Theatre Production Reviews from Bay Area Critics

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Splendid 'She Loves Me' revival makes for ideal holiday theatergoing
Wednesday, December 8, 2004
By L. Pierce Carson - Register Staff Writer

'She Loves Me'
Napa Rep's second musical is a love story for the holidays
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
By L. Pierce Carson - Register Staff Writer

Stooges on stage
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
By Sasha Paulsen - Napa Register Correspondent

High speed Shakespeare
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
By Sasha Paulsen - Napa Register Correspondent

Relatively Speaking
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
By Sasha Paulsen - Napa Register Correspondent

The Schwartz household was brought up to believe that nothing is more sacred than family. But for the one-year anniversary of the father's death, a family gathering turns into a free-for-all where nothing remains sacred and the long-held family secrets are unearthed. Tucker plays the role of Herb, one of four Schwartz siblings, who acts as if anything can be bought and sold. Eikenberry plays his wife Bonnie, who converted to Judaism upon her marriage and desperately wants to have a child. This touching and funny play explores the sanctity of marriage and family and asks the question: who will be the last Schwartz?
The title of Deborah Zoe Laufer's "The Last Schwartz" refers to the likelihood that this particular family of New York Schwartzes will not produce a male heir to carry on the family name. A large part of the pleasure in the Marin Theatre Company's West Coast premiere derives from our growing understanding that that's probably just as well.
Starring the popular husband and wife team Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry.

The Last Schwartz: Comedy. By Deborah Zoe Laufer. Directed by Lee Sankowich. (Through Feb. 8. Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Two hours. Tickets $28-$45. Call (415) 388-5208 or visit www.marintheatre.org).

Molière's 'Tartuffe' at Napa Rep is filled with wit and intrigue
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
By Sasha Paulsen - Napa Register Correspondent

'Tartuffe' transcends the centuries and lands in Hollywood
Wednesday, December 3, 2003
By LISA A. WALTER - Special to the Register

Don't miss "1776"
September 24, 2003
Founding fathers sing and dance
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
By SASHA PAULSEN - Register Features Editor
Napa Rep at home in Opera House for "1776"
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
By LISA A. WALTER - Special to the Register
Am Can students raise field trip funds -- artfully
Saturday, September 13, 2003
By SCOTT HANKINS - Register Correspondent
'1776': Napa Valley Rep breathes life into history
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Valley thespians are setting the stage for '1776'
Saturday, August 23, 2003
CATHY VITELLI - Napa Register Staff Writer
Napa Rep seeks support for students to see '1776'
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
Napa Register Staff Writer

'On the Verge' is hilarious, marvelous journey into an unknown land, the future
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
SASHA PAULSEN - Napa Register Correspondent

"On The Verge," is performed at the theater in the round at the Native Sons of the Golden West, 937 Coombs St. (near the corner of First Street) in Napa. Performances continue through June 8, on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., and on Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. There will be one show at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 5, and no 7 p.m. show on June 8. Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 at the door (a $2 discount is offered for seniors) and $10 for students. A 20 percent discount is offered for groups of 10 or more. For group sales call Karen Hackett at 310-0306. For other tickets or information, call 253-7893, or visit www.naparep.com

Martin Duberman's 25 year-old-play is an often gripping, 2 1/2-hour portrait of the artist disintegrating in angry alcoholism and an inability to love that fails to depict the significance of Jack Kerouac or the Beats. Michael Janes gives a heroic performance as Kerouac and his troubled, tangled relationship with Allen Ginsberg and Neal Cassady is well portrayed in Lee Sankowich's deft revival, but the audience has to supply the context.

Visions of Kerouac: Drama. By Martin Duberman. Directed by Lee Sankowich. (Through June 8. At the Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Two hours, 30 minutes. Tickets $25-$43. Call (415) 388-5208 or visit www.marintheatre.org).

RATING: (Wild Applause) Blue Surge: Drama. By Rebecca Gilman. Directed by Amy Glazer. (Through April 20. At the Magic Theatre, Building D, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. Two hours. Tickets $17-$37. Call (415) 441-8822 or visit www.magictheatre.org).

Syncopation: Drama. By Allan Knee. Directed by Eleanor Reissa. (Through April 13. At the Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Two hours, 10 minutes. Tickets $25-$43. Call (415) 388-5208 or visit www.marintheatre.org).

Allan Knee's play is about rhythms and dreams. It explores the rhythms of an evolving relationship, where partners are not quite in sync. It examines the power that dreams have to lift people from stultifying routine to endless possibility.

Some plays are written to fit a particular historical context, such as the light comedies that flourished in London during World War II's bombing blitz. Others happen to be in step with events and are propelled by that chance connection. The latter probably explains why Allan Knee's 'Syncopation' is likely to send audiences out the doors in a happier mood than when they entered. . . 'Syncopation's' good-humored simplicity casts a warm glow that reaches from the stage right into our hearts.

Marin Theatre Company's Syncopation is Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending; It's the Odd Couple with a romance. It is a quiet thoughtful and pleasing production of author Knee's fable of another time, another city.

Allan Knee's 'Syncopation' is charming and amusing. . .Through a succession of short scenes alternating with diary-entry monologues, Knee traces Henry and Anna's developing proficiency and intimacy over the course of a year against suggestions of a backdrop of the feminist, socialist, bohemian and labor rights turmoil of the times.

RATING: (POLITE APPLAUSE)...
THE CHOSEN: Drama. By Chaim Potok and Aaron Posner. Directed by Aaron Davidman. (Through Feb. 16 at A Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida St., San Francisco. Feb. 20 through March 2 at the Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave., Berkeley. Two hours, 10 minutes. Tickets $12.50-$25. Call (415) 399-1809 or visit www.atjt.com).

"Holiday," directed by Domenique Lozano, features Michael Barr, Anna Carminito, Lisa de Bruin, David Warren Keith and Melissa Smith. The play runs Dec. 6-22, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. with a special show at 7:30 on Thursday, Dec, 19. Call 253-7893 to reserve tickets. Prices are $23 - $28. The play is performed at the Native Sons of the Golden West Hall, 937 Coombs St. (between First and Second Streets), Napa.

"The Woman in Black" plays at the Native Sons Hall at 937 Coombs St., between First and Second streets in downtown Napa. Due to its frightening nature, it is not recommended for children under 13 years of age..
Preview: Friday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m. (All seats $20). Performances: Oct. 19-Nov. 3, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 and 27 at 2 and 7 p.m., Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. Special Halloween show, Thursday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m., $25 in advance/$28 at the door Sudents/children $10 at the door. $2 discount for seniors. Please call (800) 557-NVRT for tickets. For more information, visit www.naparep.com.

REVIEW: (POLITE APPLAUSE)...
THE MUSIC LESSON: Drama. By Tammy Ryan. Directed by Amy Glazer. (Through Oct. 6. At the Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Two hours, 15 minutes. Tickets: $25-$40. Call (415) 388-5208 or visit www.marintheatre.org).

DUST: The ACT Young Conservatory's New Plays Program production of Sarah Daniels' work runs through Sunday at the Zeum Theater at Yerba Buena Gardens, Howard and Fourth streets, San Francisco. Tickets: $10-$15. Call (415) 749- 2228 or visit www.act-sfbay.org.

REVIEW: (POLITE APPLAUSE)...
TWO FOR THE SEESAW: Drama. By William Gibson. Directed by Domenique Lozano. (Through June 9. At the Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Two hours, 45 minutes. Tickets $25-$40. Call (415) 388-5208 or visit www. marintheatre.org

RATING: (POLITE APPLAUSE)...
LADY IN THE DARK: Musical. Book by Moss Hart. Music by Kurt Weill. Lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Directed by Lee Sankowich. (Through Dec. 9. At the Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Two hours, 45 minutes. Tickets $24-$40. Call (415) 388-5208 or visit www.marintheatre.org).

MOVING BODIES: Comic fantasy. By Arthur Giron. Directed by Lee Sankowich. (Through Oct. 21. At the Sali Lieberman Studio Theatre, Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Two hours, 20 minutes. Tickets: $20. Call (415) 388-5208 or visit www.marintheatre.org

From Galileo to Buckminster Fuller, scientists have shown playwrights new ways of imagining the universe. In "Moving Bodies," which opened Monday at the Marin Theatre Company's Sali Lieberman Studio Theatre, Arthur Giron takes on the fascinating and eccentric physicist Richard Feynman.