#talkinbroadway

[twoontheaisle]

"Swept Away" at Berkeley Rep

Berkeley Rep is developing a reputation for premiering musicals that go on to much bigger things: American Idiot, Ain't Too Proud and Paradise Square.

I think they have another Broadway-bound show in the wondrous Swept Away. Featuring music by The Avett Brothers, and starring John Gallagher, Jr. (who also starred in American Idiot and Spring Awakening) with a book by John Logan (Red, Moulin Rouge: The Musical) and directed by Michael Mayer (American Idiot, Spring Awakening, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Swept Away takes you on a journey with two brothers on a whaling ship at the end of the 19th century, when whaling was a dying occupation.

The set alone is nearly worth the price of admission, and the story is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful one.

Read my full review at TalkinBroadway and get your tickets for this so you can say you saw it before it hit the Great White Way.

[twoontheaisle]

"My Fair Lady" at the Orpheum Theatre

When Shaw wrote Pygmalion, he most decidedly did NOT intend it to be a love story. At least not a love story about a budding romance between street urchin Eliza Doolittle and the grand and haughty Professor Henry Higgins. It was a satire on classism and privilege. But when Lerner and Loewe got hold of it, it lost much of its bite. (But gained some gorgeous music!)

While it's still a charming musical distraction from the troubles of our contemporary world, director Bartlett Sher has added back in some of the sharpness Shaw intended. Spoiler alert, Higgins and Eliza don't walk hand in hand into the sunset.

On top of all that, the staging is magnificent, the costumes sumptuous, and the cast brilliant. But go read my full review at TalkinBroadway.

[twoontheaisle]

"Gala" by Transcendence Theatre Company

The venue is the same, the warm greetings from the staff are still there, the logistics are still handled with efficiency, the cast is still committed and energetic...but this last show of the TTC season simply didn't live up to their high standards.

My full review is up at TalkinBroadway.

[twoontheaisle]

Moulin Rouge! at BroadwaySF's Orpheum Theatre

Wow. Just wow.

For more wow, read my review on TalkinBroadway.

[twoontheaisle]

"The Prom" at BroadwaySF's Golden Gate Theatre

I'm tempted to say The Prom is a bit of cotton candy - sweet, but short-lived. Except it was a hell of a lot of fun! Some terrific choreography by Casey Nicholaw, and a witty book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin. But the highlight was an astounding performance by Kaden Kearney as Emma, the teenage lesbian who just wants to take her girlfriend to the prom, and is helped in her effort by some narcissistic Broadway stars trying up their social justice cred.

Please, go read my full review at TalkinBroadway.

[twoontheaisle]

"Water by the Spoonful" at SF Playhouse

Since this is the forum where I can really let loose, I'll just say it: what the hell is up with that set? So much about Water by the Spoonful is amazing: it's terrific structure and naturalistic dialogue from playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes (proving why the play deserved the Pulitzer), and especially its cast, which is brilliant across the board. But the set looks like something your local high school drama department could create. How did this happen?

Never mind, though, despite some lackluster direction, this is well worth seeing.

Go read my full review at TalkinBroadway.

[twoontheaisle]

"Heroes of the Fourth Turning" at SF Playhouse

Susi Damilano (above) is easily the best thing about this play that opened this week at SF Playhouse. But with two hours and 20 minutes of Catholic conservatives going on about abortion and The Former Guy and how trans people are denying reality...well, it wasn't for me.

If you do decide to go, make sure your seats are house left - on the other side the sight lines are awful.

But read my full review at TalkinBroadway before you buy your tickets.

[twoontheaisle]

"Georgiana & Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley" at Marin Theatre Company

Truth be told, my two theatre-going companions hated this show, but I (and seemingly the rest of the audience) had a lovely trip back to 19th century England and into the Jane Austen universe for this final installment in the Christmas at Pemberley trilogy. Some very fine performances here - and a woman power message that would make this the perfect show to take a a young daughter or niece to

Go read my full review at TalkinBroadway.