Beast Blog

Shotgun Players puts on a fantastic Cyrano de Bergerac in Berkeley's John Hinkel Park this August

My experience of theater in Berkeley is that like the food in Costa Rica, it defies the laws of economics. The less you pay, the better it is, and vice versa. Several years ago I was given an expensive season's subscription to the Berkeley Rep, and to my great disappointment, almost all the shows turned out to be dreck, Overacted melodramas with gratuitous female nudity. Who needs a faux "Épater le Bourgeois" sensibility in a town that features The Explicit Players as regular naked street performers? If I wanted to watch Sex and the City, I could always go find someone who has a TV and watch it. Then I found a local community theater that puts on plays 3 blocks from my house, The Actor's Ensemble of Berkeley. They do a fantastic job. The performance of Long Day's Journey into Night they did was as good as the Broadway version I saw 20 years ago. Tickets for the Actor's Ensemble shows are only ten bucks, and well worth the price. The next show is Six Degrees of Seperation in October.

I have been on the mailing list for another of Berkeley's theater ensembles, the Shotgun Players, for a while, but had never seen a performance, but I got inspired this weekend to go see their production of Edmund Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac. What a fantastic show! The setting is the open air amphitheater at John Hinckel Park in Berkeley (the original home of the California Shakespeare festival). The play is set in 17th century France, and the soldiers and swordsmen in their costumes look right at home in the park, appearing out of the trees or running down the aisles, swords flashing. Language is both a subject of the play and celebrated by the play, and The Shotgun Players picked a great translation of Rostand's play, and found someone able to do justice to the beautiful language and the part of Cyrano, Clive Worsley, who delivers a great performance. There are lots of memorable characters, from the pastry-chef poet to the lady-in-waiting with the swooping voice, and there is something for everyone in the family (over 8) to like: Musketeers, fancy dresses and swordplay for the pre-teens, star-crossed romance for the teens, great language for the adults, and wit for all to enjoy. And the cost? Up to you -- it is pass the hat donations at the end of the show. I was generous, because it is great to be able to support so much great inexpensive theater in Berkeley.

Cyrano de Bergerac is playing through Labor Day, and I highly recommend it for anyone over 8 years old. Bring warm clothes and a jacket, because it gets cold in the shade, especially if the fog comes in, and arrive 15 or 20 minutes early if you want to sit close to the center of the action.

Cross posted at The Berkeley Blog

Only one more chance to see it!

If you haven't seen The Bright River yet, do yourself a favor & go THIS WEDNESDAY, April 13th to the last show. This theatrical production (which combines music, theater, traditional jewish storytelling, beatboxing, and more) has been wildly successful for a reason. It's brilliant.

I'm not a big theater person. I usually see live music & spoken word and less theater and dance. I was thrilled by the story, the presentation & the level of talent gracing the stage.

You can still see the last show (for a while) at The Oakland Metro (201 Broadway @ 2nd, Jack London Square), 8 PM, this Wednesday, April 13th. $12 general admission.

A return to the Supper Club

What could be more fun than an evening out- seeing fabulous performers in all genres while enjoying a gourmet meal?

The Ghetto Gourmet does just that, several times a month in various locations.

Check them out to make a reservation!

Film Bums' Paradise in Emeryville on July 17

Bums' Paradise, a well-reviewed film about the residents of the Albany Bulb and their efforts to fight so-called redevelopment and eviction, is coming to Lola's Outdoor Film Frenzy in Emeryville, 1280 65th Street, Emeryville, between Hollis and Doyle, on Saturday, July 17th, at 8:30 pm. I've wanted to see the film ever since I read about how it was made, by letting the residents of the Albany Bulb encampment film themselves, in a sad article about the death of one of its stars. I hope to make it to the screening myself.

The filmmakers, who will be present, say "So grab you[r] chair and blanket and come lounge beneath the stars at Lola's Film Frenzy." Only $7, no one turned away for lack of funds. More details on venue and film available here.

Cross-blogged at The Berkeley Blog.

Shotgun Players Find A Home

Bright River -- Extended!

Float down The Bright River

A bit back we posted an announcement of The Bright River, a performance taking place at the Transparent Theater, on Ashby and MLK. Last night, a few of us went to see it, and were quite pleased.

For starters, you've just got to dig the Transparent Theater -- I'm disappointed that the first show I saw there is the last show they're putting on! (I hope they find an agreeable buyer.) It's a funky casual place, encourages you to bring food and drink into the house, friendly staff, etc. It's also well-appointed for it's small (180 seats) size.

The show was fun. Something of a post-death journey, hip-hop flava mixed in with some traditional Jewish storytelling, healthy portions of current events (the Iraq war looms large), and a tight musical ensemble. The discovery of the show, as it were, is Andrew Chaikin's freakish beatboxing -- you'll be surprised at what comes out of his mouth.

The show continues tonight, and then next weekend, so there's plenty of opportunity to see it. The advanced ticket price is very reasonable ($12), and it's a worthwhile event to support local theater.

What's Up With the Transparent Theater

Hi neighbors. After nine wonderful productions in the past three years, Transparent Theater is closing. We have enjoyed your presence at the plays, your emails and your comments, and we want to thank you for all of your support. Transparent's managing director, Coley, and I are pursuing projects outside of theater and with the additional factor of a baby coming in the summer(!), we have decided that the time is right for us to close the theater. In the short term, as you heard from Tanya at Epic Arts (1923 Ashby), the theater will be hosting a production of THE BRIGHT RIVER by Tim Barsky running through March 20. We encourage you to come check it out -- we look forward to the opening this Thursday. In terms of our longer term plans, we are already talking to potential buyers of the theater, and it is our hope that it continues as a performance space. If you know anyone or any group that may be interested in a fully-permitted, beautiful performance space in this great neighborhood and next to BART, please let us know. Best wishes and thanks again for all of your support for the years of Transparent Theater. Tom Clyde