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Theatrius

Theater Reviews – San Francisco and Beyond

2024

2024

December 2024

“A Red Carol” Unveils Workers’ Lives in Dickens’ Tale—at Z Space

“The Jewelry Box” Brings Joy & Love on Saturday—at The Marsh, SF

A Thousand Ships” Enshrines Black Women’s Memories & Music—at OTP

“Miss Bennet” Celebrates Women’s Talents in Romantic Comedy—at TheatreWorks

“A Whynot Christmas Carol” Offers Challenge & Change—at ACT

“Miss Bennet” Exudes Christmas Charm, Warm Laughter—at TheatreWorks

“Waitress”: A Slice of Love, Life, & Pie—at SF Playhouse

“Thirty-Six” Gets Great Laughs for Worst Date Ever—at Shotgun

November 2024

“Cabaret” Roars A Magnificent, Prophetic Growl—at Rhino

“Blithe Spirit’s” Séance Antics Delight—at Ross Valley

“The 39 Steps” Climbs Higher, Faster with Energy & Fun—at Masquers

Lettere D’Amore”: A Tribute to Glorious Follies of Love—at The Marsh 

“The Strange Library” Beckons with Masterful Sleight of Hand—at Word for Word

“Ghost Quartet”: Thrilling Musical Trip to Mysterious Afterlife—at OTP

“180 Days. To Die. To Live.” Swift, Surprising Journey to the End—at The Marsh

“Jaja’s African Hair Braiding”: Wild Comedy Hides Immigrant Perils—at Berkeley Rep

“Seussical” Celebrates Whimsy & Warmth in Tough Times—at BPH

“You Can’t Take It with You” Sports Fine Cast & Hearty Laughs—at Foothill College

“Dragon Lady” Casts a Spell with Story & Song—at Center REP

“Ghost Quartet”: Gifted Musicians Play DREAM Gig—at OTP 

“Dragon Lady” Exquisitely Embodies Feisty Filipina Grandma—at Center REP

“Matchbox Magic Flute” Mesmerizes with Intimacy & Whimsy—at Berkeley Rep

October 2024

     “Fallen Angels” Skewers Privileged Class with British Wit—at Aurora

The Gulf” Hooks Us with Humor & Fearless Acting—at NCTC

“Breed or Bust”: Joyful’s Bold, Funny Journey to Freedom—at The Marsh-SF

“The DMV”: Humor & Humanity Blossom—at The Marsh

“The Contest” Breathes Life into Italian Power Struggle—at Central Works

“The Moors” Flips Gothic Tale into Mysterious Comedy—at Lunatico

“Deep History” Delivers Stark Climate Reality—at The Public

“Angels in America-II” Evokes Heaven to Heal US—by OTP @Marin Shakes

“Great American Sh*t Show” Exposes Maga Lies & Fakes—at The Marsh

“King James” Turns up the Heat at the Final Buzzer—at TheatreWorks

“Angels in America” Opens Our Eyes Again—OTP @Marin Shakes

“The Play That Goes Wrong” Gets It All Right—at SF Playhouse

“Good Bones”: A Gripping Battle of Haves vs. Have-Nots—at The Public 

“Takes All Kinds”: Genius Celebration of America on the Brink—at The Marsh

“Black Men Everywhere!” Takes No Prisoners—at The Marsh

“Choir Boy”: A Black, Gay Hero Disses Prep School Hypocrisy—at Shotgun

September 2024

“Ride the Cyclone”: A Death-Defying, Wild Roller Coaster Ride—at NCTC

“Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body”: It’s for Every BODY!—at LHT

“Paradise”: Superb Portrait of Puerto Ricans Under Pressure—at BRAVA

“Counting & Cracking”: EPIC Tale of Sri Lankans in Australia—at The Public

“Mourning Becomes Electra” Brings the Civil War Home—at Tao House  

“Mexodus” Breaks the Border between Song & Story—at Berkeley Rep 

“Private Lives”  Relives 1930 Comic Battles between Sexes—at ACT  

“As You Like It” Welcomes Love, Laughter, & Immigrants—at Cal Shakes

“Crossing Delancey” Serves Up Tasty Comedy Treats—at Ross Valley 

“In the Heights” Soars with Joyous Latin Life & Songs–at Sunnyvale 

“Hamlet” & “R & G Are Dead”: Ambitious ‘Double Feature’—at CCCT

“God of Carnage”: Nasty and FUN! —at Masquers Playhouse

“Waiting for Godot” Disrupts Expectations & Wows! —at Los Altos

“FALLIN”: A High-Flying Romp through Love & Lies—at The Rhino

“FALLIN”: A Brilliant, Action-Packed Spy Extravaganza—at The Rhino

“Comedy of Errors” Takes a Surprising Female Twist—at Marin Shakes

August 2024

Richard II”: A Unique Shakespearean Experience–at Magic

“Human Error” Scores with Comic Look at US—at Town Hall

“Always… Patsy Cline” Showcases a Musical Legacy—at Hillbarn

“Richard II” Exposes ‘Back to the Future’ Politics—at Magic

“The Night Alive” Whisks Irish Sorrow into American Hope—at Altarena

“Shipping & Handling” Challenges with Wise ‘Black Robots’”—at Crowded Fire

“Inventory: James Baldwin Abroad” Reveals Troubled Genius—at OPT

July 2024

“Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties” Finds Joy in Hard Times—at Shotgun 

“Best of Second City” Displays Chicago Comedy Empire—at Berkeley Rep

“American Dreams, A New Musical” Brings Laughter Back Again—SF Mime Troupe

“American Dreams, A New Musical” Tackles Democracy in Parks—SF Mime Troupe

“Evita” Returns, Declaring Devotion to Argentina—at SF Playhouse

“Much Ado About Nothing” Celebrates Love & Comedy with Surfers & Sailors—at Marin Shakes

“Clybourne Park”: A Powerful Production of Pulitzer Prize Masterpiece—at Masquers

“Who’s-Dead McCarthy”: Delivers Poetic Irish Wit at Its Finest—at Word4Word

June 2024

“Lifespan of a Fact” Exposes “Truthiness” with Comedy—at Aurora

“Mother Road”: Epic Tale of Mexican & American Quest—at Berkeley Rep

The DMV” Brings Humor, Humanity to Dreaded Department—at The Marsh

“Hick: A Love Story” Burns with Lesbian Passion—at The Marsh

”Four Play”: Brilliant Comedy Contemplates Love—at The Rhino

“Innocence” Grabs Hold & Refuses to Let Go—at SF Opera

“Garuda’s Wing” Celebrates Nature, Travels Time—at Magic

“Seeing Stars” Sparkles with Comedy, Truth, Insight—at The Marsh 

“The Magic Flute” Charms with Silent Movie Magic—at SF Opera

“Ghost of King” Rises with Grace & Inspiration—at OTP

“Doubt, a Parable” Shines Spotlight on Acting—at Altarena

“Cabaret” Shows Us How Fascists Take Over—at Center REP

“Dear San Francisco”: A Mind-Blowing Trip—at Club Fugazi

May 2024

“The Lehman Trilogy” Strikes Gold with Superb Staging, Acting—at ACT

“The Revolutionists”: Fantastic Four Femmes Fight for Justice—at Lunatico

“tick, tick…BOOM!” Celebrates “Rent” Composer’s Doubts & Dreams—at NCTC

“Galileo” Unveils A Universe of Superb Spectacle—at Berkeley Rep

“Torch Song”: A Gay Jewish Drag Queen Triumphs!—at Marin

“Taming of the Shrew” Grooves with Summer of Love—at AASC

“The Glass Menagerie” Shines Light on Struggling 30s Family—at S.F. Playhouse

“Breed or Bust”: A Woman’s Bold Trip to Bodily Freedom—at The Marsh, Berkeley

“Not A Genuine Black Man”: Rich in Wit & Warmth—at The Marsh, S.F.

“Tobacco, Zig-Zags & Gum”: A Play to Heal the Soul—at The Marsh

“Blue Door” Asks “Who Am I?” & Finds Out—at Aurora

“Red Red Red” Sizzles!—at Oakland

April 2024

“A Strange Loop”: A Daring & Personal Ride—at A.C.T.

“Returning to Haifa” Reveals War’s Human Suffering—at Golden Thread

“The Tutor”: Cultural Anxiety Creates Sparks—at NCTC

“Other” Returns to the Rez in Triumph—at The Marsh

“Tiger Style!” Raises the Stakes on Asian American Hilarity—at TheatreWorks

“Pride of Lions” Roars over Transgender History—at Rhino

“Pal Joey” Showcases Depression Era Rogers & Hart Musical—at Altarena

“Sign My Name to Freedom”: Betty’s Songs Highlight a Legendary Life—at SFBATCO

March 2024

“Larry The Musical” Celebrates Filipino Labor Hero—at BRAVA

“The Great Leap” Spins US/China Dreams on Hardwood—at Center REP 

“Pipeline” Draws Us into Moving Mother-Son Crisis—at AASC

“The 39 Steps” Leads to Thrilling Madcap Chase—at SF Playhouse

“The Far Country” Exposes Torture of Chinese on Angel Island—at Berkeley Rep

“Unpacking in P-town” Revives 50s Memories—at NCTC

“Cost of Living” Reveals High Price of Connecting—at Oakland

“Falsettos” Continues Its March—at 42nd St. Moon

“Falsettos”: A Musical Trip Back to the Future—at 42nd St. Moon

“Boss McGreedy” Exposes Fat Cat Politics—at Central Works

“Dirty White Teslas Make Me Sad” Bursts S.F. Dreams—at Magic

February 2024

“The Ally” Finds Peace Amidst Debate—at The Public

“Big Data” Blows Our Minds with Comedy & Mysterious “M”—at A.C.T

“Bees & Honey” Brings Sweet & Bitter Love to Light—at Marin

“Mystic Pizza” Musical Sizzles with Sisterhood & Sass— at Center REP

“Manahatta” Reveals Native American Truths—at Aurora

“Billy” Brilliantly Obliterates Gender Barriers—at Rhino

“Aren’t You . . . ?” Exposes Native & Black History—at The Marsh

“My Home on the Moon” Mingles Comedy, AI, & Pho—at S.F. Playhouse

“Cult of Love” Drowns Religious Hypocrisy in Floods of Laughter—at Berkeley Rep

“Babes in Ho-lland” Headlines Black Queer Love—at Shotgun

January 2024

“Our Town” Wakes Us Up, Gently—at Ross Valley

“Kooza” Dazzles with Daring Spectacle Under Big Top—at Oracle Park

How I Learned What I Learned” Reveals Black Writer’s Struggle—at TheatreWorks

“Babes in Ho-lland” Screams 90s Girl Bands–at Shotgun

“Omar” Enshrines Words of Muslim Scholar, 50 Years a Slave—at S.F. Opera

“Fences” Astounds—at 6th Street Playhouse

“Every Brilliant Thing” Inspires Laughter & Tears—at Center REP

“Citizen Brain” Combines Comedy, Genius, Caring—at Club Fugazi

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Current Shows

  • “Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really” Bends Genders for Juicier Stakes—at SF Playhouse
  • “Hamnet” Looks at Shakespeare through Women’s Eyes—at ACT
  • “Pass the Nails & Shame the Devil” Lifts Up Black Women Changemakers—at The Marsh
  • “Drapetomania” ‘Disease’ of Freedom Calls Us to Action—at The Marsh, Berkeley
  • “La Cage aux Folles” Liberates True Love in Classic Drag—at The Rhino
  • “Shakespeare Over My Shoulder” The Bard on Tap—at African-American Shakes
  • “Pictures from Home” Exposes Myth of the ‘Good Life’—at Marin
  • “The Grown-Ups” Conjures Summer Camp, Exposes Our Lies—at Lunatico
  • “Cyrano” Exposes Limits of ‘Pretty Privilege’—at Berkeley Shakes
  • “The Gods of Comedy” Showers Us with Jokes & Fun—at Masquers
  • “Takes All Kinds” Celebrates America with Awesome Acting—at The Marsh
  • “Hamnet” Looks at Shakespeare through Women’s Eyes—at ACT
  • “Come From Away” A Layover Arouses Humanity—at TheatreWorks
  • “How to Make an American Son” Hard-Working Dad vs. His Privileged Son—at NCTC
  • “Lost in Yonkers” Finds Tenderness in Tough Love—at Center REP

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Barry David Horwitz, Editor of Theatrius, is a Voting Member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics' Circle, SFBATCC.

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