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Continue reading →: Review: The warmth of Alan Turing is strong in Theatre Rhinoceros’ ‘Breaking the Code’
One of the most painful and poignant moments in the Theatre Rhinoceros return engagement production of “Breaking the Code” had nothing to do with the other numerous painful and poignant moments in the play. It takes place toward the end and happens when scientific genius Alan Turing speaks to Pat,…
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Continue reading →: Review: All sides of the music are solid in TheatreWorks ‘Triangle’
To take in the history of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is to learn about its haunting tragedy, with some parallels to September 11th of 2001. Both were in New York City. Both led to unspeakable deaths by fire inhalation and those who jumped to their death. And both…
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Continue reading →: Review: It’s all about the kids in SHNSF’s ‘Matilda, the Musical’
Despite the fact that our technology shrinks the world and seems to have taken precedence over everything, there is still such joy and value in a great book. It’s a romantic notion, you know – a blanket, hot chocolate, and the solitude that comes from reading. A skilled writer paints…
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Continue reading →: Review: Smith’s ‘Notes from the Field’ creates theatre out of necessity
During my first year of teaching in Sanger, California, there was a small gang incident in my classroom, which ended up with me having to escort two kids out of my room. Both kids were smallish 10th graders. The kid who identified as a surreño was funny and silly. The…
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Continue reading →: Orta, Solis represent Bay Area playwrights at ‘Carnaval 2015’ in Chicago
In the 21st century, Chicago has been a haven for Latino Theatre. Since 2002, the Goodman Theatre has hosted a biennial Latino theatre festival, the last being in 2013. There have been numerous world premieres, programs and special productions featuring Latino stories, playwrights, directors and actors, filling the sweltering Chicago…
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Continue reading →: Review: Made Up Theatre’s ‘Gruesome Playground Injuries’ a total theatre experience
If only you can have a “practice” first kiss. That is what eight-year-old Doug had in mind in his parochial school infirmary, an idea he bounced off Kayleen, a lovely little girl of the same age. Doug is there for an injury that was pretty common for any 1970’s child…
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Continue reading →: SHN’s ‘Matilda, the Musical’ a family affair for Ryness
Bryce Ryness has had quite an interesting path to the world he now inhabits. Take his childhood for example. There were three things that Ryness was heavily involved in as a child. The first was baseball. And the second one was baseball. And finally, the third one was, well, you…
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Continue reading →: SF Mime Troupe’s ‘Freedomland’ examines race, racism
Hugo Carbajal’s voice rises when he speaks of the injustices being perpetuated when it comes to institutional racism. He points directly at recent examples of police brutality that have come to light, with footage captured by ordinary citizens on their cell phone cameras. There is no doubt that injustice angers…
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Continue reading →: The legend of Merman the focus of A.C.T.’s ‘Call Me Miss Bird’s Eye’
Ethel Merman is widely known as the first lady of the Broadway musical. But to Irving Berlin, she might have been known as something a little less kind. Merman was larger than life, a gargantuan personality that worked against conventions of the musical theatre performer. For starters, she was not…
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Continue reading →: Review: San Jose Stage’s ‘Addams Family’ puts the fun in dysfunctional
There is something wholesomely charming about a family that is utterly uncharming. You have a dashing, debonair husband, a wife that is anything but, and kids that find such joy in popular children’s toys such as guillotines and bombs. San Jose Stage Company has a penchant for musicals that carry…
David John Chávez
Bay Area theater critic/reporter, Executive Chair – American Theatre Critics/Journalists Association, Two-time Pulitzer Prize for Drama jurist (’22-’23). Follow me on socials and say hi! #hellatheatre
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