Matthew Ozawa Modernizes Beethoven’s Ode to Justice by Jennifer Ann Charron Beethoven, with help from friends like Matthew Ozawa and the cast, orchestra, and crew of SF Opera gave me two-plus hours of unadulterated joy. Ozawa’s new “Fidelio” updates Beethoven’s opera about triumph over tyranny—delivering a contemporary win over political injustice. Ozawa’s modern detention…
Dael Orlandersmith Weaves an Epic on Jazz, Harlem, Hope by Barry David Horwitz “Stoop Stories” could be called “The New York Odyssey” because playwright/poet Dael Orlandersmith has created a tapestry of encounters that bring to life real New Yorkers: a Holocaust survivor, a youthful poet, a Puerto Rican ‘cool’ kid, and an oldster seeking…
John Fisher Sends Up Silly Snobs in U.S. & U.K by Robert M. Gardner & Barry David Horwitz In “National Trust,” a solo show by John Fisher, we find our hero camping it up, calling into question our national priorities. His energy is infectious, his antics hilarious, as he tells us about grand houses…
Fred Pitts Links Black and Native American History by Patricia L. Morin Using his personal tour of the 21 Spanish missions across California, soft-spoken Fred Pitts has fashioned an intriguing, three-dimensional show that unveils centuries of corruption and bigotry aimed at Native Americans. By mixing California history, personal encounters, and surprising interactions with other…