By Ande Jacobson
What could be better than a new adaptation of Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court to continue Pear Avenue Theatre’s Americana celebration? Twain, published his work in 1889. The book is as much a commentary on his current society as it is a work of science fiction given its time-travel bent. Continue reading
By Ande Jacobson
While there are some shows opening this weekend, A Good Reed Review is taking one more week off before diving back into the theatre world. Next up on the A Good Reed Review calendar is a return to the Pear Avenue Theatre and their world premiere of Diane Tasca’s and Rebecca Ennals’ adaptation of the Mark Twain novella, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, which runs at the Pear Avenue Theatre in Mountain View 13-29 May 2011. The Twain classic explores many traditionally “American” traits, and again fits within the season’s theme. This new adaptation promises to show its relevance to today’s American attitude. See http://www.thepear.org for more information. Continue reading
By Ande Jacobson
Cabaret first came to Broadway in 1966, and at the time, it was rather ground-breaking. The second of many John Kander and Fred Ebb musical collaborations, Cabaret, based on the book by Joe Masteroff, is a dark story juxtaposing two worlds – real life in 1931 Berlin, where things are quickly unraveling as the Nazis rise to power, and the devilish decadence inside the cabaret (named the Kit-Kat Klub) where our host, the Emcee, proclaims “life is beautiful”, but more on him later. Continue reading
By Ande Jacobson
Tabard Theatre Company presents Inferno Theatre Company’s South Bay premiere of playwright and director Giulio Cesare Perrone’s fifth work, Galileo’s Daughters, at Theatre on the Square in San Jose. The Inferno Theatre Company, founded by Perrone, along with his contingent of fellow artists, is based in Oakland, CA, although it has no theatre it can call home. Instead, the Inferno contingent strives to bring the arts to the surrounding communities, viewing theatre as a collaborative process, crossing cultural boundaries, and bringing with it enrichment to all who partake, from all sides of the box. Interested in art, science, religion, and historical controversy, Perrone brings these together in this latest creation. Continue reading
By Ande Jacobson
This weekend marks several local community theatre openings. Continue reading
By Ande Jacobson
An annual tradition since its second season, Slices presents an entertaining evening of eight original one-act plays chosen from submissions (over 20 this year) by members of the Pear Playwrights Guild. Pear Slices 2011 adds a new dimension with each play depicting the “American experience” in some fashion and marks the 60th Pear Avenue Theatre production. Continue reading
By Ande Jacobson
Next up for A Good Reed Review is Pear Avenue Theater Company’s production of Pear Slices 2011, scheduled to run 8 – 24 April at the Pear Avenue Theater located at: 1220 Pear Avenue, Unit K, Mountain View, CA 94043. Pear Slices 2011 is a novel collection of new one-act plays written by The Pear’s resident playwrights and continues this season’s Americana theme. As The Pear proudly announced on their season list, this year’s Slices installment is also special as it marks their sixtieth production, and A Good Reed Review will be there to join their celebration opening night. For more information see: The Pear, and look for my review soon after opening.
By Ande Jacobson
“Intensely fascinated” by an alarming crime recounted by a friend, British playwright, Peter Schaffer, poured his creative energy into his 1973 play, aptly entitled Equus, Latin for horse, against which the crime was committed. Knowing only one horrible detail of the event, scaled back for theatricality, Schaffer posits a possible explanation of the tragedy through a psychological study into the depraved mind of Alan Strang, a 17-year-old, working as a part-time stable boy, and Dr. Martin Dysart, the psychiatrist treating him. Continue reading
By Ande Jacobson
Peter Shaffer’s award winning play, Equus, opens Saturday, 19 March, and runs through 17 April, at the City Lights Theater in San Jose located at: 529 South Second Street, San Jose, CA 95117.
Positing an explanation for an unspeakable crime committed near London, Shaffer created a psychological study into the depraved mind of a troubled 17-year-old and the psychiatrist treating him. A Good Reed Review will be attending the opening night gala, so look for a review soon.
For more information on the production or to order tickets, see:
By Ande Jacobson
Originally conceived by Rebecca Feldman as an improvisational play for The Farm, William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin worked with Feldman to flesh out “C-R-E-P-U-S-C-L-E” into a full length, one act musical – “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”. After a winter workshop and a short Off-Broadway trial, adding some additional material from Jay Reiss, “Spelling Bee” debuted on Broadway in 2005. The show was subsequently nominated for six and won two Tony Awards. Continue reading
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