Steve Murray - Page 6

What did our critic think of MEAN GIRLS at Golden Gate Theatre? When her mother gets a new job in Chicago, Cady must leave the wilds of Kenya for High School in yet another type of jungle, where the power cliques prey on the weaker links. Its Social Darwinism dished out by a group called 'The Plastics', the Mean Girls of writer Tina Fey's musical based on her 2004 film of the same name. It's a familiar story of bullying, acceptance and social groupings with an OK score and clever wise-cracking dialogue.

What did our critic think of CASHED OUT at SF Playhouse? Cashed Out, an SF Playhouse commission two and a half years in the making, delivers on its portrayal of the bleak realities of reservation life including domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, loss of culture and the casino culture and its ugly bi-product -gambling addiction. While these vices are not exclusive to indigenous peoples, they are seen at much higher incidences.

What did our critic think of GETTING THERE at New Conservatory Theatre Center?

What did our critic think of SONGS THAT RAISED ME at Orinda Theatre?

What did our critic think of CLYDE'S at Berkeley Rep?

What did our critic think of DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Orpheum Theatre?

What did our critic think of IN EVERY GENERATION at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley? The traditions of the Passover seder are the jumping off point for the West Coast premiere of Ali Viterbi's thoughtful time-hopping reflection on the Jewish experience. Examining what is passed down from generation to generation, it's much more than the elements of the seder dinner - the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread and the ten plagues telling the story of the exodus from Egypt. There's the dark, ever present paranoia of persecution lingering throughout this piece making it a cautionary tale for not only Jews, but any minority facing oppression.

What did our critic think of WUTHERING HEIGHTS at Berkeley Repertory Theatre?

What did our critic think of FROZEN at Orpheum Theatre? Disney Theatrical Productions (also known as Disney On Broadway or Disney Theatrical Group) owns the market on transforming hit animated films into mega successes. The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Alladin and The Little Mermaid have grossed over 10 billion dollars worldwide. Frozen, based on the 3rd highest grossing animated film ever, hit the stage in 2018 and is yet another cash cow. The touring production, created by a host of Oscar and Tony award winning talent is a visual delight, often breathtaking in its beauty.

What did our critic think of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 at Shotgun Players?

What did our critic think of CLUE at Center Rep? With lightning flashes and an ominous score, a mysterious dinner party at Boddy Manor begins with the arrival of an assortment of guests very familiar to anyone who ever played the Parker Brothers board game Clue. Based on the popular game and the 1985 cult film, this delightful production helmed by director Nancy Carlin and her talented cast and crew is a visual treat chock full of word puns, slapstick shtick and broad comic caricatures.

What did our critic think of BAY AREA CABARET PRESENTS MEOW MEOW at Venetian Room?

What did our critic think of A PICTURE OF TWO BOYS at New Conservatory Theatre Center?

What did our critic think of BAD HOMBRES at Theatre Rhino?

What did our critic think of ON BECKETT at A.C.T. Geary Theatre? On Beckett is an obvious labor of love, combining the phenomenal clown skills of the great Bill Irwin with his affection for the works of Samuel Beckett. Great comics often make great dramatic actors (e.g., Gleason, Lewis, Williams) and Irwin can, in a split second and with the aid of some clown props, morph into Beckett's complex, Irish voiced characters. The result is a stunning one-man show that delights and challenges.

What did our critic think of PONY at Cutting Ball Theater? Of course, San Francisco would be ground zero for explorations of transgender issues through theatre being a world leader in social, political, and economic issues. Cutting Ball, situated in the heart of what is now the world's only legally recognized transgender district, is joining with The Transgender District to present Pony, Sylvan Oswald's representation of transmasculine characters and the difficulties they face.

What did our critic think of EDEN ESPINOSA LIVE AT THE ORINDA! at Orinda Theatre?

What did our critic think of CLYBOURNE PARK at Hillbarn Theatre?

What did our critic think of AUNT JACK at New Conservatory Theatre Center? The huge divides between intergenerational communities are addressed both poignantly and comically in Nora Brigid Monahan's Aunt Jack, NCTC's opening production of the 22-23 season. With a broad pen, Monahan includes themes of gender identity, gender politics, grief, and family ties. It's plenty to chew and perhaps less could have been more.

What did our critic think of INDECENT at SF Playhouse? Co-Founders Bill English and Susi Damilano were obviously emotional on the eve of their 20th Anniversary Season opener, mentioning that Paula Vogel's Tony award-winning Indecent mirrors their intention of creating theatre that challenges audiences, exposes our humanity and opens minds. In what may be Susi's finest directorial work, Indecent soars with poignant imagery, gut-wrenching emotion, and thrilling performances. As a play about the creation of a play, it's an intimate portrayal of artistic expression, freedom, repression, and courage that ultimately uplifts the spirit.