All Reviews
March 2020
All shows have shut down because of the COVID-19 virus.
See theater websites for information.
“Gloria” Turns Toxic Office Comedy to Tragedy—Streamed by ACT
“Theatrius” Lists Streaming Theater for Easy Access, Everywhere
“Love” with the Boss Flounders, at MTC, Mill Valley
“Toni Stone”—A Black Woman Makes the Big Show, at ACT, S.F.
“Lady Scribblers” Script Ribald Restoration Comedy, at Custom Made, S.F.
“They Promised Her the Moon”—But She Persisted, at TheatreWorks
“Don’t Eat the Mangos” Uncovers Horrific Family Secrets, at Magic, S.F.
“Memphis” Celebrates 50s Song & Dance, at Berkeley Playhouse
“On the Periphery” of Istanbul, at Golden Thread/Crowded Fire, S.F.
“Gloria” Unmasks Millennial Fear & Start-Up Crisis, at ACT, S.F.
“Culture Clash (Still) in America” Breaks New Ground, at Berkeley Rep
“The Last Ship” Honors British Workers’ Resistance, at BroadwaySF
February 2020
“Retablos” Opens Portals to Past Generations, at Word for Word, S.F.
“Born in East Berlin” Recalls Springsteen at The Wall, at S.F. Playhouse
“PussyGrabbingREVENGE” Captivates with Woman Power, at TheatreFirst, Berkeley
“What They Said About Love” Evokes Laughs & Ideas, at Marin Center
“The Trial” Honors Black History with a Twist, at African-American Shakes, S.F.
* “The Human Ounce” Weighs the Cost of #MeToo, at Central Works, Berkeley
“Radical” Awes with Political Delight & Comedy, at Rhino, S.F.
“Gatz” Exposes Elite Deceit in Fitzgerald Masterpiece, at Berkeley Rep
“A View from the Bridge” Pits Immigrants vs. Law, at 6th Street, Santa Rosa
“Macbeth” Wades into Familiar Corruption & Cruelty, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“The SpongeBob Musical” Wows with Nostalgia & Design, at BroadwaySF
“The Children” Explores Faulty Foundations & Fallout, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Living the Shuffle”: A Masterclass in Storytelling, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“Lion, Witch, & Wardrobe” Takes Kids on Whirlwind Journey to Narnia, at BACT, Berkeley
“Tiny Beautiful Things” Answers Impossible Questions, at S.F. Playhouse
“Ways to Leave a Body” Transcends Expectations, at Cutting Ball, S.F.
“Wakey, Wakey” Works Hard to Inspire Us, at ACT, S.F.
“The Devil’s Music” Brings Down the House, at Center REP, W.C.
“You’ll Catch Flies” Enchants with Laughs & Honesty, at NCTC, S.F.
January 2020
“Ripcord”—A Witty Battle of Wills, at Altarena, Alameda
“How to Transcend a Happy Marriage” Shocks & Titillates, at Custom Made, S.F.
“A Doll’s House, Part 2” Remodels Ibsen’s Classic, at Palo Alto Players
“How to Transcend a Happy Marriage” Releases Our Wild Side, at Custom Made, S.F.
“Silent Sky” Inspires and Informs, at Ross Valley Players
“Noura” Reveals A Woman’s Iraq-U.S. War, at MTC, Mill Valley
“Pianist of Willesden Lane”: Epic Musical Memoir of WWII, at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
“PolySHAMory” Shocks & Delights with Raw Honesty, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Funeral Game” Evokes Bitter Nostalgia, at Bread & Butter, S.F.
“Proof” Probes Self-Doubt & Despair, at New Group, S.F.
“Magic of Ordinary Things” Triumphs, at Marsh Rising, S.F.
“A Box Without A Bottom”—A Japanese American Life in Magic, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“Border People”—Touching, Timely Portraits of US, at The Marsh, S.F.
December 2019
“Head Over Heels” Merges Pastoral Prose & Pop Music, at NCTC, S.F.
“Copenhagen” Shines with Stellar Acting & Directing, at Indra’s Net, Berkeley
“Becky Nurse of Salem” Brews Shocking Comedy Potion, at Berkeley Rep
“Christmas in Oz” Delights & Dazzles, at East Bay Children’s, Hayward
“A Christmas Carol” Toys with Ghosts & Magic, at Center REP, W.C.
“Vinegar Tom” Packs Powerful Political Punch, at Shotgun, Berkeley
“An Invitation Out” Questions How We Live, at Quantum Dragon, S.F.
“Faith Healer” Explores Memory vs. Reality, at Phoenix Arts, S.F.
“Summer—The Donna Summer Musical” Heats Up Winter, at BroadwaySF
“Harry Potter” Reveals Our Generational Traumas, at The Curran, S.F.
“The Jewelry Box” Overflows with Love & Laughter, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Groundhog Day, the Musical” Echoes Hope & Renewal, at S.F. Playhouse
“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” Rings in the Holidays, at CCCT, El Cerrito
November
“Tale of Despereaux” Delights Our Inner Child, at Berkeley Rep
“Bull in a China Shop” Smashes Women’s Roles, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Hansel & Gretel”—Enchanting, Beautifully Sung Fairy Tale for All, at S.F. Opera
“Mother of the Maid”—Heroic Epic of Mother Love, at MTC, Mill Valley
“Mahabharata”—J Jha Infuses Indian Epic with New Life, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“Cloud 9”–A Sexual Romp in Colonialism, at Custom Made, S.F.
“Living the Shuffle”—A Visionary’s Tale, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“Next to Normal” Enlightens Us on Mental Illness, at BareStage, Berkeley
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Casts Multi-Cultural Spell, at Arabian Shakes, S.F.
“Amaluna” Invokes Tempestuous Female Vision, at Cirque du Soleil, S.F.
“A Year with Frog & Toad” Offers Heartwarming Musical, at BACT, Berkeley
“Gypsy” Builds to a Glittering Crescendo, at BAM, S.F.
“Testmatch” Captures Britain vs. India in Cricket Colonialism, at ACT, S.F.
“From the Ground Up” Celebrates Folklore & Fear, at TheatreFIRST, Berkeley
“Native Gardens”—TV Fare Offers Laughs on Competing Identities, at CenterREP, W.C.
“The Cake” Comes Out Underdone, at NCTC, S.F.
“Stomp” Plays the Heartbeat of Humanity, at ACT, S.F.
“Convoy 31000” Celebrates Women of the French Resistance, at Lunatico, Berkeley
“Driven”—A Filipino Family Races for Life, at Rhino, S.F.
October 2019
“Elevada” Elevates Rom-Com Lovers, at Shotgun, Berkeley
“The Daughters” Reminds Us of Coming Out, Past & Present, at S.F. Playhouse
“Single Black Female” Tackles Sex & Stereotypes, at Lorraine Hansberry, S.F.
“Bright Star” Shines on Young Love & Fancy Fiddling, at CCCT, El Cerrito
“Othello” Explodes! at African American Shakes, S.F.
“Lady Matador’s Hotel” Evokes Latinx Cruelty & Magic, at Central Works, Berkeley
“The Chinese Lady” Compels Us to See Her, at Magic Theatre, S.F.
“The Marriage of Figaro” Sparkles with New Sets & Ideas, at S.F. Opera
“Free for All” Unleashes a Comic “Miss Julie” on Nob Hill, at Cutting Ball, S.F.
“This Side of Crazy”—A Masterpiece of Southern Belle Comedy, at NCTC, S.F.
“Mark Twain’s River of Song” Sails into Our Hearts, at TheatreWorks, Mtn. View
“Long Day’s Journey into Night” Maps A Family’s Dark Addiction, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“White Noise” Amps Up Crisis of Black & White Millennials, at Berkeley Rep
“Dance Nation” Precariously Pirouettes through Puberty, at S.F. Playhouse
“Hot Mikado—Bursting with Energy, at 42nd St. Moon, S.F.
“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”—A Raucous Good Time, at Custom Made, S.F.
September 2019
“Who Killed Sylvia Plath” Summons a Vivid Hallucination, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“Top Girls” Transcends Time & Space for Magnificent Women, at ACT, S.F.
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”—Hilarity, Romance, & Magic, at Marin Shakes
“The Great Wave” Exposes Brutal Abductions & Spycraft, at Berkeley Rep
“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Echoes the Changing Tides, at Word for Word, S.F.
“Macbeth” Addresses the Question of the Day, at Cal Shakes, Orinda
“Admissions” Explodes ‘Elite’ Schools with Flair, at Los Altos Stage Co.
“Caroline, or Change”—Exuberant Musical on Black Liberation, at Ray of Light, S.F.
“Billy Budd” Thrills with Tense, Gripping Voices & Drama, at S.F. Opera
“The Humans”—Comedy of the American Nightmare, at Novato Theater Co.
“20/20” Envisions Post-Trump Future, at S.F. Fringe Festival
“Wheels on the Bus” Gets Young Gears Turning, at BACT, Berkeley
“Exit Strategy” Humanizes U.S. Public School Crisis, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Body Awareness” Showcases Psychological Insecurity, at Main Stage West, Sebastopol
“An Ideal Husband” Explores Corruption & Love, at The Pear, Mountain View
“Titus Andronicus” Spotlights Our Present & Future, at Theatre Lunatico, Berkeley
“The Flick” Features Raw Interactions, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
August 2019
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Refuses to Bow to Whites, at Multi Ethnic Theater, S.F.
“The 39 Steps” Offers Mystery & Magic, at TheatreWorks, Mountain View
“Clean House” Uncovers More than Dust, at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda
“House of Joy” Boasts Indian Spectacle in a Bubble, at Cal Shakes, Orinda
“Magic Man” Conjures Spellbinding Stories, at Boxcar Theatre, S.F.
The Play That Goes Wrong” Delivers Great Guffaws, at SHN Broadway, S.F.
“Treasure Island” Summons All Hands on Deck, in Bay Area Parks
“Cry It Out” Exposes Parenting Inequality, at Just Theater, S.F.
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” Sings the Blues, at Multi Ethnic Theater, S.F.
“52 Letters” Delivers Anti-Sex Trafficking Ritual, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“A History of World War II”—A Queer Eye on Sharp Nazis, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“At the Illusionist’s Table” Offers Fine Food for the Mind, at Cal Performances
“Witch Hunt” Works Magic, at Those Women, Berkeley
July 2019
“Witch Hunt” Pursues Untold Stories, at Those Women, Berkeley
“Kill Move Paradise” Explodes, Enlightens, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
“Roan@The Gates”—Snowden on Estrogen, at Central Works, Berkeley
“A Streetcar Named Desire” Burns Up the Tracks, in Brooklyn
“Hairspray” Bedazzles Its Way into Our Hearts, at BAM, S.F.
“Kill Move Paradise” Exposes Minstrelsy & Murder, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
“Caveman Play”—Lovable Parable on Prehistoric Planning, at Faultline, S.F.
“Cabaret” Soars, Defies, & Challenges, at S.F. Playhouse
“Measure for Measure” Highlights Top Talent, at Marin Shakes
“Year of Magical Thinking” Uses Nature to Avoid Grief, at Aurora, Berkeley
June 2019
“Wink” Hilariously Highlights Our Basic Instincts, at MTC, Mill Valley
“Fahrenheit 451” Blazes, at Quantum Dragon, S.F.
“Fahrenheit 451” Burns Down the House, at Quantum Dragon, S.F.
“The Fit”—A Struggling Stew of Tech Types, at S.F. Playhouse
“Once” Sparks Musical Magic, at 42nd St. Moon, S.F.
“Oedipus El Rey”—A California Twist to Greek Tragedy, at Magic Theatre, S.F.
“Once on this Island”: Musical Revelations of Class vs. Race, at CCCT, El Cerrito
“Gender Shorts” Challenge Patriarchy, at Dragon Theatre, Redwood City
“Rent” Spotlights Young Stars, at SHN Broadway, S.F.
“Rusalka”—Doomed Water Nymph & Prince Delight, at S.F. Opera
“Action Hero” Crashes Comedy Barriers, at Theatre Rhino, S.F
“Archduke” Steals Hearts, at TheatreWorks, Mtn. View
“Next to Normal” Destigmatizes Mental Illness, at Los Altos Stage
“body/politic” Reclaims Femininity, at Nitery, Stanford
“Orlando”—Now a WW II Hospital Drama, at S.F. Opera
“Llama Llama Live!”—Hilarious Mirror of Life, at BACT, Berkeley
“Kiss My Aztec!” Explodes with Color & Music, at Berkeley Rep
“Rhinoceros” Rattles Our Cage, at ACT, S.F.
“Breaking Cadence” Explores Predatory Military Recruiting
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Opens A Toy Box of Wonders, at Cal Shakes, Orinda
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” Woos & Wows, at SHN, S.F.
May 2019
“Faceless” Puts ‘War on Terror’ on Trial, at 6th Street, Santa Rosa
“Come Back, Little Sheba” Laments ’50s Love, at Altarena, Alameda
“Kings” Gets Real, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
“Sister Act: The Musical” Hits Drag Heights, at Theatre Rhino, S.F.
“The View Upstairs” Honors Timeless Love, at NCTC, S.F.
“Romeo & Juliet” Uncovers Modern Meaning, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“American Psycho: The Musical” Is to Die for, at Ray of Light, S.F.
“Pop-Up Magazine” Is You, But Cooler, at Paramount, Oakland
“Who Killed Sylvia Plath” Searches for Insight, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Life Sucks”—A Heartfelt Wrestling Match, at Custom Made, S.F.
“The Good Book” Delivers Fresh Revelations, at Berkeley Rep
“Victorian Ladies” Mix Murder & Laughter, at Central Works, Berkeley
“Territories” Uncovers A Woman’s Secrets, at Arabian Shakes, S.F.
“Mother’s Milk”—A Homecoming, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“Flower Drum Song” in Full Bloom, at Palo Alto Players
“Far, Far Better Things” Foresees Women’s Triumphs, at TheatreFirst, Berkeley
“Weightless” Beautifully Transcends Rock Opera Genre, at A.C.T., S.F.
“Supremacy” Touches Our Hearts & Souls, at Exit Theatre, S.F
“Significant Other” Ridicules Gay Conformity, at S.F. Playhouse
“House of the Spirits”—A Rare, Sensual Treat, at U.C., Berkeley
April, 2019
“House of the Spirits”—A Rare, Sensual Treat, at U.C., Berkeley
“Vanity Fair”—Comedy Exposes Elite Conspiracy, at ACT, S.F.
“Importance of Being Earnest”—Comedy Crushes Elites, at Aurora, Berkeley
“The Little Mermaid”—A Thrilling Dance Drama, at S.F. Ballet
“Charlie & the Chocolate Factory”—Delicious & Magical, at SHN, S.F.
“All the Way”—A Fascinating Look at LBJ, at CCCT, El Cerrito
“The Gentleman Caller” Brings Thrilling Gifts, at NCTC, S.F.
“A Paris Love Story” Illuminates Debussy’s Genius, at TheatreWorks, Mtn. View
“Adiós Mamá Carlota” Mingles Regal Ruler & Ghostly Dreams, at The Stage, San Jose
“Adiós Mamá Carlota” Conjures Deluded Empress, at The Stage, San Jose
“The Diary of Anne Frank”—Life in the Face of Fear, at Center REP, Walnut Creek
“Time Sensitive”—A Poem of Apocalyptic Dread, at Ragged Wing, Oakland
“The Jungle” Wakes US to Global Refugee Crisis, at The Curran, S.F.
“In Old Age” Remodels Past Memories, at Magic Theatre, S.F.
“Down Here Below” Lifts the Tarps of the Homeless, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“Kill the Debbie Downers!” Links Russia, Chaos, & US, at Shotgun, Berkeley
“Helen” Delves into Illusions of Beauty & War, at Yugen, S.F.
“Company” Unites Us in Quest for Love, at Altarena, Alameda
“Press Here, the Musical”—Kids Join Eagerly, at BACT, Berkeley
“Home” Invites Us to People & Parties, at Berkeley Rep
March, 2019
“Urban Retreat” Exposes Minstrelsy of Pop Culture, at Lorraine Hansberry, S.F.
“La Ronde”—Trapped in Amber, at Cutting Ball, S.F.
“Deathtrap” Thrills and Kills, at Theatre Rhinoceros, S.F.
“The Mushroom Cure”—A Raucous, Deep Dive into OCD, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Falsettos” Harmonizes the History of Love, at SHN, S.F.
“Sojourn” Takes Us to Unexpected Places, at Pear, Mountain View
“Black Eagles” Soars, at African American Shakes, S.F.
“American Hero” Transforms Corporate into Co-op, at Custom Made, S.F.
“The Great Leap” Scores a Big Win, at ACT, S.F.
“Actually” Asks the Rape Question Head-On, at Aurora, Berkeley
“The Who & the What” Incites Family Intifada, at Marin Theatre Co.
“Marie and Rosetta” Break Barriers in Music & Life, at TheatreWorks, Palo Alto
“Sleeping Beauty” Is Back, Lovelier Than Ever, at S.F. Ballet
“Fiorello!” Blooms to a Lively Beat, at 42nd Street Moon, S.F.
“Transfers” Sensitively Spotlights Education Inequality, at Crowded Fire, S.F.
“Brooklyn Bridge” Builds Family from Strangers, at Town Hall, Lafayette
“Her Portmanteau” Carries Secret Joy & Longing, at ACT, S.F.
February, 2019
“Wonderland”—Down the Rabbit Hole, at Central Works, Berkeley
“Hamilton” Gives Voices to American Descendants, at SHN, S.F.
“Humble Boy” Charms & Delights, at CCCT, El Cerrito
“Every Day Alice”—A Welcome Addition to Wonderland, at PianoFight, S.F.
“Hello, Dolly!” Dazzles Eyes, Ears, Heart, at SHN, S.F.
“After Miss Julie”─A Fiery Collision of Class & Sex, at Main Stage West, Sebastopol
“Last Sermon of Sister Imani” Ignites Black Renaissance, at TheatreFirst, Berkeley
“Violet”—A Musical Journey to Self-Love, at BAM, S.F.
“Hamilton” Flies from Puerto Rico to SHN, San Francisco
“Fuddy Meers” Shines Brightly, at B8 Theatre, Concord
“Snowblind”—Breathtaking View of Love & Fate, Impeccably Danced, at S.F. Ballet
“I, Too, Sing America” Melds Lyrics, Diversity, Joy, at BATCO, S.F.
“A White Girl’s Guide to International Terrorism”—Spunky Teenage Dreams, at S.F. Playhouse
“Mother Courage” Trades Sympathy for Spectacle, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“Honky”—A Comic Roller-Coaster Ride, at Role Players, Danville
“She Persisted, the Musical”—Trailblazing Women Inspire Kids, at BACT, Berkeley
“Poetics 2”–Fun, Spirited Satire, at PianoFight, S.F.
“Late Company” Comes with A Hatchet to Bury, at NCTC, S.F.
“Communicating Doors”: Comical Crime Thriller, at Center Rep, Walnut Creek
“Creditors”: A Brilliant Conspiracy of Vengeance, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Seascape” Celebrates Familiar, Alien Worlds, at ACT, S.F.
“Peg+Cat Live!” Delivers Musical Blast, at BACT, Castro Valley
“Metamorphoses” Enchants, at Berkeley Rep
“Late Company” Unravels Gay Bullying, at NCTC, S.F.
January 2019
“Spending the End of the World on Ok Cupid” Reconnects Us, at Pear Theatre, Mountain View
“King of the Yees”—Worthy of A Crown, at S.F. Playhouse
“Border People”—Touching, Timely Portraits of US, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Loot”—A Hoot! at Novato Theater Company
“Don Quixote” Soars, Wonderfully Danced, Staged, at San Francisco Ballet
“When We Were Young and Unafraid”—Smart & Relevant, at Custom Made, S.F.
“How I Learned What I Learned”: A Lesson in First-Rate Theater, at Marin Theatre Co.
“Do’s & Don’ts of Time Travel” Ignites Dreams, at Quantum Dragon, S.F.
“Tenderloin Tour” Ferries Us to Gritty Truths, at Cutting Ball, S.F.
“Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?” Rules! at The Marsh, S.F.
“The North Pool” Pulls Us In, at Bread & Butter, S.F.
“Hand to God” Grabs Us by the Funny Bone, at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda
“Paradise Square” Celebrates Song & Dance in Civil War Manhattan, at Berkeley Rep
“Come from Away”—Finds New Land in Our Hearts, at SHN, S.F
“Skin of Our Teeth” Taunts US, Terrifically, at Actors Ensemble, Berkeley
“Arcadia”—A Lively & Witty Mystery, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
December 2018
“A Time for Hawking” Tickles the Universe, at Indra’s Net, Berkeley
“A Noh Christmas Carol”—Hypnotic, Haunting Holiday Treat, at Yugen, S.F.
“Dear Evan Hansen” Challenges Millennial Myths, at The Curran, S.F.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”—Comfortable Music with a Moral, at S.F. Opera
“A Christmas Carol”: Miraculous & Meaningful, at ACT, S.F.
“The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” Lights Up a Revolution, at MTC, Mill Valley
“Arcadia” Paints a Bleak, Loveless Future at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
“Avenue Q” Spices Up the Holidays, at NCTC, S.F
“Santaland Diaries”: Hilarious Working Elf Reflects, at TheatreWorks, Los Altos
“Conference of the Birds”: A Flutter of Wisdom & Fun, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“Dear Evan Hansen” Challenges Millennial Myths, at The Curran, S.F.
“Ripcord”: Hilarious Odd Couple Takes a Leap, at CCCT, El Cerrito
“Great Expectations”: Frenetic Dickensian Coming of Age, at Town Hall, Lafayette
“Oakland Raiders, True Crime, & Coming of Age in SF”—at The Marsh
“The Jewelry Box” Overflows with Love & Laughter, at the Marsh, S.F.
November 2018
“House of Yes”—A Kennedy Delusion, at Main Stage West, Sebastopol
“A History of World War II”—A Queer Eye on Sharp Nazis, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce” Makes Mincemeat of Christmas, at The Curran, S.F.
“Pike Street”—Amazing Array of Lower East Side Lives, at Berkeley Rep
“Mary Poppins” Inspires Rich & Poor, at S.F. Playhouse
“Volta”—Big Tent Acrobats Amaze & Electrify, at Cirque du Soleil, S.F.
“Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure”—A Retro Treat, at BACT, Berkeley
“Everything is Illuminated” Sheds Light on WWII Ukraine, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Crazy for You” Defies the Great Depression, at Bay Area Musicals, S.F.
“Wizard of Oz”—Charming Stage Pictures, at Berkeley Playhouse
“All the Way” Makes LBJ Real to Us, at Palo Alto Players
“Tartuffe”—Thoroughly Modern Moliere, at CAL, Berkeley
“In the Heights” Elevates Immigrant Spirit, at Custom Made, S.F.
“Aida”—A Kinetic Explosion! at Broadway by the Bay, Redwood City
“Twelfth Night”—A Delightful Whirlwind, at Arabian Shakes, S.F.
“Cardboard Piano” Shocks with War & Love in Uganda, at NCTC, S.F.
“Men on Boats”─A Rollicking Pioneer Delusion, at ACT, S.F.
October 2018
“The Boy from Oz” Dances into Our Hearts, at Rhino, S.F.
“Dancing Lessons” Shimmies and Shakes, at Center REP, Walnut Creek
“Arabella” Engages Musically and Theatrically, at S.F. Opera
“You Mean to Do Me Harm”—Four Superb Actors Expose Our Obsessions, at S.F. Playhouse
“Dracula”—A Haunting Masterpiece, at Theatre Lunatico, Berkeley
“Hedda Gabler” Surprises and Charms, at Pear Theatre, Mountain View
“The Resting Place” Exposes Horrifying Family Secrets, at Magic Theatre, S.F.
“Women Laughing Alone with Salad” Gets Salty, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
Main Stage West—Best of the Best, in Sebastopol
“Graveyard Shift” Digs Up Texas Terror, at S.F. Playhouse
“Thoroughly Modern Millie”—Antiquated, yet Charming, at CCMT, Walnut Creek
“Hamlet” Breaks New Ground, Amazingly, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“The Night Alive” Illuminates Dubliners’ Dark Lives, at Main Stage West, Sebastopol
“Chekhov’s Ward 6″—Still Critical & Passionate, at Central Works, Berkeley
“Oslo” Pinpoints Palestine/Israel Accord, at MTC, Mill Valley
“Seen/By Everyone” Lyrically Dissects Online Grief, at Yugen, S.F.
“The Obligation” Delivers Life Lessons, at Potrero Stage, S.F.
“Fairview” Takes Back Black Culture, at Berkeley Rep
“70 Scenes of Halloween”—Terrorizes and Delights, at Playhouse, U.C. Berkeley
“Fun Home”—Heartfelt Sexual Coming Of Age, at TheatreWorks, Mountain View
“Uncle Vanya”—A Vibrant Cage Match of Discontent, at Cutting Ball, S.F.
“Tosca”—A Beautifully Sung but Unimaginative New Production, from S.F. Opera
“Good Night, Gorilla”—Adorable Intro to Theater, at BACT, Berkeley
“Red Scare on Sunset” Hilariously Spoofs McCarthyism, at NCTC, S.F.
“Clybourne Park”—Captivating Comedy of Class & Race, at Altarena, Alameda
“Sweat”—A Passionate Portrait of U.S. Workers, at ACT, S.F.
“The Revolutionists”—Didactic Comedy of Ideas, at Town Hall, Lafayette
“Refugee Voices & Trojan Women” Awakens Our Empathy, at Multi Ethnic Theater, S.F.
“Acid Test” Delivers Insight from Other Dimensions, at The Marsh, S.F.
“dirty butterfly” Destroys and Rebuilds, at Anton’s Well, Berkeley
September 2018
“Dreamgirls” Hits the High Notes, at Berkeley Playhouse
“The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence”—Actors Shine, at Dragon, Redwood City
“Allegiance”—Dark, Yet Uplifting, At CCCT, El Cerrito
“Baby Doll” Teases Out Tense Truths, at Shelton Theater, S.F.
“Black Odyssey” Returns, Astounds! at Cal Shakes, Orinda
“The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?”—Best of Breed! at Custom Made, S.F.
“Church” Blows the Roof Off Religion, at Crowded Fire, S.F.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch” Makes Us Lift Up Our Hands, at Ray of Light, S.F.
“Dead and Breathing” Turns Toward Life, at Rhino, S.F.
“for colored girls” Unifies & Sanctifies, at African American Shakes, S.F.
“Cavalleria Rusticana” & “Pagliacci”—Stellar Singing and Acting from S.F. Opera
“Cat in the Hat”— An English/Spanish Riot, at BACT, Berkeley
August 2018
“Dȇmos Krátos Theátro” Inspires Laughs & Voting, at PianoFight, S.F.
“A Doll’s House, Part 2” Redefines Marriage, at Berkeley Rep
“Caesar Maximus” Strolls & Struggles in Golden Gate Park, at We Players, S.F.
“Detroit ‘67” Depicts Days of Fear & Rebellion, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Mamma Mia!” I think I’ll go AGAIN! to Center REP, Walnut Creek
“Northanger Abbey” Highlights Subtle Progressive Messages, at The Pear, Mountain View
“Kiss” Challenges Illusions & Delusions, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
“Mahabharat”—Epic Immersion, at Naatak, Palo Alto
“Pool of Wonders” Glows & Beckons, at Ubuntu, Berkeley
“Native Gardens” Cultivates Border Wars, at TheatreWorks, Mountain View
“War of the Roses” Makes History LIVE, at Cal Shakes, Orinda
“Woman on Fire” Haunts & Unsettles, at Those Women, Berkeley
“Washed Up on the Potomac” Liberates Mad Men, at S.F. Playhouse
“Anniversary!”—A “Deep Kiss” & A “Victory Lap,” at Word For Word, S.F.
“#GetGhandi” Delights and Inspires, at Z Space, S.F.
“Where the Boys Are” Explodes, the Myth of Men, at Faultline, S.F.
“King of Cuba” Tickles, Triumphs at Central Works, Berkeley
“What They Said About Love” Charms, Thrills, at The Marsh, S.F.
July 2018
“Each and Every Thing” Triumphs, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“Hold These Truths” Captivates Hearts, at TheatreWorks, Palo Alto
“King of Cuba” Dissects Revolution, at Central Works, Berkeley
“Everybody” Speaks Boldly, Beautifully, at Cal Shakes, Orinda
“Oedipus at Palm Springs” Seduces and Shocks, at Theatre Rhinoceros, S.F.
“White” Unleashes Hidden Voices, at Shotgun, Berkeley
“Hunchback of Notre Dame” Dazzles, Delights, at Bay Area Musicals
“White” Blends Pigments Artfully, at Shotgun, Berkeley
“Sunday in the Park with George” Glitters, at S.F. Playhouse
“Dry Powder” Ignites Greedy Passions, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Measure for Measure” Mocks First World Problems, at Lunatico, Berkeley
“Seeing Red” Brings Cheers, Shouts, at S.F. Mime Troupe
“Universal Robots” Mesmerizes, at Quantum Dragon, S.F.
June 2018
“Two Mile Hollow” Ridicules Ruling Class, at Ferocious Lotus, S.F.
“In Braunau” Thrills with Dark Past, at S.F. Playhouse
“Soft Power” Musical Brings Hard Laughs, at The Curran, S.F.
“Straight White Men” Speaks to All, at MTC, Mill Valley
“Straight White Men” Captivates Curious Minorities, at MTC, Mill Valley
“Good. Better. Best. Bested.” Exposes Glitter and Gloom at Custom Made, S.F.
“A Walk on the Moon” Rocks the Crowd at ACT, S.F.
“Pete The Cat” Thrills Kids at BACT, Berkeley
“Quixote Nuevo” Attack La Frontera, at Cal Shakes, Orinda
“Das Rheingold” Gleams at San Francisco Opera
“A Lesson From Aloes” Explodes a Thorny Past, at Z Below, S.F.
“Sense and Sensibility” Slides into Town Hall, Lafayette
“Dry Land” Locker Room Talk Grabs Us, at Shotgun, Berkeley
May 2018
“Hamlet”—Family Affair Rocks Outdoors, at Marin Shakes, San Rafael
“Scapegoat”—Comic Artist Soars Close to Sun, at Playground Festival, S.F.
“The Tin Woman” Really Finds Her Heart, at Ross Valley Players
“Two Minds” Meld, then Clash, Brilliantly, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Topdog/Underdog”—Taut and Absorbing, at Ubuntu, Berkeley
“Bright Shining Sea” Moves Us to Tears, at Playground Festival, S.F.
“An Entomologist’s Love Story” Magnifies Dating Wars, at S.F. Playhouse
Angels in America, “Perestroika” Flies Us to Heaven, at Berkeley Rep
“Judy Moody and Stink, the Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt, at BACT, S.F.
“What the Constitution Means to Me” Updates Us on Our Rights, at Berkeley Rep
“Roman Women”—A Hit with Intensity, at We Players, S.F.
Michael Menager—Consummate Poet, Minstrel, at ArtsUp, S.F.
“Waafrika 123” Transfixes with Fire, at TheatreFIRST, Berkley
“Marjorie Prime”—Memories Come Alive, but May Not Be True, at MTC
“All the Shah’s Men” Highlights CIA Conspiracy in Iran Coup, at Arabian Shakes, S.F.
“The Congresswomen” Take Charge, at Exit Theater, S.F.
“Angels in America”—Flying on a Thread, at Berkeley Rep
“Father Comes Home from the Wars” Unlocks a Worker’s Worth, at ACT. S.F.
“Angels in America”: A Legendary Roy Cohn, at Berkeley Rep
“Tinderella”—Sexting, BART, & Lost Heels, at Custom Made, S.F.
“Angels in America” More Powerful and Prophetic than Ever, at Berkley Rep
“Eureka Day” Deliciously Skewers Best Parental Intentions, at Aurora, Berkeley
April 2018
“Mystery of Love and Sex” Queries Friend-Sex in Gay Comedy, at NCTC, S.F.
“Inside Out & Back Again”: A Heartfelt Homecoming, at BACT, Berkeley
“Eureka Day”–An LOL Comedy on Parenting, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Mother Lear”—Intimate Glimpse into Dementia, at We Players, S.F.
“The Dream of Kitamura”: A Surreal Whodunit, at CAL, Berkeley
“Head Over Heels” Spews Dazzling Chaos, at Curran, S.F.
“Gangster of Love”—A Spectacular Family Reunion, at Magic Theatre, S.F.
“American Jornalero” Incarnates Workers’ Woes, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“Signs” Sends a Magical Signal, at PianoFight, S.F.
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”—Playful Dark Comedy, at CCCT, El Cerrito
“Daughter of a Garbageman” Garnishes Oppression with Humor, at The Marsh, S.F.
“The Fantasticks” Delight! at Novato Theater Company
“Timon of Athens”—A Raunchy, Violent Tale, at Cutting Ball, S.F.
“What they Said About Love” Wrestles the Riddle of Love, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“Shirley Valentine” Celebrates Life, at Center REP, Walnut Creek
“A Different Long Stretch of Earth”—New West Wrestles Old, at Ragged Wing, Oakland
“Nijinsky”—Dancer’s Genius Flows Again, at S.F. Ballet
“Shifting Spaces” Explores the True Self, at Those Women, Berkeley
March 2018
“Red” Opens an Artist’s Mind, at Bread & Butter Theatre, S.F.
“Saturday Night” Romances With Charm, at 42nd Street Moon, S.F.
“Crystal” Cracks Barriers, at SAP Center, San Jose
“Iron Shoes” Weighs Us Down to Lift Us Up, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley
“The Wolves” Entertains with Musical Dialogue, at MTC, Mill Valley
“The Effect”—A Litmus Test for Love, at S.F.Playhouse
Call Me by Your Name—Desire Under the Lombard Sun
“Heisenberg”— Intriguing Tango for Two, at ACT, S.F.
“Dance of the Holy Ghosts” Takes Us to Church, at Ubuntu, Oakland
“Cowboy vs. Samurai”—Sweet & Hilarious, at Pear Theatre, Mountain View
“It’s Only a Play” Dazzles with Stage Scandals, at NCTC, S.F.
“A Number” Prophesies a Clone Crisis, at Aurora, Berkeley
“Kursk” Dives Deep to Subterranean Depths, at Lunatico, Berkeley
“All in the Timing: Short Comedies” Inspire Love, at U.C. Berkeley
“Hooded” Tickles with Dark Humor, at Custom Made, S.F.
“Mystery of Edwin Drood” Kills with Laugher, at Marin Onstage, San Rafael
“Vietgone”: Tantalizing Trip across Alien(ated) America, at ACT, S.F.
“Transitions” Launches Drag Queen at Drumpf & Putin, at The Rhino, S.F.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” Spellbinds, Chills, at African American Shakespeare. S.F.
“Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.” Exhilarating, at Crowded Fire, S.F.
“Between Us” Forges New Paths, at TheatreFIRST, Berkeley
“Office Hour”: A Dose of Bone Chilling Reality, at Berkeley Rep
“Ragtime,” the Musical, Stuns and Wows, at Berkeley Playhouse
“Widowers’ Houses” Ridicules Gentrification, at Aurora, Berkeley
February 2018
“Between Us” Breaks Down the Barriers, at TheatreFIRST, Berkeley
“Bamboozled” Steals Your Heart, at Central Works, Berkeley
“Berkeley Dance Project 2018” Takes Us Inside, at Playhouse, U.C., Berkeley
“Reel to Reel” Opens Our Ears to Love, at Magic Theatre, S.F.
“The Secret in the Wings” Spins a Magical Tale, at CCCT, El Cerrito
“Lucia Berlin: Stories”–A Dark, Rich World, at Word for Word, S.F.
“What They Said About Love” Evokes Laughter, Introspection, at The Marsh, Berkeley
“Man of La Mancha” Shines Amidst Challenges, at Custom Made, S.F.
“A Streetcar Named Desire” Explores Primal Places, at Ubuntu Theater, Oakland
“A Streetcar Named Desire” Thrills, Chills, at Ubuntu Theater, Oakland
“Red Speedo” Exposes Our Competitive Madness, at Center REP, Walnut Creek
“Widowers’ Houses” Rocks with Comic Genius, at Aurora Theatre, Berkeley
“A Fatal Step”: Femme Fatale Spirals into Control, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Still at Risk” Sparkles with Style & Savvy, at NCTC, S.F.
“Skeleton Crew” Reveals Workers’ Woes, at Marin Theatre, Mill Valley
“Why I Died, a Comedy!” Internalizes Humor, at PlayGround, S.F.
“Megabytes! The Musical” Keeps Phones in Pockets, at Shelton Theatre, S.F.
Alabama Story” Revels in Rabbits & Rage, at City Lights, San Jose
January 2018
“Born Yesterday” Arouses Laughter, Reflection, at S.F. Playhouse
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”: Comic Riff on Family Life, at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda
“Sleeping Beauty” Stunningly Revived, by S.F. Ballet
“The Motherf**ker with the Hat”: A Compelling Ride, at Four Lost Souls, S.F.
“The Vagina Odyssey” Refreshes Feminism, at Monkey House, Berkeley
“RENT” Reflects Bay Area 20 Years Later, at Broadway San Jose
“Beautiful Oops!” A Planned Accident for Kids at BACT, Berkeley
“The Birthday Party” Shocks with Political Allegory, at ACT, S.F.
“Road to Mecca” Intrigues at Pear Theater, Mountain View
“What Just Happened?” Magnifies Mundane Moments, at PlayGround, S.F.
“Our Great Tchaikovsky” Melds Gender & Genius, at TheatreWorks, Silicon Valley
“Dear Dad” Calls for Action via Laughter, at ACT, S.F.
“Man of La Mancha” Gives Dreamers Hope, at Custom Made, S.F.
“Kipling Hotel” Invites Laughter & Love, at The Marsh, S.F.
“Partition” Celebrates Spiritual Insights, at Indra’s Net, Berkeley