merely protecting
their vulnerability of becoming involved, challenging our imagination as to
their experiences with former ties. At one point, the male protagonist describes
a wonderful story of long term commitment in an older couple who still
remained lovers with the years that brings to mind loss of love and loneliness, At
play's end, when they are no longer together, each one removes his ring,
rejecting the idea of self protection. What intrigues us throughout is the mystery
of their rings and the short, vague responses to one another's questions
concerning their personal lives.We wonder what will happen to them in the future.
The short play with a minimal dialogue is well staged by Caroline Altman who,
along with actors Shelley Lynn Johnson and Gary Dailey, establish a mood of
intrigue and mystery.
For information about the S.F. Playwright's Center's staged readings, visit
www.playwrightscentersf.org.

Dominican Fringe Moves to Cafe Amsterdam in Fairfax

Streetsinger, starring Derek Smith and Beata Dumaplin, is a poignant musical
comedy featuring Amsterdam's Red Light denizens who test the humanity of a
sidewalk perfomer in Dam Square. Smith, who has toured the stages and sidewalks
of Europe, is best known for hosting the Monday Night Open Mike at 19 Broadway
in Fairfax. Dumaplin is a vocal music major at Dominican University.
Babe and the Witch, starring Craig Logan and Brittany Hogan, concerns a
Boston Red Sox owner who, frustrated by 86 years of failure, hires a hip Wiccan to
conjure up the ghost of Babe Ruth to remove the Curse of the Bambino from his
team, Logan,who moolights as a cab driver, is a veteran of local theatre.
Hogan, a writer and grad student at Dominican, is making her theatrical debut.
Both plays, first performed in the Fringe of Marin Festival of One- Acts at
Dominican, are written and directed by Robert F. Bradford, who was a
streetsinger in Amsterdam. The cast of both plays includes Molly McCarthy, Stephen
Galiani, Cynthia Thompson-Smith and Roy Murrin.
Diner seating is from 7 to 7.30. Reservations are strongly recommended
(415.-257-4110) There will be a $10 cover charge.
Cafe Amsterdam (415-256-8020) is at 23 Broadway in Fairfax.

Festival of Lights-A Multi-Cultural Celebration

Festival of Lights, Leslie Friedman's gift for the holidays, is a treat for
all ages Over 400 people of all ages and ethnicity attended the performance at
the Cowell Theatre on December 10. This holiday favorite, now in its 13th
year, combines music, theatre, storytelling, comedy and dance to celebrate ideas
of light in the diverse cultural holidays such as Diwali, Winter Solstice,
Chanukah, Christmas.
Leslie Friedman opened the show with my favorite number, "Walking in the
Light," graceful as a feather, flowing in a pure white costume, energetic and
limber as she combined modern dance and ballet forms.
Leslie Friedman, an innovative and skillful choreographer in her solo,
"Doyna," combines humor, lightness and a spirit of joyfulness in her other solos,
"Shoes," and "All I Want for Christmas."
The children in the audience were transported to a magical land of dancing
cats, bears and dragons. Holiday surprises include singing cats, dancing
reindeer and young people taking part who are drawn from the audience for the "A+
Holiday." Leslie Friedman is ably supported by Harry Danseur, the Gorilla,
Jonathan Clark's beautiful baritone and "Martha Stewpot's Perfect Christmas." We
look forward to future productions by the talented Leslie Friedman and her seven
lively dancers.
Flora Lynn Isaacson for Annette Lust

New Writers/New Works

Thirteen staged readings of Plays in Progress from Will Dunne's dramatic
writing workshop were presented at the Randall Museum Theatre on Tuesday, January
23. In the two hour15 minute program, a wide variety of plays were presented
that were extremely well acted and directed.
The top six plays in this reviewer's choice were: 1. Abraham and Isaac Go
Camping by William Bivens, Deuce by Maya Lis Tussing, directed by Louis Parnell.,
staged at the Dominican Fringe Festival in Spring 2006. 3. Black Swan in the
Violin Shop, by Linda Ayres-Frederick, directed by Judy Cohen. This drama
which takes place in Germany in November, 1938 had extremely well developed
characters. 4. Spotlight by Ruth Kirschner, directed by Will Dunne. This was a
delightful comedy about two contrasting type young people involved in a piano
recital. 5. AccelerDate by Molly Norton, directed by Jonathan Luskin was
another very clever comedy with delightful performances by the three actors
involved. 6. An Obstinacy of Snipes by Jonathan Luskin ,directed by Linda
Ayres-Frederick featured another father/son relationship in a search for connection and
understanding.
For workshop information, visit willdunne.com or call 415-609-8670.
Flora Lynn Isaacson for Annette Lust

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