VERA WILDE: TERRIFIC STAGING; SIDE-SPLITTING RUSSIAN ON THE SIDE, FA-LASH! HOT NEWS!
Actress plays Patsy Cline -- Richard Williams, genius Animator -- Mark Nadler
OCTOBER 25, 2008
MICRO REVIEWS
WHO IS VERA WILDE?
Well, here's the deal. There really isn't a person by that name. Playwright Chris Jeffries has put together two controversial figures and blends them together on the stage. It's a fascinating concept. Vera's real name is Vera Zasulich. She was a Russian pre-revolutionary woman who helped Vladimir Lenin come to power. The other story is Oscar Wilde, who was a social revolutionary. He wrote a play about Vera, which failed at its American debut. What can you expect from this play? Great Sets, Terrific Acting and some very interesting musical numbers. It's quirky, but hard to get off your mind.
See it at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley - Shotgun Players.
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) -trademarked-
(See expanded review at: beyondchron.org.)
RUSSIAN COMPOSERS INVADE THE MARINES MEMORIAL THEATRE
MARK NADLER is a talented guy that sings, plays the piano, jumps around the and onto the top of the piano. The guy has enough energy watts to run the city. You'll have a great time with his quips. He channels Danny Kaye, who sang the Ira Gershwin song about Russian composers. Kaye sang it in about 40 seconds in the movie "Lady in the Dark". It was a huge hit and every bit as good when Nadler sings it. Nadler is also current and political. Here he takes a whack at Sarah Palin: "This is a year for the Democrats. I can see Russia from my Piano!" Fun stuff -- so get on your skateboard and head for the Marines Memorial Theatre while you have a chance to see it before it hits the boards on Broadway. It's on the way.
RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) -trademarked-
More info: www.russianonthesideonline.com.
(Read the expanded review at: beyondchron.org.
FA-LASH! HOT NEWS!
UPDATE: OCTOBER 27, 2008
FA-LASH! HOT NEWS!
UPDATE: OCTOBER 27, 2008
WORLD PREMIERE OF "CANCIONES" COMES TO SAN FRANCISCO WITH A CAST OF 13 PERFORMERS
Emmy Award-winning Artistic Director Yaelisa, creates her most contempory work. Caminos Flamencos dance to the music of Iron & Wine, Led Zeppelin, Randy Newman, SONIKETE, Rosemary Clooney, Isolina Carrilo and Jason McGuire "El Rubio. Yep, this in NOT your ordinary flamenco show! The Novellus Theater will perform at Yerba Buena Center (Howard at 3rd). More info: www.ybca.org. Opening night is Saturday. Nov. 1st. And 'Mr. First Nighter' -- which would be me, will see you there. Box office number: 978-ARTS.
ANIMATION LEGEND
RICHARD WILLIAMS (See Center picture of Williams at the top)
AT THE BALBOA
Hey, here’s your chance to find out all about the art of animation and illustrating. Richard illiams will be at the Balboa Theatre Sunday, Nov. 2, 7pm. Williams is the Winner of 3 Academy Awards. Among other notable triumphs, he was the animation director of “Who’s Afraid Of Roger Rabbit”, and the author of “The Animator’s Survival Kit.” Advance tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/47295. The show will run between 90 minutes to 2 hours. Williams usually tries to demonstrate by acting things out where necessary – he doesn’t like to just stay seated. He loves Q & A/ and here’s some great news -- everyone will get a complementary DVD about Williams’ new Work. Karl Cohen, Author, SF State instructor and president of ASIFA-SF, will moderate. It is a benefit for ASIFA – San Francisco. “Sounds like great fun!” “Well, thank you Roger Rabbit – how did you get in here?”
EVAN WYLER IS A GAY TWENTY-SOMETHING NEW YORK WRITER who is savoring the success of his debut novel. He is the hot, young thing-of-the-moment. And there is Alexa Vere de Vere, a black-clad woman of mystery who zeroes in on Evan. She’s made the world of celebrity her home. And Evan is her ticket to the ‘Honey’. Buzzzzzzz – you’re gonna love this wickedly, bitchy and funny comedy, called “As Bees in Honey Drown” at The New Conservatory Theatre. Previews Nov. 7-14. More info: www.nctcsf.org.
SPOOKY: On Friday Oct. 31 – 7:30 to midnight the San Francisco Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf will hold its second annual “Goblins, Ghouls & Ghosts” Halloween party. Now, what could be more spooky than that? I mean--to be around all those Wax Figures on All Hallows’Eve is bound to be creepy. There is Marilyn Monroe, FDR and Frankenstein – who are all dead, by the way. But no matter – you can party with them at the bar. Now isn’t that cool? You’ll be having a blast with real ghosts! The party will feature a costume contest with prizes for costumes judged the most original, funniest, scariest, best costumed couple, group and sexiest. Or, maybe you are already scary enough that you won’t need a costume. INFO: www.waxmuseum.com.
AT A.C.T – A daring, star-studded cast explores hot-button issues of life and death in the riveting play “The Quality of Life” (written and directed by Jane Anderson). Starring Laurie Metcalf (Desperate Housewives, Roseanne), JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist, The Big Chill), Steven Culp (Desperate Housewives, A.C.T.’s ‘Blackbird’), and two-time OBIE winner Dennis Boutsikaris. Opens Oct. 29. On Thursday Oct. 30 -- it is ‘Bring What You Can/pay, What you Wish performance.’ You’ll be able to pay any amount for tickets when you bring a donation of children’s books, diapers, or coffee beans to benefit Raphael House. One ticket per donated item. Tickets go on sale at 6pm the day of the performance. MORE INFO: www.act-sf.org.
TED SWINDLEY’S MUSICAL – ‘Always, Patsy Cline’ pays tribute to the famous Country Singer of the 50’s and 60’s. The musical features a live band that performs more than 30 contry standards including Cline’s biggest hits, “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” “Back in Baby’s Arms” and “She’s Got you.” Starts Nov. 7 – Dec 7, 2008. Where? At the 6th Street Playhouse – GK Hardt Theatre, 52 West 6th St., Santa Rosa – in historic Railroad Square. More info” www.6thstreetplayhouse.com. Sebastopol actress Mary Gannon-Graham portrays the legendary singer Patsy Cline.
ANOTHER PLACE TO CELEBRATE ‘ALL HOLLOWS EVE’ -- The Ragged Wing Ensemble presents the Northern California Premiere of …The History of the Devil by Clive Barker – now extended thru Nov. 8. And here’s a little Halloween treat for you. On Friday, Oct 31, come to the show dressed as your favorite Devil. The one with the best devilish costume gets a prize. I know that some of you won’t even need a costume! MORE INFO: www.raggedwing.org. WHERE: THE CENTRAL STAGE, 5221 Central Ave. in Richmond. Show times, Fri. & Sat. 8pm.
(Read all my reviews at www.beyondchron.org.)
AND THAT’S A WRAP!
ANIMATION LEGEND
RICHARD WILLIAMS (See Center picture of Williams at the top)
AT THE BALBOA
Hey, here’s your chance to find out all about the art of animation and illustrating. Richard illiams will be at the Balboa Theatre Sunday, Nov. 2, 7pm. Williams is the Winner of 3 Academy Awards. Among other notable triumphs, he was the animation director of “Who’s Afraid Of Roger Rabbit”, and the author of “The Animator’s Survival Kit.” Advance tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/47295. The show will run between 90 minutes to 2 hours. Williams usually tries to demonstrate by acting things out where necessary – he doesn’t like to just stay seated. He loves Q & A/ and here’s some great news -- everyone will get a complementary DVD about Williams’ new Work. Karl Cohen, Author, SF State instructor and president of ASIFA-SF, will moderate. It is a benefit for ASIFA – San Francisco. “Sounds like great fun!” “Well, thank you Roger Rabbit – how did you get in here?”
EVAN WYLER IS A GAY TWENTY-SOMETHING NEW YORK WRITER who is savoring the success of his debut novel. He is the hot, young thing-of-the-moment. And there is Alexa Vere de Vere, a black-clad woman of mystery who zeroes in on Evan. She’s made the world of celebrity her home. And Evan is her ticket to the ‘Honey’. Buzzzzzzz – you’re gonna love this wickedly, bitchy and funny comedy, called “As Bees in Honey Drown” at The New Conservatory Theatre. Previews Nov. 7-14. More info: www.nctcsf.org.
SPOOKY: On Friday Oct. 31 – 7:30 to midnight the San Francisco Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf will hold its second annual “Goblins, Ghouls & Ghosts” Halloween party. Now, what could be more spooky than that? I mean--to be around all those Wax Figures on All Hallows’Eve is bound to be creepy. There is Marilyn Monroe, FDR and Frankenstein – who are all dead, by the way. But no matter – you can party with them at the bar. Now isn’t that cool? You’ll be having a blast with real ghosts! The party will feature a costume contest with prizes for costumes judged the most original, funniest, scariest, best costumed couple, group and sexiest. Or, maybe you are already scary enough that you won’t need a costume. INFO: www.waxmuseum.com.
AT A.C.T – A daring, star-studded cast explores hot-button issues of life and death in the riveting play “The Quality of Life” (written and directed by Jane Anderson). Starring Laurie Metcalf (Desperate Housewives, Roseanne), JoBeth Williams (Poltergeist, The Big Chill), Steven Culp (Desperate Housewives, A.C.T.’s ‘Blackbird’), and two-time OBIE winner Dennis Boutsikaris. Opens Oct. 29. On Thursday Oct. 30 -- it is ‘Bring What You Can/pay, What you Wish performance.’ You’ll be able to pay any amount for tickets when you bring a donation of children’s books, diapers, or coffee beans to benefit Raphael House. One ticket per donated item. Tickets go on sale at 6pm the day of the performance. MORE INFO: www.act-sf.org.
TED SWINDLEY’S MUSICAL – ‘Always, Patsy Cline’ pays tribute to the famous Country Singer of the 50’s and 60’s. The musical features a live band that performs more than 30 contry standards including Cline’s biggest hits, “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” “Back in Baby’s Arms” and “She’s Got you.” Starts Nov. 7 – Dec 7, 2008. Where? At the 6th Street Playhouse – GK Hardt Theatre, 52 West 6th St., Santa Rosa – in historic Railroad Square. More info” www.6thstreetplayhouse.com. Sebastopol actress Mary Gannon-Graham portrays the legendary singer Patsy Cline.
ANOTHER PLACE TO CELEBRATE ‘ALL HOLLOWS EVE’ -- The Ragged Wing Ensemble presents the Northern California Premiere of …The History of the Devil by Clive Barker – now extended thru Nov. 8. And here’s a little Halloween treat for you. On Friday, Oct 31, come to the show dressed as your favorite Devil. The one with the best devilish costume gets a prize. I know that some of you won’t even need a costume! MORE INFO: www.raggedwing.org. WHERE: THE CENTRAL STAGE, 5221 Central Ave. in Richmond. Show times, Fri. & Sat. 8pm.
(Read all my reviews at www.beyondchron.org.)
AND THAT’S A WRAP!