Pear Theatre Announces 2017-18 Season

Pear Theatre is proud to announce its 2017-2018 season, an intriguing mix of new works, classics, and even a musical revue. In addition, this season will be the first in the Pear's 16-year history to be under the guidance of a new Artistic Director, Betsy Kruse Craig. All performances are held at the Pear Theatre's performance space at 1110 La Avenida St., Mountain View. Each show offers a preview performance on the first Thursday, followed by Press/Opening Night on Friday. For subscriptions and individual tickets the public may visit www.thepear.org or call (650) 254-1148.

"I believe in the power of live theatre to unite and ignite strength in a community: a community that understands the incredible importance of art in today's world," said incoming Artistic Director Craig. "Theatre shares with us essential truths about the human experience, whether in a brand-new play or a play that's hundreds of years old, whether comic or tragic or some of each. Each play this season is a view into the lives of its characters, and by reflection, a view on the world we currently live in."

The season opens in September with IN THE NEXT ROOM, OR, THE VIBRATOR PLAY by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Caroline Clark. This insightful and provocative play examines a slice of history in which physicians treated various female (and male) ailments by use of an electric vibrator, applied to private parts by a doctor or nurse in a treatment room. It's a fascinating and often funny glimpse into a patriarchal society, where women's concerns are regularly dismissed or misdiagnosed by men, as well as by the women themselves, because their society has not given them the words or concepts to articulate their various griefs and grievances. The New Yorker called Ruhl's play "her best to date."

Following is Henrik Ibsen's AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. Written in 1882, Ibsen's story of a altruistic man undermined by people concerned with profit still rings disturbingly true. Dr. Stockmann has discovered serious contamination in the town's new bathing complex, an enterprise which had promised to revitalize the town economy. Unwilling to undertake the expense of remediation, however, the town mayor - his own brother - accuses Stockmann of fabricating the story to enrich himself, and manages to turn most of the town's population against the doctor and his family. Ibsen examines the moral dilemmas inherent in whistleblowing, as well as the sometimes ephemeral nature of truth itself. Ray Renati directs.

Once more catering to a less-than-traditional holiday crowd, the Pear celebrates the holidays with THE MILLIONTH PRODUCTION OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL written and directed by James Kopp. In the show, a small black box theater in Northern California is in fear of closing its doors after spending too much money on shows that had poor ticket sales. In an effort to appeal to a larger audience, the Artistic Director decides to put up Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol." Though coming through with signature James Kopp humor (GEEKS VS ZOMBIES, SUPER VILLAIN!!), the show also offers serious consideration of the compromises between art that pays and art for art's sake; the delicate balance between the desires of the people that do theater and the desires of the people that pay to see it.

The new year begins with THE ROAD TO MECCA by Athol Fugard, directed by Betsy Kruse Craig. Inspired by the story of Helen Martins of New Bethesda, MECCA follows Miss Helen, a reclusive widow, who harbors an odd but prolific artistic impulse. Her life becomes caught between her stern friend, the reverend who urges her to move to a senior home and away from the ridicule of neighbors, and a young schoolteacher who encourages her to follow her heart. In 1990, Time magazine included the play in its "Theatre: Best of the Decade" list, saying "South Africa's conscience, Athol Fugard, proved his compassion is universal in this Ibsenesque conflict between a fiercely independent artist and a society justly yearning for order." A 1991 film adaptation included Fugard himself as the Rev. Marius Byleveld, Kathy Bates as Elsa Barlow, and Yvonne Bryceland - the woman for whom Fugard wrote the part - as Helen.

March brings Michael Golamco's COWBOY VS. SAMURAI, a romantic comedy loosely based on CYRANO DE BERGERAC, directed by Jeffrey Lo. Travis Park is a high school English teacher and the only Korean American man living in a dusty cowboy town known as Breakneck, Wyoming. And when a gorgeous, whip-smart Asian American woman moves into town, he immediately falls for her; the only problem is that she only dates white men - such as the ruggedly handsome but fairly dim P.E. teacher that is Travis' colleague. Savagely mirthful and often moving, COWBOY VS. SAMURAI was called "funny, sharply written, and tackles the topic of race head-on, with both barrels blazing" by the Calgary Herald.

As always, spring means PEAR SLICES - a collection of original, short plays from the members of the Pear Playwrights Guild, directed by TRoy Johnson and Robyn Ginsburg Braverman. In fifteen-minute vignettes, a stunning variety of stories, settings, and plot twists occupy the Pear Theatre stage, penned by local playwrights and brought to life with a single cast of highly versatile, local actors. This annual short play showcase has become a favorite among Pear audiences and never fails to amuse, intrigue, and inspire.

Pear Theatre's 16th season concludes with a rare foray into musical theatre, Noël Coward's OH, COWARD! During its history, the Pear has only ever staged a Kander and Ebb musical (in the Pear's second season), and Sharmon Hilfinger's musical plays on Emily Dickinson and Georgia O'Keeffe. OH, COWARD! is a musical review in two acts, featuring three performers accompanied on piano. Devised by Roderick Cook and containing music and lyrics by Noël Coward, the revue consists of songs and sketches about England, relatives, travel, theatre, love, and women. The revue ran Off-Broadway in 1972, and was one of the last Noël Coward shows staged during his lifetime. It was revived in London in 1975 and on Broadway in 1986, with the latter production receiving two Tony Award nominations. The Pear production will be co-directed by Betsy Kruse Craig and Diane Tasca.

Pear Theatre began as the Pear Avenue Theatre in June 2002, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Tasca, by a group of theatre artists who believe that audiences are eager for plays that challenge as well as delight and move them. Producing intimate theatre by passionate artists, whether classic works or cutting-edge plays, the Pear attracts theatre artists and audiences from all over the Bay Area for its award-winning and high-quality productions.

Pear Theatre moved in 2015 from its original 40-seat warehouse space to a new, state-of-the-art black box theatre close by, with capacity of 75-99 seats depending on the configuration of the production. This exciting move allows The Pear to continue its tradition of intimate theatre while taking on new challenges and opportunities. In 2017, the theatre welcomed its second Artistic Director, Betsy Kruse Craig, who comes to the Pear after serving as a theatre arts instructor, actor, and director here and in Arizona.

For information, or to order tickets, visit www.thepear.org or

call (650) 254-1148.

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