Flora Lynn Isaacson

Marin Theatre Company presents Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song May 9-June 2 in Mill Valley. This production is thoroughly enjoyable thanks to the extraordinary talent of the cast and creative team led by Director Evren Odcikin.

In 2017 Fierstein revised his1983 Tony Award winning play, Torch Song Trilogy, into a shorter, two-act version called Torch Song.The plot still centers on Arnold Beckhoff, a lonely Jewish man (and drag queen) looking for real love in New York City in the late 1970’s (before AIDS). As the story develops, the characters all struggle to find love despite the betrayal, confusion, judgment and unrequited feelings that often accompany it.

Dean Linnard’s range is incredible playing the role of Arnold. His performance is full of energy, touches your heart, makes you laugh and relate to his character’s yearning for love and understanding.

Patrick Andrew Jones (playing Arnold’s bi-sexual friend Ed) captures the essence of his character’s ambivalence and difficulty confronting his sexuality.

Kina Kantor is spot on as Laurel (Ed’s female lover) and Nancy Carlin (Arnold’s mother) is excellent showing the complexity of her character–a woman who loves her son but finds his “choices” difficult to accept.

Equally exceptional in their roles are Joe Ayers as David (a gay teen that Arnold takes in as a foster kid) and Edric Young who plays Alan, a sweet young man who gives up “hustling,” after Arnold saves him from a violent confrontation, falls in love with Arnold and becomes his lover.

Kudos to Sarah Phykitt for her incredible Scenic Design—especially the giant bed, Jessie Amoroso for the lovely Costume Design, Lana Palmer (Sound Design), and Nick Carvalho (Stage Manager). Their creativity and talent add much to this a memorable show!

Coming up next at Marin Theatre Company is Yaga by Kat Sandler, October 10-November 3.

FloraLynnIsaacson

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Don’t miss The Book Club Play, presented by Ross Valley Players now through June 9 at the Barn Theater in Ross.

Written by Karen Zacarias and directed by Mary Ann Rodgers, the show will make you laugh and smile. It’s entertaining from start to finish thanks the extraordinary talent of the ensemble cast and creative team.

The stage (Ron Krempetz/Dhyanis) is set perfectly for a book club.  Ana’s comfortable living room has a well stocked bar, cozy couches, chairs, plenty of bookshelves and warm lighting (Ellen Brooks).

As the play begins, the members of the club introduce themselves one by one. First is Ana (Elena Wright), a journalist who holds the book club in her home. She has agreed to let a documentary filmmaker set up a camera to record the club’s meetings. Next is Lily (Chiyako Delores) who works with Ana at the local newspaper. Lily joins the club to meet people since she’s new in town.  Rob (Mark Vashro) is Ana’s husband. He admits he’s “not a big reader,” but likes the food and company at book club. Jen (Jannely Calmell) is a paralegal. She says books are her “best friends.”  Will (Matthew Travisano) works at a history museum—he’s well read, well dressed and dated Ana before she met her husband Rob.

After the introductions, Ana explains the camera is pre-set to record the group every two weeks when they meet. The food and wine flows as they discuss the first book selected, Moby Dick.

Later in Act One, a new character, Alex (Gabriel Ross)  joins the group for the first time. He’s a friend of Jen’s and a comparative literature professor. He doesn’t enjoy books anymore and claims his “connection” to books and people is “broken.”

Throughout the play, a separate character called “the pundit” (Marsha van Broek) appears between scenes offering wit and wisdom on various aspects of books and the book business. She is hilarious playing multiple roles (both male and female) including a retired librarian, secret service agent, Wal-Mart book stocker, prison bookseller and literary agent.

As the story develops and the group discusses Age of Innocence, Twilight, The Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter and other familiar titles, the characters recognize the powerful effect that books have on themselves and each other.

Special thanks to Steve Price (Producer) for bringing this touching comedy to the Ross Valley Player’s stage.

Coming up next at Ross Valley Players is Crossing Delanceyby Susan Sandler and directed by Adrian Elfenbaum, September 12-October 13.

FloraLynnIsaacson

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Sonoma Community Center was packed last weekend for the final performances of the musical The Hello Girls, presented by Sonoma Arts Live.

According to Jaime Love, Artistic Director, it’s “about the first female U.S. military unit…groundbreakers who operated switchboards translating vital communications during World War I.” Serving as part of the U.S. Army Signal Corp., these bi-lingual women ironically did not even have the right to vote until two years after the war ended in 1920.

Based on the book by Cara Reichel and Peter Mills (music and lyrics also by Mills), the story comes to life with Maeve Smith’s fine direction and outstanding music direction by Aja Gianola-Norris.

The show is a real winner thanks to spectacular choreography by Jonathen Blue and lovely live music performed by members of the cast along with Elaine Herrick (bass/cello) and Erica Dori/Elizabeth Dreyer Robertson (percussion).

The ensemble cast is multi-talented. They act, sing, dance and some play musical instruments—all with great energy and range. Tina Traboulsi shines in her role as Louise (she also plays clarinet and guitar).  Mike Pavone is commanding as General Pershing and Jonathen Blue stands out with his powerful singing voice and strong acting as “Doughboy” Lt. Wassen.

Rounding out the fine cast is Caroline Shen (Bertha/piano), Emily Evans (Helen/violin), Sarah Lundstrom (Suzanne), Jenny Veilleux (Grace), Drew Bolander (Lt. Riser), Skyler King (Masterson) and Phi Tran (Morris). The actors’ dialects were spot on thanks to John Rustan (Dialect and Language Coach).

The set is simple so the costumes (Jaime Love/Maeve Smith), sound design (Tom Luekens) and lighting (Frank Sarubbi) add much to the overall mood. Kudos to the rest of the creative team and entire cast for creating a memorable show!

Coming up next at Sonoma Arts Live is Lend Me A Tenor,May 31-June 16 followed by The Prom, July 12-28.

FloraLynnIsaacson

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