Do you love Rock N Roll? Were you ever a teenager? There is an amazing show at Foothill College right now, and you need to see it.  Take your teenager, send your teen with a friend, or go see it yourself.

(clockwise from far left) Jeremy Griffith, Mark Sanders, Brandon Leland, Dillon Mena, Jacob Marker, Warren Wernick, Ryan Mardesich (floor), and Jason Rehklau (sitting center). Photo: Karen Santos

A year or so ago I saw a bigger budget production of the Rock N Roll musical Spring Awakening.  It is an amazing, powerful, emotional show to watch with all the effects of a rock concert. It requires a very talented cast, a knowledgable choreographer, a well rehearsed band and a director capable of putting on a rock concert.

So what do you do when you are a small production company and want to produce a high budget rock and roll musical on a small budget in a tiny theater?

You get together an extremely talented cast and direct the crap out of them.

Spring Awakening is, like Rock N Roll, all about the truth of growing up.  It’s about anger, and frustration, and being held to adult standards while being treated like a child.  It’s about adult emotions and the inability to let them out.  It’s the kind of show that many parents won’t want their teenagers to see, but it is exactly the kind of show that teenagers should see.

And the young adults on stage at Lohman Theater on the Foothill College campus are just rocking the pants off this show.

Moritz (Ryan Mardesich, sitting) is rebuked by his teacher (Justin Karr). Photo: Karen Santos

I was incredibly surprised to see such an amazing production on such a small stage, and most impressed of all with the talented cast.  Special notice goes to Ryan Mardesich as Moritz.  Mardesich introduces Moritz as an innocent young boy who is just not quite as smart as his classmates, but manages to show the believable growth to a frustrated, hopeless teen who is rightfully angry with the betrayal of all the adults in his world, and the world itself.  The words of his songs do not matter; it is the hopeless anger in his eyes that tell his story.

Juliana Lustenader as Wendla is also outstanding.  She not only has a beautiful clear voice, but she played innocent, confused Wendla to perfection.  Her final, terrified scream made it very clear to the audience exactly where she was going and exactly what was going to happen to her.  I still get chills at the memory of that scream.

Two smaller parts, Otto and Ernst, are played by Dillon Mena and Warren Wernick, and they deserve special note for their singing.  Wernick has the voice of an angel, and Mena was a true rock star on stage.  Holly Smolik and Casey Ellis, as Martha and Ilse, also brought incredible emotion to their parts – and the bruise makeup which Smolik wore deserved an award.

This is a show about teenage frustration, and the frustrations teens deal with now are the same they dealt with in 1891 Germany when this show was written.  Sexual frustration and ignorance, child abuse, measuring up to expectations, abortion, suicide, sexual identity… It is a rare adult who would go back to that age.  And director Milissa Carey manages to pull those feelings to the surface from her actors.  Mardesich was awesome showing the emotion, but Mark Sanders as Georg demanded audience attention with both his character’s sexual frustration and Sanders’ own excellent singing voice.  Georg is a smaller part in the show, but Sanders manages to pull all eyes to him with the physicality of his dancing and his comedic expressions when called for.

The amazing women of S.A.: (l-r) Holly Smolik, Lyn Meheula, Taylor Sanders, Juliana Lustenader, Carissa McElravy, Dana Johnson, and Casey Ellis. Photo: Karen Santos

The 1890s costume design was perfect, the use of lighting design successfully brought tears to our eyes, and the use of stairs and ledges expanded the stage to rock concert size.

Everyone in this show is amazing.  There were stand outs, as I’ve credited, but the entire cast is genuinely amazing, and the show is Excellent.  If you have never seen Spring Awakening, you should take this opportunity – there might be more flash and/or fireworks at a bigger show, but director Carey manages to give you everything this show has to offer on a smaller scale and you never realize you’re in a small theater.  In many ways, I enjoyed this production more than the one with the big budget.

Keep in mind it is a show with “adult” themes, there is very strong language and sexual themes.  It is not really fit for preteen and younger, however I believe it is a show that every teenager should see and will appreciate.  It is also a show every adult can identify with.

Spring Awakening
Through March 10
Lohman Theatre
Foothill College
12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 (more…)

Sebastian (Vincent Kartheiser) and Sheba (Vaishnavi Sharma) begin to flirt. Photo by Kevin Berne

The San Jose Repertory  has brought Hollywood to local theater, and you still have a chance to see it.  Fans of Vincent Kartheiser from “Mad Men” (Pete Campbell) can see him live on stage through Saturday evening in a modern day play titled The Death of the Novel.

Kartheiser plays Sebastian, an agoraphobic writer who has decided he won’t ever leave his apartment until his advance runs out.  Sebastian is a bit of an insufferable, skeevy egotist… sort of a present day Pete Campbell.   He has issues, many stemming from the aftermath of 9/11, and others from a series of deaths in his own life.  When he meets beautiful Sheba (played by Vaishnavi Sharma), his life is turned upside down as he struggles to understand who she is, and whether it matters to him.

It’s quite a psychological drama, which seems to focus on the mystery of who Sheba really is.  She has created an intricate family history and background for herself, none of which appears to be true.  We meet the main characters in the first act, and get to know Sebastian well… then learn that we know nothing at all about Sheba.  The second act is a whirlwind of psychological intrigue and drama… an overload of the senses that is almost too much to absorb by the end.  But though it was tough to take our eyes off the beautiful Sheba, I thought the most interesting character was Sebastian.  From what we know of him, he has only one real male friend, Philip (Patrick Kelly Jones), who is Sheba’s original boyfriend.  But he also has three very important women in his life: Perry, his therapist; Claire, his hooker; and Sheba, the woman he wants but may not ever fully have.  It’s a virtual id, ego and superego of females.

In particular, I thought Zarah Mahler as Claire and Amy Pietz as Perry were the best of all the actors in the show.  Vincent Kartheiser also puts in an incredible amount of work in a role that requires him to talk almost non-stop through both acts.

It is not my favorite show that I’ve ever seen at the Rep, but there are several good points about the show and I still recommend it.  I would like to have seen it twice, or went over the script later, so I could absorb it all.  Of course, anyone wanting to see a bit of “Hollywood Stardom” should get themselves down to the Rep immediately before it’s too late.  It’s quite a coup to have gotten Mr. Kartheiser down to our theater, and we definitely appreciate the work that he and everyone else involved put into the show.  Thanks to the San Jose Repertory for an interesting and thought provoking opening to the 2012-2013 season!

The Death of the Novel
San Jose Repertory Theatre
Through September 22
Next up: Freud’s Last Session
October 11 – November 4

From left to right: (Mitchell) William Giammona - (Diane) Jennifer Lucas - (Alex) Henry Robert Nolin Photo by James Kasyan

My guest and I had the best time last night at Dragon Productions Theatre Company in Palo Alto.  Yes, even more fun than I had at the opera (review coming next!)!

San Jose and the Bay Area at large have plenty of great theatre, but sometimes it’s the little gems that get lost in the shuffle.  The Pear Avenue Theatre in Mountain View seats only about 45 people, but I saw an incredibly moving production of Death of a Salesman there. The small Renegade Theatre Experiment produced 9 Circles at the Hoover Theater in San Jose and the entire audience was not only moved to tears, but most of us could barely look at the actors on stage, we were so moved by what was going on.  And now I’ve seen the fabulous (and tiny) Dragon Productions Theatre where I had the pleasure of viewing 4 incredible actors put on an hilarious and moving show.

I could not wait to see The Little Dog Laughed because I had heard that the playwright was also the screenwriter for “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar” which, sadly, might be the only drag queen road trip film available on Netflix. What my expectations received was a thought provoking comedy, and an adult show about love and sex and ambition, and all the problems that arise when you combine the three.

Mitchell Green is a small film star who could hit it big with one juicy role. Diane is his lesbian best friend and agent who plays Mitchell’s girlfriend for the public.  Yes, leading man Mitchell is gay, but because the film going public won’t accept an openly gay man in straight romantic roles, he’s forced to hire “rent-a-boys” (young looking but adult prostitutes) and hide his true self. One night in a drunken stupor he makes a call and hires Alex, a good looking “straight” boy who hustles for money.  Alex lives with his best friend and sometimes girlfriend Ellen, who runs her own money-making schemes with older rich men.  Soon it appears that Mitchell and Alex have fallen in love, but that poses problems for everyone involved.

Although the show is a comedy, it also raises many serious questions about living as a gay person in a straight world.  Mitchell laments at one point that we all learn about the American Dream, that anyone can have it all.  But he knew that really only middle class, straight white protestant men have easy access to the American Dream, and if he acted on his feelings towards other men, he could have that option taken away from him.

Dragon Productions plays in a tiny theatre, with a shoe-string budget for set design, yet still managed to find four incredible actors to play these intriguing characters.  William Giammona as Mitchell was both hilarious and heartbreaking as he showed us what a gay actor may have to give up in his personal life to be a success in his professional life.  Jennifer Lucas as Diane played Hollywood to perfection as the fast-talking agent who just wanted her friend (along with herself) to succeed. Maria Giere Marquis held my attention in every scene with her character’s quirky clothes and quirkier personality, but even as a hustler herself Ellen had our sympathy when she got herself into trouble.  And Henry Robert Nolin as young Alex is an incredible actor who you should look out for in the future.

The Little Dog Laughed is an adult show, but probably fit for older teens as well.  There are adult and sexual themes, but nothing too worrisome for anyone who knows the plot to begin with.  Tickets range from $16 (student) to $25 (adult), so it is a fantastic deal for an amazing theater production, and opening night was sold out.

Thanks also to Oren’s Hummus who provided an amazing Opening Night Celebration spread!

The Little Dog Laughed
September 14 – October 7
Dragon Productions Theatre
535 Alma Street, Palo Alto
(parking can be troublesome, so arrive in plenty of time to find a spot)

What shows are on your September calendar? That’s right Folks, the 2012-2013 season has just begun, and theater reviewers everywhere have our pencils sharpened and phones set to silent.  There are a lot of exciting shows on the horizon this year!  I will be reviewing three shows this month and am recommending one more which I won’t have a chance to see.

Ragtime

Ragtime: The Musical
Hillbarn Theater
August 30 – September 23

Musicals are what Hillbarn does best and with a great show like Ragtime, how can they go wrong?  This is the one I’m sadly going to miss, but I can without hesitation state that you should try to never miss a Hillbarn musical.

Ragtime is a powerful portrait of life in turn-of-the-century America, but a relevant tale for today. Written by an award-winning team, the musical intertwines the stories of three extraordinary families, as they confront history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and what it means to live in America. The Tony-winning score is just as diverse as the melting pot of America itself. Featured are such show stopping songs as Getting Ready Rag, Your Daddy’s Son, Wheels of a Dream, Till We Reach That Day, Back To Before,and Make Them Hear You. This thrilling musical is sure to inspire actors and audiences alike!

The Death of the Novel

The Death of the Novel
San Jose Repertory Theater
August 30 – September 22

You’re not seriously going to miss this one, right?  “Mad Men”’s own Pete Campbell, Vincent Kartheiser, is starring in this season opener. My friends at the Rep have been buzzing with excitement, and all signs point to an amazing show.

Brilliant young novelist Sebastian Justice claims to be the most well-adjusted, depressed agoraphobic in Manhattan. While he rants about anything from global warming to tennis, his publisher-ordered psychologist (a “writer’s block-whisperer”) tries to get to the bottom of his grief. But when a stunning and mysterious Saudi woman intrudes into his self-contained world his emotional descent takes a sudden turn, for the raving beauty may not be the person she says she is. Will this stranger be the one to help him find his way back, and at what cost? Identities blur in this enthralling and evocative story that takes a look at the modern world through the eyes of a brilliant and tragically wounded artist.

Pearl Fishers

Bizet’s Pearl Fishers
Opera San Jose
September 8 – September 23

Watch out, Opera San Jose, because for this show the Opera Novice will have as my guest an actual Coloratura Soprano, and she’s going to help me understand the nuances of the performance.  Instead of my usual “Oh gosh, it sounded PERFECT! It looked PERFECT! Everything is PERFECT!” I might actually know what’s going on…  But I’m pretty sure Opera San Jose is not going to disappoint.

A forbidden love. A friendship tested. Georges Bizet’s exotic romance, The Pearl Fishers comes to life for the first time on the California Theatre stage. Set on the tropical island of ancient Ceylon, two fishermen vow eternal friendship, but the desire for a mysterious woman from their past ignites a jealous rivalry. A mesmerizing tale of love and sacrifice, Bizet’s musical gem overflows with lush melodies, haunting arias, and the beloved duet, Au fond du temple saint.”

The Little Dog Laughed

The Little Dog Laughed
Dragon Productions Theater Company
September 14 – October 7

I believe this will be my first show by Dragon Productions, but I practically begged for a chance to see it.  It was written by New York playwright Douglas Carter Beane, the screenwriter for “Too Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar”.  The Little Dog Laughed was nominated for several Tonys, incuding Best Play, and I am really excited to be able to review this for you.

Follow the adventures of Mitchell Green, a movie star who could hit it big if it weren’t for one teensy-weensy problem. His agent, Diane, can’t seem to keep him in the closet. Will there be a happy ending as the final credits roll?

I was a taxi driver here in San Jose for many years and that is how I met my husband Ken. He is a very busy taxi driver.

Between his job and his love for playing pool he wouldn’t have the time for another wife… But, then there is a taxi driver named John who is married to two wives!

Read all about it: RUN FOR YOUR WIFE

John, a taxi driver, is married to two wives who live in different parts of London. Things go well until he rescues an elderly woman from three muggers and winds up in the hospital. The ensuing treatment throws his carefully constructed life off kilter. John’s dilemma is not helped when an upstairs neighbor tries to help and only makes things worse. Add two police detectives, one sexually charged wife, one play-by-the-rules wife and a gay dressmaker and you have the elements of chaos and continuous laughter.

Cast:
Mary Smith……………….Lucy Littlewood
Barbara Smith……………Cynthia Branch Lagodzinski
John Smith………………..Jim Woodbury
Det. Sgt. Troughton……Joel Butler
Stanley Gerdner…………C. Conrad Cady
Det. Sgt Porterhouse….Spencer Stevenson
Bobby Franklyn…………Jimmy James Allan

Directed by John Baldwin
Assistat Director Gary Laidlaw

Broadway West Theatre Company
4000 B Bay Street, Fremont, CA

Call for info and tickets ~ 1 (510) 683-9218
Tickets are going fast! Final weekend, last three performances.

facebook: Broadway West Theatre Company

Ken with his other "wife"

"One ring to bind them!" Charles Ross in One-Man Lord of the Rings™

If you’ve ever enjoyed the Lord of the Rings trilogy on film, or watched any of them, or read the books – hopefully all of them – get yourself over to the SJ Repertory ASAP before you miss Charles Ross‘s current show.  Yes, in one hour Ross re-enacts the entire trilogy including opening credits, theme music, and hobbits.

You may remember Ross from last summer when he visited San Jose with his One Man Star Wars show.  I believe I compared it to “when your 8 year old nephew is on a sugar high and decides to act out a film (or 3) for you“.  This summer, once again, the theater was packed with excited audience members of all ages bouncing in their seats and clapping gleefully as they experienced the entire LOTR trilogy in one hour.  My guest is a fan of the films and she thoroughly enjoyed herself.  Any show that leaves you with a huge smile on your face is a good one, I say.

Ross takes a quick water break between each of the 3 film re-enactments, and he questioned the audience regarding how many were actually familiar with the films, and cracked some jokes wondering why anyone would attend the show who had not seen the films.  He makes a valid point because honestly there are two kinds of people in San Jose this weekend: those who have seen the LOTR films and MUST GO SEE THIS SHOW, and those who have not seen the films and should probably not see the show.  There is no in between.

I enjoyed his Star Wars show more, but only because I am more familiar with that trilogy.  I also think that the characters in Star Wars are much easier to differentiate when someone is acting them out: Chewbacca, C3PO, R2D2, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Darth Vader are all very distinct characters in voice and movement.  With LOTR it was a little harder to know what was going on… unless you are quite familiar with the films.  Gandalf and the Gollum are easy to pick out in Ross’s frenetic show, but a hobbit is a hobbit, and I really couldn’t figure much else out.  On the other hand, my guest said she loved his depiction of Legolas (a character I never picked out in the show) so I still think it comes down to whether you’re a fan or not.

But like I said, there is no in between.  If you are a fan of the films you simply MUST see the show, and you will have a fantastic time.  If you’ve seen one or two films and/or read any of the books, you should still see the show and you will still love it.  …if you’ve done neither, you’re just going to watch Charles Ross have a schizophrenic attack on stage for an hour.  However if you fall in that category and your kids want you to take them… Do it.  It’s an hour of hysterical fun for which your kids (or spouse) will love you.

One-Man Lord of the Rings ™
July 24 – 29, 2012
San Jose Repertory Theatre
written and performed by Charles Ross

Bill Wilson (Ray Chambers) and Dr. Bob Smith (Robert Sicular) meet and talk for the first time in what is now known as the first A.A. meeting. Photo: Kevin Berne

The San Jose Repertory Theatre made an interesting choice for their closing show of the season, in choosing a show about the formation of Alcoholics Anonymous.  I was not sure this was a well thought out decision, honestly, but to my very happy surprise, opening night played to a packed house.  I hear they’ve sold out a couple shows in their run and may even sell out this weekend, and that makes me even more happy (and more surprised!!).

You have only through this weekend to catch up on a show that seemed to have quite an impact on the audience I shared it with.

“My name is Bill W.” I believe was the opening line.

“Hi, Bill W.” replied the audience, in mass.  I was quite surprised, and realized that much of the packed theater must have some experience with AA.

“My name is Dr. Bob,” said the next spotlighted actor.

“Hi, Dr. Bob,” the audience said, surprising me AGAIN.  I looked at my guest.  She smiled back at me with a sparkle in her eye, having also been surprised twice in two minutes.  It seemed the entire theatre was in on this story, leaving out the few people in attendance that night who had no experience with AA and/or AlAnon.  This is in no way a bad thing, more like a sign that I was completely wrong in worrying that SJ Rep Artistic Director Rick Lombardo had had a lapse in judgement in choosing the final show of the season.

Was it a perfect show, even though it got a resounding standing ovation after opening night?  I’m not sure.  Let’s pick it apart a bit.

The set was the STAR as far as I was concerned.  I heard several audience members remarking about the amazing wall of  alcohol bottles that made up the background for the entire show.  It was absolutely striking, and caught attention immediately upon entering the theater.  My estimate was close to one thousand (around 750) empty bottles on shelves that surrounded the entire set, and were lit up to varying degrees for different scenes.  The set was the most important part of this show, as there was always, ALWAYS, a wall of temptation in the background of every scene.  It was the deepest part of the show, from what I could deconstruct, as whether the characters were in a bar, a hotel, their own homes, a hospital, the street, or an AA meeting, there were always these empty bottles in the background.  There is some genius in such a simple set design.

As far as acting went: superb as always, across the board.  The most remarks from audience members went to Robert Sicular, as Dr. Bob. Portraying the founding medical side of AA, he played the part of an alcoholic who had already lived with the disease for several decades.  Ray Chambers can also not be ignored, as the “civilian” co-founder of AA who recovered first, and was the driving force behind the formation of AA.  And right along with these fine actors were Kandis Chappell (as Anne Smith) and Carrie Paff (as Lois Wilson), the wives who helped found AlAnon.

I have no experience with AA or AlAnon, other than what I’ve seen in TV and movies.  However, there were some early scenes in the play which were a bit uncomfortable to watch in their familiarity.  The entire show was played to perfection from everyone involved.

My only criticism is regarding the story itself.  A great play usually has several layers of meaning.  This show was a pretty strict reenactment of how Alcoholics Anonymous was formed.  It was a very interesting show, and less preachy than I expected (although I thought the second half was a bit more so, and my guest thought it crossed a line), but there was no other layer of meaning beyond the history and story that it told.  I have come to expect more from the shows that I see at the SJ Rep.  So while I greatly appreciated the history lesson I received (enough so that I went home and researched more about these men), I wish the show itself could have had a deeper meaning.

All in all, this criticism may not have any weight, as the show has been selling out, and the opening night audience (well versed in the AA world) appreciated the show more than of which I was capable.  My deficiencies in experience should not discount the value of this show.

If you have any experience with AA, AlAnon, or anyone who might give you reason to become involved in either of these upstanding organizations, I highly recommend you try to see this show before it closes on Sunday.  Having no other criticism than a lack of a deeper meaning, I believe this was quite a history lesson, and I’m more in awe of Rick Lombardo than usual at his knowledge of what his audience would like to see.

Kudos to you, Mr. Lombardo.

Bill W. and Dr. Bob
San Jose Repertory Theatre
June 21 – July 15, 2012
By Samuel Shem & Janet Surrey
directed by Richard Seer

Thought you’d have the summer off from theater, music and performance this year? HAH! This summer is shaping up to be the most busy and FUN summer in recent history.  Here are just a few items which you can plan for.  Metblogs should be at all these events, so if you can’t make it we’ll tell you about the fun you missed!  Don’t let it come to that… Put these events on your calendars now!

Roxanne (Jessica Wortham) and Jake (Craig Marker) inspect Harry's (Gabriel Marin) equity card in The Understudy. Photo: Kevin Berne

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The Understudy
Now through June 3
San Jose Repertory

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SOMETIMES A VENEER OF PROFESSIONALISM IS THE ONLY THING MASKING ALL-OUT PANIC
Time is running out to see this show that Kathleen Normington, Professor of Theatre at SJSU, called “brilliant and achingly touching”.  Metblogs sadly had to miss this show, but all the reviews have been raving.

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Opera SJ

Summer Concert Series
Opera San Jose
Ongoing

One need never live without opera in San Jose.  OSJ has posted their Summer Concert Series schedule on their Facebook page, and if you haven’t clicked LIKE yet, you’re missing a lot of great deals.

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Bill W. and Dr. Bob

Bill W. and Dr. Bob
San Jose Repertory
June 21 through July 15

Facebook

A GREAT AMERICAN STORY ABOUT HEALING AND CONNECTION
This quick-witted and honest docu-drama follows two dynamic and dedicated men who, in the midst of their battle with acute and debilitating alcoholism, formed a formidable and historic alliance to help others combat the same addiction. Bill Wilson, a stockbroker who crashed with the stock market, finds himself in a bar. He could have pursued any number of distractions–a game of solitaire, reading a book–instead he chose to make a phone call. Through an astonishing series of events and bitter humor comes the inspiring, true story of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous and their wives.

The Odyssey

The Odyssey on Angel Island State Park
We Players
Now through July 1

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A couple years ago the We Players put on an amazing live Hamlet at Alcatraz. This summer it’s a live action The Odyssey on Angel Island.  Metblogs will be there June 16 and this is one of the shows we’re most excited about.  Missing the Alcatraz Hamlet show is something I’ll regret forever, I’ll not make the same mistake twice!  We’re so excited we’re going to read The Odyssey one more time before we go!

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Cavalia

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Cavalia
July 11 – July 22

Facebook

It’s like Cirque du Soleil with horses!  Go to the website and check out the videos.  I can’t imagine a more beautiful show.  We’ve checked out the word on animal treatment and they appear to get the highest marks possible, so you can have a guilt free enjoyment of some of the most beautiful horses in the world.  Some packages even allow for a tour of the stables after the show!  Tickets go on sale June 3.

"One ring to bind them!" Charles Ross in One-Man Lord of the Rings™

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One-Man Lord of the Rings™
July 24 through July 29
San Jose Repertory

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Last summer at San Jose Rep, Ross kept audiences laughing with his solo take on the Star Wars trilogy. This time in One-Man Lord of the Rings™, Ross shoehorns 11 hours and 23 minutes of Peter Jackson’s epic films into a 70-minute show packed with 42 characters, theme music, and sound effects. 

Metblogs was there last summer and it was the most frenetic 90 minutes we’d ever lived through.  We wouldn’t miss this show for the world and you shouldn’t either.

AJ Meijer as "Lennie" and Jos Viramontes as "George" in OF MICE AND MEN at TheatreWorks. Photo credit: Mark Kitaoka

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TheatreWorks productions are new to Metblogs, but this won’t be the last time we review one of their outstanding productions.  I was lucky enough to be invited to review their current show, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, and was thoroughly impressed.

AJ Meijer as "Lennie," Jos Viramontes as "George," and Lena Hart as "Curley's wife" in OF MICE AND MEN at TheatreWorks. Photo credit: Tracy Martin

I was especially excited to see Of Mice and Men, as it’s one of my favorite stories by Steinbeck.  It is the emotional tale of George, a migrant farmworker, and his hardworking but mentally challenged buddy Lenny, who just likes to rub his fingers against soft things:  a swatch of luxurious velvet, a woman’s silky hair, a dead mouse he found on the side of the road…

George and Lenny are on a journey to their next job in Soledad, and when they meet the resident group of farm workers and their dogs, everyone’s lives are about to change.  This is not a happy story, but it is a most emotional, sympathetic and thought provoking tale about love and companionship, with both animals and humans, and what it means to actually be in charge of your partner’s care.  As far as I can remember the play is pretty faithful to Steinbeck’s story, which is very short, and if you have not read the book before I highly recommend it.

Gary Martinez as "Candy" and AJ Meijer as "Lennie" in OF MICE AND MEN at TheatreWorks. Photo credit: Tracy Martin

I had never seen the show performed live before but I was sure it was going to be an amazing production and I was right.  TheatreWorks raises it to an even higher level with their talented cast.   Charles Branklyn brings a truthful cantankerousness to the marginalized Crooks, who, as a black man, must live in the barn away from the other workers.  Gary S. Martinez is an amazingly sympathetic Candy, who is aware that his end of days is coming, but not soon enough.  And the two stars of the show are more than capable of carrying the entire production.  Jos Viramontes is the ever faithful George, who takes seriously the responsibility of caring for his friend Lenny, played by AJ Meijer.  Lenny is an extremely important character to cast, as it must be made clear to the audience both his weaknesses and his utmost strength, and those who play the part often (and should) get a lot of attention.  But George is also not a simple character to play, and Viramontes makes it clear his love for his friend so that George’s decision at the end of the play is understandable and accepted by the audience.  Viramontes and Meijer are both spectacular.

The show plays through April 29 and is well worth the price of the tickets (ranging from $19 – $69).  It is not a show fit for younger children, but is a great one for teens.  I have a feeling this show is going to garner a lot of nominations at the end of the year, and likely many wins as well.  I wholeheartedly recommend you see this production.  I absolutely look forward to many more shows from TheatreWorks in the future.

Of Mice and Men
TheatreWorks
Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
650 463-1960

Raise your hand if you’ve been to Hillbarn Theater in the last six months.

*looks out at sea of blank faces*

Well why the heck not??

A heated family discussion between Lenny Magrath (left- Kelly Rinehart) and Chick Boyle (Eileen Fisher) takes place as Babe Magrath looks on (Jade Shojaee in back) in Hillbarn Theatre's Crimes of the Heart

Hillbarn Theater is an amazing venue which presents some of the best plays in the Bay Area.  They consistently present top rated shows, completely transform their stage with every production, and always attract amazing talent.  Just this year you’ve already missed City of Angels, Master Class, The Will Rogers Follies, Social Security, and recently Crimes of the Heart.  Crimes of the Heart especially caused the audience to twitter excitedly during intermission about the amazing trio of actresses who carried the show, most notably an incredibly impressive performance by young Jade Shojaee – keep an eye out for that name in the future.  Foster City is not that far away from the South Bay, traffic at night is usually going the opposite direction, and the venue is run by some of the nicest people in theater.

But Hillbarn also presents many extra shows and educational events.  Crimes of the Heart just finished its run and The Producers doesn’t begin until May (put it on your calendars now!), but there is already a new event scheduled this weekend:  The award-winning dance company Diablo Ballet will present works by some of the top choreographers in the Bay Area and the world this Friday and Saturday.  Known for their exciting and innovative performances, the program this weekend will include the following:

Diablo Ballet dancers Robert Dekkers (right), Hiromi Yamazaki (lifted), and Derek Sakakura (lifting) perform KT Nelson's Escaping Game

The West Coast Premiere of the duet from Mercurial Manoeuvres, by Christopher Wheeldon, one of the top choreographers from England.

Escaping Game by KT Nelson, Co-Artistic Director of ODC/San Francisco

Back in the Day, the new dance work set to the music of Frank Sinatra by David Fonnegra.

Live music will accompany several of the works, and following the performance the audience is invited to mingle and meet the dancers at a complimentary reception in the lobby.   And I know from experience that Hillbarn always presents a fun food and drink spread for their parties.

After the Saturday, 2pm performance, young dance fans and their parents are invited to the Little Ballerina Tea in the courtyard.  Featuring specially prepared tea, food and drink, young ballet fans are invited to meet and take pictures with the dancers.  This is a wonderful family activity!

Diablo Ballet dancers Derek Sakakura and Hiromi Yamazaki perform Christopher Wheeldon's Mercurial Manoeuvres

Diablo Ballet
Hillbarn Theatre
Friday, March 30:  8pm
Saturday, March 31: 2pm and 8pm
1285 East Hillsdale Boulevard, Foster City
Tickets:  650-349-6411