-
Continue reading →: Review: TheatreWorks’ pretty production of ‘Earnest’ remains true to the original
There is a natural connection that takes place between “Being Earnest,” the new full production at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, and the original source material from the great Oscar Wilde. In “The Importance of Being Earnest,” the Victorian era was wonderful fodder for the mind of Wilde, and in this new…
-
Continue reading →: Review: City Lights’ ‘Hedda Gabler’ a darkly rich production
It does not take long to assemble an opinion on Hedda Gabler, the vindictive anti-heroine created by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1890. When we first meet Hedda, she gives a congenial greeting to her maid, complete with sparkling smile and warmth in the eyes. Yet in a matter of…
-
Continue reading →: Review: Hillbarn’s ‘John and Jen’ tells a story of moving on
It is quickly established in the chamber musical “John and Jen” that there is a deep bond between older sister and baby brother. And what is also established is that there is a strong sense of foreboding that hovers over the proceedings. While my oldest daughters, ages six and nine,…
-
Continue reading →: Hurtado’s ‘Perra Pumps’ looks to tell stories ‘through a queer lens’
Gentrification is certainly a term that has many connotations. At its best, gentrification has been able to clean up neighborhoods and infuse them with businesses big and small, making areas appealing for families and Gen X’ers looking to invest long-term in a community. Yet, at its worst, gentrification has taken…
-
Continue reading →: Review: Mike Tyson pulls no punches in ‘Undisputed Truth’
Of all the things Mike Tyson said in his poignant one man show “Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth,” one line very early in the play summed up the essence of the show – “Welcome to my living room.” Tyson’s show, directed by Spike Lee which just closed Saturday at the Orpheum…
-
Continue reading →: Review: A pretty ‘Imperial Fizz’ at Renegade
There are many ways in which to wait in Purgatory. And Renegade Theatre Experiment’s “Imperial Fizz” certainly shows a most entertaining option. Highballs are flowing fast and furious in an existential paradise, where there is plenty of faux-intelligent conversation between Man (Peter Canavese) and Woman (Katie Vroom). There are talks…
-
Continue reading →: ‘Anything Goes’ brings the flair of years gone by
There is a moment in the new production of “Anything Goes,” now anchored in San Francisco, which feels so fresh, so organic, and tells a much larger story. Without giving too much away, the moment happens at the end of a number. Rachel York, the star of the show is…
-
Continue reading →: ‘Anything Goes’ Applegate finds a perfect balance at home, on stage
Fred Applegate knew the moment he found his calling. It was when he was seven-years-old, and the local high school was casting youngsters as the Siamese children in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s “The King and I.” The young boy from New Jersey was able to get his first taste…
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
Let’s connect
Join the fun!
Stay updated with our latest tutorials and ideas by joining our newsletter.
Bay Area Plays.com 