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Flora Lynn Isaacson

Flora Lynn Isaacson

While “Waiting for Godot” at Marin Theatre Company

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

Mark Anderson Phillips (Estragon), James Carpenter (Pozzo) and Mark Bedard (Vladimir) in Waiting for Godot.

Samuel Beckett’s French title, En Attendant Godot, sums up the essence of his 1953 play Waiting for Godot as it is really about what happens while two tramps wait.  Beckett’s masterpiece is directed by MTC’s Artistic Director, Jasson Minadakis.  Beckett calls his play “a tragi-comedy” in two acts.

The plot of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is simple to relate. Two tramps Estragon, (Mark Anderson Phillips) and Vladimir (Mark Bedard) are waiting by the side of the road for the arrival of Godot.  They quarrel, make up, contemplate suicide, try to sleep, eat a carrot and gnaw on some chicken bones.  Later, two other characters appear, a master, Pozzo (James Carpenter) and his slave, Lucky (Ben Johnson).  They pause for a while to converse with Vladimir and Estragon.  Lucky entertains them by dancing.  After Pozzo and Lucky leave, a young boy (Lucas Meyers) arrives to say that Godot will  not come today but he will come tomorrow.  However, Godot does not come and the two tramps resume their vigil by the tree, which between the 1st and 2nd act has spring some leaves.

Beckett’s two tramps are costumed by Maggi Whitaker in tight black suits, bowler hats and tight shoes which are reminiscent of Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Laurel and Hardy.  The minimalist set by Liliana Duque Pineiro consists of a plain black background with only a bare branched tree, a rock and occasionally a moon.

Minadakis’ superb direction shows us that life is worth living when you are with someone.  His Vladimir and Estragon are tied together because they need each other. They complement one another.  Vladimir never sits down while Estragon is constantly sitting.

Minadakis has assembled a talented cast—Oregon Shakespeare Festival Company Member is Vladimir.  Mark Anderson Phillips, previously in MTC’s Tiny Alice, is Estragon.  Both actors play off each other very well.  A standout performance is given by well-known Bay Area actor James Carpenter as Pozzo.  Former Ringling Brothers and Cirque du Soleil clown, Ben Johnson makes the most of his role as Pozzo’s servant Lucky.  His long speech is strongly reminiscent of James Joyce.

Beckett’s play is universal because it pictures the journey all of us take in our daily lives.  Habit is very important as it is the pattern of our daily lives.  We are all waiting for something to make our lives better.  The act of waiting is never over and it mysteriously starts up again each day.

Waiting for Godot runs at Marin Theatre Company January 24-February 17, 2013.  Performances are held Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m.; Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Matinees are held each Sunday at 2 p.m. and a Saturday matinee, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, February 7 at 1 p.m.  All performances are held at 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley. For tickets, call the box office, 415-388-5208 or go to www.marintheatre.org.

Coming up next at MTC will be the Bay Area Premiere of The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez and directed by Jasson Minadakis, March 28-April 21, 2013.

Flora Lynn Isaacson

Pack of Lies – Untold Secrets at RVP

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

Tina Taylor as Barbara Jackson and Tess O’Brien as Julie Jackson in Pack of Lies, an espionage thriller presented by Ross Valley Players. Photo by Robin Jackson.

Ross Valley Players is currently presenting Pack of Lies by Hugh Whitemore and directed by Molly Noble.

Pack of Lies takes place in a suburb of London during the autumn and winter of 1960-1961.  The main events of the story are true.

In 1961, Peter and Helen Kroger (Craig Neibaur and Mary Ann Rodgers), two Americans living in a London suburb who were convicted of spying for the Russians and sentenced to 20 years in prison.  From these true facts, Whitemore writes a powerfully moving fictional account of the events leading up to their arrest.

With the action centered on the totally unsuspecting Jackson household–Bob (Malcolm Rodgers), Barbara (Tina Taylor) and their daughter Julie (Tess O’Brien).  The Jacksons live opposite the Krogers, believing them to be a convivial Canadian couple and their closest friends.  Then a mysterious stranger, Mr. Stewart (Steve Price) arrives announcing he is from MIS and quietly coerces the Jacksons into allowing their house to be used as a surveillance post.  In the nightmare months that follow, the Jackson’s decent, happy life is shattered as the truth about the much loved friends is gradually revealed to them and, helpless in this world of deception and treachery, Barbara reaches a breaking point with the agonizing realization that the Krogers have betrayed her and she, in turn, has betrayed the Krogers.

In her first directorial role with Ross Valley Players, Molly Noble is to be congratulated with only one minor criticism. The pace lags at times.  Her British dialects are quite authentic though at times, hard to understand.  Especially effective were the monologues each character has with the audience where each actor steps out on a platform in front of the set. The split set by Ron Krempetz was excellent and worked very well.  The period was nicely captured and complimented by the costumes of Michael Berg.

Tina Taylor as Barbara Jackson looked wonderfully anxious throughout as she fussed over her wayward daughter, ably played by Tess O’Brien and contrasted beautifully with the exuberant warmth of Mary Ann Rodgers as Helen Kroger.  Craig Neibaur played an enigmatic Peter Kroger who gave nothing away, while Steve Price gave a strong and well paced performance as the mysterious Mr. Stewart, the man from the MIS whose surveillance operation led to the Kroger’s downfall.  Also, the beautifully observed performance of Malcolm Rodgers as the genial, bewildered Bob Jackson was genuinely moving. There were nice supporting performances, especially Melanie Bandera-Hess as Thelma and Livia Demarchi as Sally, the two MIS girls who stay with the Jacksons during the operation.

Pack of Lies is a bit on the “talky” side and demands your strict attention but it is well worth the effort!

Pack of Lies runs January 18-February 17, 2013 at Ross Valley Players Barn Theatre, Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross.  Thursday performances are at 7:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For reservations call 415-456-9555, ext. 1.

Coming up next at Ross Valley Players will be Enchanted April by Matthew Barber and directed by Cris Cassell, March 14-April 14, 2013.

Flora Lynn Isaacson

 

 

 

A Magical Bell Book and Candle at San Francisco Playhouse

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

Lauren English as Gillian Holroyd with her cat Pyewacket in Bell Book and Candle at SF Playhouse

SF Playhouse ushers in the holiday spirit for the company’s 10th season with the romantic comedy, Bell Book and Candle by John Van Druten and directed by Bill English.

The play opened on Broadway in 1950 and starred Lily Palmer and Rex Harrison. The movie version which starred Kim Novak and James Stewart opened in 1958.

The plot concerns Gillian Holroyd (Lauren English), a young, sultry witch who admires her neighbor, a publisher, Shep Henderson (William Connell), who one day stumbles into her gallery to use the telephone.  When she learns he is about to marry an old college enemy of hers, she impulsively takes revenge by casting a love spell on him that backfires when she ends up falling for him herself.

Once Gillian falls in love, she loses her witch’s powers.  She is unable to cast spells.  Her sister, Queenie (Zehra Berkman) and brother Nicky (Scott Cox), a witch and warlock, do not quite know how to relate to this new human Gillian.

Lauren English sparkles as Gillian! She plays her role with a combination of sophistication and naivete, and creates a warm and touching portrait of an unhappy, bewildered witch.

William Connell gives a solid performance as Henderson, the straight laced book publisher.  Gillian’s wacky sister Queenie is played by Zehra Berkman with delightful nervous energy.  Scott Cox gives a strong performance as Nicky, Gillian’s immature brother.  Louis Parnell gives a flawless performance as Sidney Redlitch, who wants Henderson to publish his manuscript on modern-day witchcraft.

Bill English’s handsome set done in red velvet gives a marvelous view of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building from Gillian’s arched picture window. The imaginative costume design is by Abra Berman with Kurt Landisman doing the lighting design.

Bill English has assembled five talented actors for this production and keeps the action fast and snappy.  Bell Book and Candle is light holiday entertainment and this production which runs through January 19, 2013 is thoroughly enjoyable.

Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at  7 p.m., Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. No show on 12/25 or 1/1.  Added Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on 12/30, 1/6 and 1/13.

Performances are held at the SF Playhouse, 450 Post St. (2nd floor of Kensington Park Hotel b/n Powell and Mason), San Francisco.  For tickets, contact the SF Playhouse box office at 415-677-9596 or go online at www.sfplayhouse.org.

Coming up next at SF Playhouse will be The Motherf**cker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Bill English, opening January 29, 2013.

Flora Lynn Isaacson

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at MTC

By Flora Lynn Isaacson


Gabriel Marin as George and Sarah Overman as Mary in MTC’s It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

The Frank Capra film classic takes on a different twist at Marin Theatre Company in Joe Landry’s adaptation with five actors playing radio actors voicing dozens of characters and creating all the sound effects as if performing in a radio drama in front of a studio audience.  Jon Tracy directs this famous tale of George Bailey’s crisis of faith and his lovable guardian angel, Clarence.

The intimate space of MTC is transformed into the 1940’s radio studio of New York Station A at WMTC. The audience is whisked back in time as they watch five wonderful actors create all the characters who populate the magical world of Bedford Falls.

Gabriel Marin plays Jake Laurents who plays a sincere and earnest George Bailey.  Sarah Overman is Sally Applewhite who plays a sunny and delightful Mary who becomes George’s wife.  Michael Gene Sullivan plays the announcer for WMTC as well as the voices of the villainous old miser, Mr. Potter, Uncle Billy, Mr. Gower (the druggist) and bartender, Martini.  Carrie Paff plays Lana Sherwood who lends her versatile voice and acting skills to every other female in the play, ranging from a small child to a senior citizen and from the town’s siren, Violet to George Bailey’s mom.  Rounding out the cast is Patrick Kelly Jones who plays Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood who brings to life the saving angel Clarence, Harry Bailey (George’s father), Sam Wainwright, Harry’s close friend and others.

This charming MTC production sets it all in an elegant, warmly lit studio.  Scenery by Eric Sinkkonen achieves some holiday effects with a lovely tree and a view through a high window of falling snow.  Lighting by Michael Palumbo adds a special glow.  The actors are costumed by Callie Floor in attractive period suits and dresses. The ladies hairstyles even look right.

Michael Gene Sullivan does a warm up with the audience at the beginning of the show to get them to applaud when the applause light goes on. Director Jon Tracy lets the actors open up to one another by having them memorize their lines. They only make use of their scripts as a prop.

Rekindle your holiday spirit with this delightful, family-friendly celebration with this special holiday gift from Marin Theatre Company.

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio plays runs November 23-December 16, 2012 at  MTC. Performances are Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m.; Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Matinees are every Sunday at 2 p.m. and also, Saturday, December 15 at 2 p.m. as well as Thursday, December 6 at 1 p.m.

Marin Theater Company is located at 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley.  For tickets, call 415-388-5208 or go to www.marintheatre.org. Coming up next at MTC will be Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, directed by Jasson Minadakis, January 24-February 17, 2013.

Flora Lynn Isaacson

 

 

 

Dead Certain–A Psychological Thriller at the Cartwright

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

Pictured: (l-r) Diana Brown as Elizabeth, Andrey Esterlis as Michael
Photo by Stacy Marshall

Dead Certain is an intricately plotted psychological thriller, which tells the story of Michael (Andrey Esterlis), a charismatic out of work actor who is hired for an evening by Elizabeth (Diana Brown), a wheelchair-bound ex-dancer to read a play she has written.  The plot thickens as Michael begins to realize that Elizabeth’s play is mirroring real life and that their paths may have crossed at least once before. There are many twists and turns before the play builds toward a shocking climax.

Diana Brown and Andrey Esterlis both give lively, theatrically entertaining performances throughout.  They both play off each other extremely well.  Also, as the director, Esterlis does an excellent job with the blocking as the theatre space at the Cartwright is very intimate and this makes the play even more exciting.

Dead Certain is presented by Expression Productions and continues at the Hotel Cartwright, 524 Sutter, San Francisco Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. through December 15, 2012.  For tickets, call Expression Productions at 415-307-0470 or email: expressionproductions@gmail.com.

Flora Lynn Isaacson

 

Make the Most of Life–You Can’t Take It With You

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

Wood Lockhart as Martin Vanderhof.  Photo by Robin Jackson

You Can’t Take It With You by the beloved team of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart just opened as the second show of Ross Valley Players’ 83rd season. At the helm is James Dunn, renowned Marin director.  The original production of the play opened the Booth Theatre on December 14, 1936.  The play won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

This timeless classic relates the humorous encounter between a conservative family and the lunatic household of Martin Vanderhof.  The play takes place in the Vanderhof home in New York City, mid-1930’s on a magnificently detailed set by Ken Rowland.  “Grandpa” Martin Vanderhof (Wood Lockhart) was once part of the competitive business world. However, one day he realized he was unhappy, so he stopped working and is doing whatever he wants to do.  His daughter Penny (Maureen O’Donoghue) writes plays simply because a few years ago a typewriter was accidently delivered to her house.  She also paints.  She is easily distracted and never finishes a single project. Her son-in-law, Paul Sycamore (Richard Kerrigan) spends hours in the basement making illegal fireworks and playing with erector sets.  His granddaughter Essie (LeAnne Rumbel) sells candy and has been clumsily attempting ballet for over eight years.  His grandson-in-law, Ed (Ross Berger) plays the xylophone (or tries to) and innocently distributes Marxist propaganda.  In addition to the family, many “odd ball” friends come and go from the Vanderhof house.  Some never leave.  Mr. DePinna (Bob Wison), the man who used to deliver ice, now helps out with the fireworks and dresses in a Greek toga to pose for Penny’s portraits.

In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirby’s.  Tony (Isaac Islas), the attractive son of the Kirby’s, falls in love with Alice Sycamore (Robyn Grahn) and brings his parents to dine at the Sycamore home on the wrong evening.  The shock sustained by Mr. and Mrs. Kirby (Stephen Dietz and Robyn Wiley), who are indignant from the cheap food offered, shows Alice that marriage with Tony is out of the question. The Sycamores find it hard to understand Alice’s view.  Tony knows the Sycamores live the right way with love and care for each other, while his own family is the one that is crazy.  In the end, Mr. Kirby is converted to the happy madness of the Sycamores after he happens to drop in during a visit by the Grand Duchess of Russia, Olga Katrina (Christina Jacqua) who is currently earning her living as a waitress at Child’s Restaurant.

Under the careful direction of James Dunn, the Vanderhof household is filled with activity, all of it chosen and purposeful to the person doing it. In addition to the wonderful cast ideally selected by James Dunn, there are delightful cameos by Kim Bromley as Reba, the Vanderhof’s maid and Donald (Javier Alarcon), the Vanderhof’s chef and Kolenkhov (John Starr), Essie’s ballet teacher. This play is delightful fun for the entire family.

You Can’t Take It With You runs at Ross Valley Players November 15-December 16, 2012.  Thursday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The venue is Ross Valley Players Barn Theatre at the Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. For reservations, call 415-456-9555, ext. 1 or go online at www.rossvalleyplayers.com.

Coming up next at Ross Valley Players will be Pack of Lies by Hugh Whitemore and directed by Molly Noble, January 18-February 17, 2013.

Flora Lynn Isaacson

The Game by Don Samson Wins 1st Place Honors at 30th Anniversary Fringe of Marin Awards Ceremony

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

With grateful thanks to Dr. Annette Lust, Artistic Director and Festival Coordinator, The Dominican University Players and the Fringe of Marin just celebrated their 30th anniversary.  Pamela Rand opened the ceremony by presenting Dr. Lust with a beautiful plaque with the masks of comedy and tragedy and inscribed to her in honor of her fine work as well as some lovely flowers and a bottle of champagne.

Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards for Best Play, Director and Actors were announced Sunday, November 18, 2012 at Meadowlands Assembly Hall at Dominican University in San Rafael.

The first awards presented were for Best Play. The pride of 1st Place went to Don Samson for The Game. The 2nd Place winner was a tie between Get A Date Show by Stacy Lapin and Pamela Rand, and The Trouble At Table 23 by Charley Lerrigo.  3rd Place honors went to Michael Ferguson for Sharp Edges.  Nominations went to Carol Sheldon for On With The Wind, George Dykstra for Mysterious Ways, George Freek for She Has A Plan, Ollie Mae Trost Welch for Shaw and G. Randy Kasten for Supplementing.

Next up were awards for Best Director. There was a 1st Place tie between Carol Eggers for The Game and Paoli Lacy for Get A Date Show.  Peter Hsieh won 2nd Place honors for Sunday Sundays.  Nominations went to Pamela Rand for How Salt and Pepper Got Put Into Shakers, Amy Crumpacker for The Trouble At Table 23, Carol Sheldon for On With The Wind, Jim Colgan for She Has A Plan and Harold Delinsky for Mysterious Ways.

There was a tie for 1st Place as Best Actor between Kevin Copps for Shaw and Manik Bahl for The Trouble At Table 23.  There was also a 2nd Place tie for Best Actor between George Dykstra for Mysterious Ways and David Louis Klein for Sharp Edges.  3rd Place honors for Best Actor went to Rick Roitinger for The Game. Nominations went to George Doerr for She Has A Plan and Ross Travis for Get A Date Show.

The last of the Critics Circle Awards went to the Best Actress.  1st Place honors went to Emily Soleil for The Game. Roberta Maloy won 2nd Place for On With The Wind.  Nominations went to Jean Davis for The Trouble at Table 23, Joan Mankin for Get A Date Show, Tristan Cunningham for Get A Date Show, Jennifer Cedar-Kraft for Sharp Edges, Terri Barker for How Salt and Pepper Got Put Into Shakers, Lauren Arrow for Minerva and Melrose and Melissa Schepers for One Time At The Zoo.

For the 11th consecutive time, the Audience Awards took place. Here are the results.

The Trouble At Table 23 by Charley Lerrigo won Best Play.  One Time At The Zoo by William O. Chessman III won 2nd Place.  There was a three way tie for 3rd Place between Get A Date Show by Stacy Lapin and Pamela Rand, On With the Wind by Carol Sheldon and The Game by Don Samson.  4th Place honors went to Minerva and Melrose by Martin A. David. There was a tie for 5th Place between Shaw by Ollie Mae Trost Welch and How Salt and Pepper Got Put Into Shakers by Annette Lust. There was a tie for 6th Place between Arrangements by Claire J. Baker and Sunday Sundays by Peter Hsieh.  There was a three way tie for 7th Place between Supplementing by G. Randy Kasten, Sharp Edges by Michael Ferguson and She Has A Plan by George Freek.  George Dykstra won 8th Place honors for Mysterious Ways. A Nomination went to Hollywood Confidential by Shirley King.

Amy Crumpacker won 1st Place as Best Director for The Trouble at Table 23. There was a tie for 2nd Place between Carol Sheldon for On With The Wind and William O. Chessman III for One Time At The Zoo.  3rd Place for Best Director went to Pamela Rand for How Salt and Pepper Got Put Into Shakers.  4th Place honors went to Paoli Lacy for Get A Date Show.  There was a three way tie for 5th Place between Martin A. David for Minerva and Melrose, Carol Eggers and Peter Hsieh for Sunday Sundays.  There was a tie for 7th Place between G. Randy Kasten for Supplementing and Ollie Mae Trost Welch for Shaw.  Robin Schild won 8th Place as Best Director for Hollywood Confidential.  Nominations went to Harold Delinsky for Mysterious Ways, Michael Ferguson for Sharp Edges and Gina Pandiani for Arrangements.

Manik Bahl won the audience vote for Best Actor for The Trouble At Table 23.  George Dykstra won 2nd Place as Best Actor for Mysterious Ways.  3rd Place went to George Doerr for She Has A Plan. Rick Roitinger won 4th Place as Best Actor for The Game.  There was a tie for 5th Place between Kevin Copps for Shaw and Jon Zax for Minerva and Melrose.  There was a four way tie for 6th Place Best Actor between Ken Sollazzo for One Time At The Zoo, Michael A. O’Brien for One Time At The Zoo, David Rodrigues for Supplementing and David Louis Klein for Sharp Edges.  7th Place for Best Actor went to Ross Travis for Get A Date Show. There was a tie for 8th Place for Best Actor between Randy Craig for Get A Date Show and Jerrund Bojest for Shaw.  Nominations for Best Actor went to Michael Collins for On With The Wind, Charles Grant for How Salt and Pepper Got Put Into Shakers and also for Arrangements, Everado Leon for Sunday Sunday, Monty Paulson for Hollywood Confidential, John Ferreira for The Trouble At Table 23 and Simon Patton for She Has A Plan.

Lauren Arrow won 1st Place as Best Actress for Minerva and Melrose.  2nd Place honors went to Jean Davis for The Trouble at Table 23.  Emily Soleil came in 3rd Place for The Game.  There was tie for 4th Place between Diane Rodrigues for Supplementing and Susan Amacker for One Time At The Zoo. There was a three way tie between Pamela Rand for Get A Date Show, Kathy Holly for On With The Wind and Terri Barker for Arrangements.  There was a tie for 6th Place Best Actress between Donna Andrews for On With The Wind and Jennifer Cedar-Kraft for Sharp Edges.  There was a tie for 7th Place between Cynthia Sims for How Salt And Pepper Got Put Into Shakers and Ayelette Robinson for She Has A Plan.  There was a tie for 8th Place between Flora Lynn Isaacson for On With The Wind and Melissa Schepers for One Time At The Zoo. Nominations went to Gigi Benson for Hollywood Confidential, Terri Barker for How Salt and Pepper Got Put Into Shakers, Cynthia Sims for She Has A Plan and Joan Mankin for Get A Date Show.

Bravo to Dr. Annette Lust for maintaining the Fringe of Marin Festival for 30 Seasons!

Flora Lynn Isaacson

30th Season of Fringe of Marin Showcases Local Talent

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

Last Friday, November 2, Artistic Director Dr. Annette Lust welcomed us to the 30th anniversary season of the Fringe of Marin. Program One introduced six new plays and one solo performance.

Shirley King’s Hollywood Confidential opened the program.  Stylishly directed by Robin Schild, who directed her earlier play, Scramble Time, starred the same actress, Gigi Benson.  In this play, Gigi Benson plays Gloria who works for Mission Control and is hoping to save Hollywood from extinction.  Gloria’s assignment is to thwart the evil Frost Gang.  Ralph Duckman is the only volunteer.  He is a Super Hero always up for a new adventure.  The actors move well and Gigi Benson is beautiful in her sexy red dress. Each character tries to outsmart the other.

Mysterious Ways, a solo performance written and performed by George Dykstra was next on the program.  George Dykstra is a talented playwright and director.  This is his debut performance as an actor. He is dressed in a tuxedo and starts out as a singing waiter with a beautiful voice about to celebrate a special occasion.  Next he reflects on memories in a family album. As he does this, the piece takes a different turn with a serious look at the human condition becoming a bit melodramatic.

Minerva and Melrose written and directed by Martin A. David was next. Lauren Arrow as Minerva gives an outstanding performance as a young wife concentrating on her career while she keeps her older husband imprisoned in the bathroom. Jon Zax is Melrose and gives a subdued performance as her supportive husband.  This is a delightfully clever comedy!

Rounding out the first half of the program is The Game by Don Samson and directed by Carol Eggers.  In The Game, Tom (Rick Roitinger) and Marion (Emily Soleil) have been invited to a sex party.  Tom wants to go and Marion does not. She uses her wifely knowledge and weapons to get her way.  Here we have a top notch playwright, director, actor, Rick Roitinger and a charming newcomer Emily Soleil.

Dr. Annette Lust’s delightful pantry tale, How Salt and Pepper Got Put Into Shakers, opened the second half of the program. The piece was imaginatively staged by Pamela Rand with a darling set by Ruth Grant.  Charles Grant, with a wonderful French accent, is the Cook who is also the narrator.  Salt (Cynthia Sims) and Pepper (Terri Barker) are constantly quarreling. Their costumes are so clever!  The Cook pulls them apart and puts them into their shakers and give us the following moral – “When sisters or brothers fight over which is more appreciated, little do they realize they are creating their own shaker prisons that could separate them for years to come.”

Next up was Sharp Edges written and directed by Michael Ferguson.  In this play, Daniel (David Louis Klein) and Melanie (Jennifer Cedar-Kraft) run into each other during the intermission of a performance. Daniel is a good looking middle aged man and Melanie a younger woman. Daniel seems to be a sexual predator and Melanie an innocent girl. This is well acted and directed although the story is melodramatic.

Program One concludes with Sunday Sundays written and directed by Peter Hsieh. This is an avant garde play about the game of croquet starring Jason Hurtado, Michael Lee Lund, Everado Leon and Elizabeth Curtis.

Program One continues Friday November 9 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday November 10 at 2 p.m. and November 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Meadowlands Assembly Hall, Dominican University, 50 Acacia Avenue at Grand, San Rafael. For reservations and information, call 415-673-3131 or go online at www.fringeofmarin.com.

Founded in 1990 by Dr. Annette Lust, these Fringe of Marin Festivals set a precedent for other Fringe Festivals both locally and beyond, creating a sense of excitement regarding new discoveries and community artists combined with spectator participation.

Flora Lynn Isaacson

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson: Rock Musical Launches SF Playhouse To A New Home

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

President Jackson ponders a difficult decision on how to deal with Indians (Ashkon Davaran & Michael Barrett Austin)

The SF Playhouse’s 10th season gets off to an energetic start in a new theatre at 450 Post Street known as Theatre On the Square. Perfect for an election year, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson has a book by Alex Timbers who was nominated for a Tony. The music and lyrics are by Michael Friedman.  Ashkon Davaran, who made a splash with his rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin'” during the Giants 2010 World Series game leads the cast as Andrew Jackson.

Alex Timbers’ book re-imagines and reinvents the life of President Andrew Jackson, and Michael Friedman sets it to an infectious rock score.  Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson tells the story of the pioneer of humble stock–known as “Old Hickory” who invented the Democratic Party, moved the Indians west and rose to the highest office in the land as our 7th President.  The show also tracks his humble beginnings on the Tennessee frontier to his days as a Populist Commander-In-Chief where he wrestles political power away from the elite.

Ashkon Davaran is dynamic as Andrew Jackson.  He is the only one in the cast portraying only one character.  The eleven person ensemble that also doubles as the band includes Michael Barrett Austin whose Martin Van Buren is a bundle of laughs, El Beh who acts, sings, dances, plays the cello and brings down the house with her “Ten Little Indians,” Angel Burgess in a moving performance as Jackson’s wife, William Elsman’s outstanding John C. Calhoun, Jonathan Fadner, the Bandleader, Safiya Fredericks who does double duty as Henry Clay and Black Fox, Lucas Hatton as James Monroe, Ann Hopkins who is delightful as the Storyteller and Olive Mitra as John Quincy Adams.

Jon Tracy’s direction is in your face and energetic.  Nina Ball’s set is an impressive outline of the capitol dome, a perfect environment for what amounts to a musical in the form of a rock concert with flashy lighting design by Kurt Landisman.  This is presentational theatre, not representational theatre.

According to Artistic Director Bill English, “We’ll never look at a twenty dollar bill quite the same way again.”

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson runs through November 24, 2012. Performances are at 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 3 p.m. Saturday.  Performances are held at 450 Post Street (2nd floor of Kensington Park Hotel b/n Powell and Mason), San Francisco.  For tickets, call 415-677-9596 or go online at www.sfplayhouse.org.

Coming up next at SF Playhouse is Bell, Book and Candle by John Van Druten and directed by Bill English opening December 8, 2012.

Flora Lynn Isaacson

 

Top Dog/Underdog: Lincoln & Booth–A Tale of Two Brothers at MTC

By Flora Lynn Isaacson

 

Bowman Wright as Lincoln and Biko Eisen-Martin as Booth in Top Dog/Underdog at Marin Theatre Company

With this play, Suzan-Lori Parks won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for the 2002 Tony Award for Best Play and the 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play.

Lincoln (Bowman Wright) and Booth (Biko Eisen-Martin) are brothers trapped in a dangerous sparring match fueled by their poverty, race, family history and prophetically, their very given names.  This two-handed family play centers on the love/hate relationship of these two Black brothers.  Lincoln, homeless since his marriage dissolved, shares his brother’s tenement dwelling and works in an arcade where, in white face, cloaked in a stove pipe hat, frock coat, fake beard, he plays the Lincoln who gets shot.  He is doing this because he has gone straight and rejects his former profession as master of the street con called three-card monte.  Art, his younger brother strives to learn the game and keeps practicing as the play progresses.  As the brother’s reveal their individual needs and reflect on their family history of abandonment, a cumulative tension develops between them.

The play works best of all in the strength of the performers, Bowman Wright and Biko Eisen-Martin, who are both undeniably excellent and the sharp direction of Timothy Douglas, rather than the writing which often attempts to be more profound than it is and could be less repetitious.

I strongly recommend the play for the professionalism of the cast and direction, Mikiko Uesugi’s realistic run down apartment, Callie Floor’s imaginative costumes and Kurt Landisman’s impressive lighting.  Top Dog/Underdog is destined to remain memorable. Susan-Lori Parks aims for the sky and often succeeds mightily.

Top Dog/Underdog continues at Marin Theatre Company through October 21, 2012. Performances are held Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Matinees are held Sunday at 2 p.m and Saturday, October 20 at 2 p.m., and Thursday, October 11 at 1 p.m. For tickets, call the box office at 415-388-5208 or go online at marintheatre.org.

Coming up next at Marin Theatre Company will be It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play by Joe Landry and directed by Jon Tracy November 23-December 6, 2012.

Flora Lynn Isaacson