Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "shakespeare"

"West Side Story" Revival Another Huge Hit For Broadway Sacramento

2012-01-27T02:26:18Z

Wow! That is what I have to say regarding Broadway Sacramento's opening night performance of the current national tour of "West Side Story." The sold out house at the Community Center Theater suggests others agree. While it is beautifully staged, with wonderful singing anddance, and good acting, it is the material that is the star here.

The powerful music of Leonard Bernstein coupled with the equally powerfully words of Stephen Sondheim are enough to make "West Side Story" a show worth seeing.

Add in the choreography of original "West Side Story" director and choreographer Jerome Robbins, which can move from strongly ballet to strongly modern dance in a moment, and it's hard to beat.

All of this wraps around a story that goes back much farther than

Shakespeare and his Romeo and Juliet: the consequences can be deadly if you fall in love with the wrong person. Arthur Laurents' book moves the story to the low income west side of Manhattan of the 1950s with the racial tension and gang turf warfare between the newly arriving Puerto Rican immigrants and sons and grandsons of the wave of Irish and Italian immigrants that had proceeded the Puerto Ricans.

Interestingly, Laurents who directed the Broadway revival this production is based on, did some tweaking of the original Broadway show. Most revealing is a much expanded use of Spanish by the Sharks both speaking and singing. Laurents used Lin-Manuel Miranda ("In theHeights") to write the translation. Imagine though the idea of altering Stephen Sondheim's lyrics!

Laurents also made some changes to iconic choreographer Robbin's original choreography with the assistance of Joey McKneely.

"West Side Story" which was so groundbreaking in 1957 in so many ways remains a powerful and relevant work today. Some of this might be due to how "operatic" "West Side Story" is. The staging of this productiontends to highlight the operatic elements of the play.

The scenic design by James Youmans has a very opera production feel to it in a very good way. The scenes and scene shifts are very much enhanced by Howell Bunkley's lighting design. There were several scenes where the lighting effect would be described as dramatic.

As for costuming, the Sharks really have it over the Jets in David C. Woolard's costume design. Both the Puerto Rican men and the women know how to dress up for a party. The costumes also enhance the powerful athletic movement of the actor/dancers. From the the whirling color and movement of the women's dresses to the form fitting costumes of the men the costuming adds more color and movement to the dance while beautifully displaying the human form of gifted dancer/performers. As a nod to realism the Jets male gang members are in the iconic gang look of New York in the fifties of jeans, ragged Ts, and tennis shoes.

All this is served up with live orchestra led opening night by John O'Neil.

The cast of strong triple threat performers in dance, voice, and acting were led by Ross Lekties as Tony/Anton and Evy Ortiz as Maria.

Lekties and Ortiz each have a beautiful voice and are wonderful to hear singing the great Bernstein-Sondheim solos of their characters.

Together on the great duets of their characters such as "Tonight" and "One Hand One Heart," they sound even better. Even in a quintet of "Tonight" by Tony, Maria, Anita, the Jets and the Sharks, they hold their own.

That quintet pulled out all the operatic stops in many ways including Maria arriving on the scene on her balcony as it enters above the stage from the wings. The scene is followed by the most dramatic of the scene changes as the highway and chain link fences come into place for the rumble.

Michelle Aravena and German Santiago as Anita and Bernardo and Drew Foster as Riff are equally talented stars with Lekties and Ortiz.

Every thing about this production is geared towards taking one of the most enduring works of story, music, voice, and dance that powerfully tells an age old story of forbidden love and transporting it to what was the contemporary time of its creators. What is amazing is how a story set in the middle of the last century and dealing with social issues of that time, both greatly entertains and brings up numerous issues still relevant today.

In the end though it is the excitement of holding a ticket (if you are lucky) to what will be a fantastic evening of entertainment. The
excitement of the crowd. The curtain goes up and you are treated to a most enjoyable performance of an American classic.

‘King of Shadows’ revealed by Big Idea Theatre

2011-07-02T05:15:22Z

Though many find comfort in the familiar, there’s also an enjoyable thrill that only a bit of change can provide. Big Idea Theatre’s “King of Shadows,” which opened Thursday, finds a great balance using a familiar plot in a modern-day setting for an interesting theatrical experience.

I parked at the front of the building which faced closed business doors and a large locked gate. I was convinced that somehow this was the wrong location. As I frantically called around for someone to give me directions, I saw just behind me a small sign designating the location as Big Idea Theatre.

As I turned into the alley and parking lot area of the business, I was pleasantly surprised by the small art-filled courtyard that greeted me before I reached the box office. And I hoped that the play I was about to see would be just as pleasant and as magical as the location felt and how it sounded on paper. I was not disappointed.

“King of Shadows” centers on Jessica (Gina Williams), who is a graduate student studying teenage runaways in hopes of discovering a way to help them. In her pursuit of their perspectives, Jessica meets Nihar (Andrew Perez).

In their interactions, Nihar reveals a whole other world, a mythical world, ruled by evil demon-like creatures known as the King of Shadows and The Green Lady, who are hunting San Francisco’s homeless population in search of him.

As Jessica and the audience are deciding how much of the story is real or fantasy, Jessica’s police officer boyfriend, Eric (Brian Harrower), is adamantly against her desires to be helpful but her younger sister, Sarah (Josephine Longo), instantly connects with the young storyteller.

While the play takes place in modern-day San Francisco, the urban thriller incorporates enough talk of demons, supernatural fog, other realms and magical portals that you could be forgiven if you thought it was happening in the days of old with the great Merlin.

At one point, Jessica even compares Nihar’s seemingly tall tale to William Shakespeare’s famed “A Midsummers Night’s Dream” plot.

The set was both simple and detailed. Designed to fold and slide out, it was able to illustrate a number of different locations throughout the play with the scenic art-covered walls. The lighting followed suit, supporting the fantasy-versus-reality battle in the play with subtle and supportive spot lighting.

Last but not least, the four actors of the piece were all animated, making the unbelievable questionably believable and at the very least allowing the audience to trust in the sincerity of each character.

It was an intimate viewing. The small theater was filled with about 30 people Thursday night composed mostly of friends and family as well as a few regular patrons, all there supporting the company on opening night. The audience was very receptive and made for an even more enjoyable show.

Though the audience does not get to see much of the grand stories described by Nihar played out on stage, the play is well-written, and the audience remains engaged, wondering what will happen next and if it is all just one big extravagant lie.

In the end, with all these factors combined: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s words, the actors’ execution and the simple yet detailed stage decorating, envisioning it all was not difficult. One could even say it came surprisingly naturally.

For audience member Nicole Smith, there supporting her friend, Robert Perez, the whole play was “surprisingly sweet.”

So, if you’re looking for more than your average Shakespearean play, definitely check out Big Idea Theatre’s latest.

“King of Shadows” will run through July 23, starting at 8 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Ticket prices range from $13 to $15.

For more information on “King of Shadows” and Big Idea Theatre, click here.

Moms offered free Shakespeare on Mother's Day

2011-05-05T18:25:17Z

Are you looking for a fun free afternoon of comedy to entertain mom on Sunday? The Roseville Theatre Arts Academy, housed in the historic Roseville Theatre, is offering moms free admission (with one paid admission), to the Sunday, May 8 matinee performance of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The classic Shakespeare comedy about the adventures of four young lovers, a group of amateur actors, and their interactions with mischievous fairies – is staged underwater in Atlantis – it is Shakespeare submerged. The production opens May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and continues Friday-Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Sundays 2 p.m. through May 21 at the historic Roseville Theatre, 241 Vernon St., Roseville. $10 general (moms free with a paid admission on May 8). For more information call (916) 772-2777.

Disclosure note: Gary Giacomo is a volunteer with the nonprofit theatre group Roseville Theatre Arts Academy.

Big Idea Theatre presents modern "Measure for Measure"

2011-04-11T03:41:27Z

Big Idea Theatre’s latest production, William Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” directed by Kirk Blackinton and Katie Chapman, opened Friday.

The play is a lesser-known bit of the canon, often put in the category of “problem play” as it fits neither the specific parts of a comedy nor a tragedy. The plot is divided between the struggle of the play’s antagonist, Angelo, played by Jeffrey Lloyd Heatherly, and the nun-in-training Isabella, played by Gina Williams. The play covers moral ground of a more philosophical nature with Isabella’s plight being the question, “Should she commit an act against God to save a life?”

Set in Vienna, the production takes interesting liberties with the stage, creating a back-alley slum to show the degradation of the city under the soft rule of Duke Vincentio, played by local heavyweight Blair Leatherwood. With movable chain-link fences, the set proved to be as malleable as the villain’s own moral scruples, and made the action flow nicely.

Heatherly plays with the inner turmoil of lust to a fine degree, making his soliloquies pop out memorably. Williams also takes her role well as the nun, fighting back and forth about the choice she must make and the consequences that arise after. Leatherwood’s job as puppetmaster becomes two parts of a whole as he moves back and forth between the sovereign and a lowly clergyman who instigates all the hijinks behind the scenes.

As for comic relief, the audience is never far from laughter as Lucio, played by Big Idea staple Brian Harrower (who also had a hand in set design), brings the irreverent ever-further by making Shakespearean witticisms even more accessible. His realizations at play’s end make for audience guffaws.

The production incorporated hard rock music into the set, with dark songs of want and angst peppering the already grunge-heavy stage before the show and during scene changes.

While the production had a few slow points, it still emerged as a fine production to showcase a new angle on the play.

MAXWELL’S RATING: 9/10

Resurrection Theatre presents "Macbeth: Resurrected"

2011-02-28T00:20:09Z

Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy, “Macbeth,” has just been given a new pair of legs on which to stand, and the timing couldn’t have been better. With recent discussions coursing through National Public Radio concerning the role of the female military leader, Resurrection Theatre director Benjamin T. Ismail decided to cast a woman in the traditionally male role, and the results are fantastic to watch.

Played in modern dress, the traditional roles of Macbeth and Lady M. as husband and wife are adapted into daughter and mother, and the play of persuasion and bitterness makes as much, if not more, sense than the play traditional. This is apparent in two vastly important plot-points: Macbeth’s romantic feelings toward Banquo and her mother’s ability to instill guilt and allegiance by way of maternal “disappointment.”

An interesting point of notice for the play was the overt use of poppies, a symbol often associated with sleep or death. These come out as a gifted pendent given the newly titled Mackers and also as the flower in the witch’s hand at play’s end. It’s also hinted within the play that Macbeth’s vision of the witches might be from substance abuse, which points again at the poppy.

Local actor Tygar Kicks stars as the innocent turned malicious title general/king, and her performance, the last as a community theater actor to boot, sheds new light on the protagonist beset with guilt and impassioned violence. Margaret Morneau plays Macbeth’s now mother, and leads the role with the iron fist that is loosened and lost as the play progresses. Her indignation is palpable and her madness is harrowing.

Other casting plusses are Jouni Kirjola who plays the unfortunate Banquo, and the witches, played by Gay Cooper, who also plays the Porter, Scott Divine, who also plays Macduff, and Gina Williams, who also plays Rosse, make a fine addition with all of their lines recorded and warped into an eldritch echo made for a fine bout of supernatural ambiance. King Duncan, played by Jes Gonzales, brings a touching lovability to the doomed monarch, and the king is also the reason that in this Shakespearean universe women are allowed to lead on the battlefield.

The set gave an excellent portrayal of things to come; brick walls covered in patches of white, but having boulders shown through bedecked with moss. The columns, which were too frequently moved by extra witches, brought a sense of flexibility to the settings, but often drew attention from the action.

The play runs from through March 19 with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For more information visit Resurrection Theatre’s website.

MAX’S RATING: A MOUTH AGAPE, A THOUGHTFUL REASSESSMENT AND A DAMNED SPOT

Photos courtesy of David Garrison

A Big Idea: Compleat Female Stage Beauty

2011-01-21T02:40:42Z

It is the year 1661 in England, and the lovely Desdemona lies sleeping in her bed, long golden locks draping over white linen. She awakens slowly to the sound of her lover. “Othello, is that you?” she asks sleepily. Othello, a masculine Moor, approaches her, intent to kill in his heart. He grabs a beaded pillow, and in a few moments, suffocates the damsel to death.

Gasps of terror turn to laughter as Desdemona jumps up from her deathbed, takes off a wig of flowing curls, and reveals the man behind Shakespeare’s lead lady – Ned Kynaston, the theatre’s greatest male portrayer of female roles in London.

“Oh, but the play is not over!” he says. The audience cheering, he falls elegantly onto the bed. Later, backstage, Kynaston and his company of actors try desperately to deal with the startling news that women are now allowed on the stage, a reality that threatens Kynaston’s career and identity.

However, the audience is actually witnessing a play within a play, “Compleat Female Stage Beauty,” and Ned Kynaston is performed by actor Benjamin Ismail.

“Compleat Female Stage Beauty,” written by Jeffrey Hatcher and directed by Brian Harrower, will run until Feb. 5 at the intimate Big Idea Theatre in Sacramento. The play is a timeless, comical and tragic story about the impact of gender in society and how to find our true selves; we must dare to remove our “masks.” The play stars company members Ismail as Kynaston and Kristine David as his rival, the first female stage actress: Margaret Hughes.

Ismail first came across the script for this play in 2004 as a student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas.

"When I found it, I thought, ‘Oh my god! I have to do this someday!’ ” he said.

As a theater major with an emphasis in directing, Ismail proposed the play to his school, but the department declined because of the expense of the costumes.

Ten years later, Ismail finally gets to play what he considers to be the role of a lifetime.

“The script itself is just brilliant. The journey and the arc that Hatcher has written into it is a dream role.” he said. “I not only get to play Kynaston...but I get to play two Shakespeare roles that I would never get to play in real life because I’m not black, and I’m not a woman, so I get to play Othello and Desdemona.”

As a company member at Big Idea Theatre, Ismail had the chance to pitch three shows for the upcoming season.

“It was the first thing on the table,” he said.

But even then, it took a lot of campaigning to win the support of the theater.

“It’s a monster of a show. There are so many scene changes, so many costume changes and there’s so much going on, and we have a really small theatre here,” said Harrower, the director. “But it was such a good script, and I thought it was a really important story to tell.”

Five weeks and several lighting tricks later, the company managed to create a historic proscenium space, purchase 30 Restoration-era costumes on a budget of $500, and premiere the play to a receptive audience.

“That was kind of one of the challenges of making this piece, making sure that all of those elements were treated well and were given their full birth,” Harrower said. “It’s a very complete play. The first 45 minutes are almost completely a comedy. Then the next hour is a really serious drama and at the end it still manages to come out very redemptive.”

After finally playing the character that’s been in his pocket for more than six years, Ismail said that putting on the show has been quite an emotional journey.

“It’s quite a process for me,” he said. “I start getting ready for the show at 4:30 every day to start at 8, because I have to get everything pretty to be a woman or whatever...During rehearsals I’d get so into it that when the scene would be over, I just couldn’t shake it...I’m still discovering new things in the show. It has been hard to leave (Kynaston) at the theater, but I relish that."

Ismail added that it's not just his character that's layered with emotions, but the rest of the cast as well.

"All of the characters have so much going on underneath the surface," he siad. "This show is very much about putting on a show whether or not you’re on stage.”

“Without what we do, who are we?” is a common question being asked throughout the play. Ismail said it’s a question he’s asked himself daily.

“Coming out in the south was a great experience for me,” he said sarcastically. “And I had to learn that lesson very quickly, that we’re not always what we do because, you know, I don’t have to be a stereotype. Kynaston doesn’t have to be a stereotype. We’re just people. No matter where we come from, we’re all people, and we’ve got that in common. ‘Why do we do the things that we do?’ That’s what every character is asking in this show.”

Performances of “Compleat Female Stage Beauty” are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. (Jan. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29, Feb. 4, 5) and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. (Jan. 16, 23, 30).

Bob and Ro produce "Complete Shakespeare, Abridged"

2010-10-18T16:18:50Z

The plays of William Shakespeare can be daunting at best, and for some, completely inaccessible.

Thank goodness Bob and Ro Productions decided to produce “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” directed by Rosemarie Gerould and performed at the Studio Theatre.

The play, written by the founding members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company in 1987, combines all canonical (and some apocryphal) plays by the Bard into two hours, with the last hour devoted to just “Hamlet.”

The play itself is quite funny, yielding numerous outside and inside joke about Shakespeare. The play makes mention of every single play at least once, splitting them into three categories: tragedy, comedy and history.

The tragedies are the greatest focus, with an irreverent rap about “Othello” and a mac-version of “Macbeth” with mac-fake mac-accents. The histories are portrayed through a lengthy football game that passes the crown instead of a ball, and all of the comedies are amalgamated into one synopsis that features snippets of every storyline.

The cast is made of three performers who take on the herculean task of playing every role. The three actors perform under their real names, and use the audience fervently throughout the night, utterly obliterating the fourth wall.

The actors, Arthur Henry, Chris Quandt and Simon Hunt, start the play with life and energy and keep it moving throughout. The stage is bare, the props are incredibly minimalistic and the costumes consist of a bunch of puffy pants, but that only contributes to the fun of the show.

Quandt and Hunt make the scene with awesome timing, not to mention hordes of energy. Their grasp of the play and the plays within the play (say that 10 times fast) make for an enjoyable performance and a night of quick movement and quicker wits.

Unfortunately for the cast, however, two out of three isn’t quite good enough.

In plays with a larger cast, a par player would sink into the background more easily, but with a cast of three every character counts triply, especially when they play numerous parts. An audience just can’t ignore the fact that the third performer, Henry, is off on timing and inarticulate with much of the staging.

The third player notwithstanding, the show itself is marvelously funny and deserves a look for anyone who has ever been miffed about the seriousness attached to Shakespeare.

The show runs through Nov. 7. For more information, visit here.

MAX’S RATING: A YELP, A CHEER AND SOME BARDIC LUCK.

Photo courtesy of Bob and Ro Productions.

A Cold Night and Mediocre Acting

2010-07-26T18:52:48Z

Sunday evening, I dragged my reluctant, yet supportive, boyfriend to the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival to experience the play Othello. I was somewhat excited but mostly not. I had been to the festival before, years ago when I was little kid, also dragged reluctantly by my mother.

When we arrived there was not very many people and as we waited not many more showed up. The set was very interestingly angled towards the crowd sitting on very uncomfortable benches. I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to start.

When the play did start I was immediately confused by the casting selections, since Othello is originally a very race oriented play. I thought it was interesting but very hard to follow along with. Especially since the play is very wrongly set on a New Orleans 1920’s stage. But the actors still talked about Venice and Cyprus. I felt like it was one of those accidental edits they forgot to work out.

The actors tried very hard, were very enthusiastic but much was lost to me since they talked as if they were in a very big hurry to get the next word out. Shakespearian language is already very hard to understand especially when they were speaking a million miles a minute.

Mr. Rod Breton who played Iago I think did a very good job playing into Iago’s boisterous character, however I feel as if he lacked the devious and conniving emotions as the original Iago was meant to have.

Othello played by Gregory Jolivette did a wonderful job portraying Othello’s naiveté to the world around him however I found him slightly over the top.

Overall I felt the play lacked conviction and did not capture the audience as much as it could have. The original Shakespeare interpretation would have been much more entertaining, at least to me.

Othello - Shakespeare Festival

2010-07-26T07:13:34Z

The play Othello is about a black officer whose marriage to a white woman ends very tragically due to the ingenious scheming of an "honest" friend of Othello.

I love the storyline of Othello. I had seen the movie Othello starring Laurence Fishbourne about 10 years ago and again about 1 month ago. I read the play, also about 1 month ago, and even read another book, "Othello - Shakespeare Made Easy" so that I would be able to better interpret the language in the play. I had even seen a very contemporary version of the play in a movie called "O" starring Mekhi Phifer and Julia Stiles. So it seemed fitting that the only thing left for me to see was a live performance of the play that I love so much.

I was very surprised when I first arrived at the William Carroll Amphitheatre, which is located just behind Fairytale Town, in William Land Park because I was just at Fairytale Town the previous week and I didn't even notice the stage area at all. So needless to say, I felt at home in a very familiar environment. I had brought a dinner picnic for myself and my husband and a blanket to curl up in. The ambiance was wonderful. The people that were in attendance were at ease with the comfortable atmosphere that the park-like seating gave.

On the opening scene, I will admit that my heart gave a start, because I thought that I was watching the wrong play. Iago, the scheming, honest friend was dressed like he was ready for battle in the Civil War! Rodrigo, who Iago was talking to was dressed in a suit! Where were the Elizabethan clothes that I was expecting to see? But I'm not one to let one distraction take away my joy.

But then in Act I, Scene III, at the Venetian Senate Chambers, the Duke, was a woman! Now, I, too, am a woman, but I did not expect, nor did I want to see a woman in the role of the Duke when in those times, women did not have any place in government.

This is when I looked back at my program and I see that the "place" is set in "Venice" and "Cyprus" accordingly, but the "time" is set in "the Late 1920's". That explains why the female Duke was dressed in sequined flapper dress.

I also did not like that Rodrigo, the jealous suitor, was African American and that were other African Americans playing various roles in the play. What I believed to be important in this tragedy of Shakespeare is that here was this man, Othello, a black Moor, who was able to woo and win the senators daughter, Desdemona despite his race and background. In the original play, Iago shouted to Brabantio (from his hiding place) that an "old black ram is tupping your white ewe" which, in the original play, leaves little doubt as to who is "tupping" his daughter, but in the play at the William A. Carroll Amphitheatre, the "old black ram" could have been any number of "black ram" because Othello was not the only "black ram" in the play. Having an African American play the part of Rodrigo really took away the prejudice that I think that Shakespeare might have been trying to get the audience to see because Rodrigo felt like he was better than Othello and that he should have been able to have his chance at "winning" Desdemona's love. Having other African American's throughout the play also took away Othello's individuality as the "black Moor", who had come so far with his position of office. He, therefore, in the original play, stood out amongst the sea of so many white Venetians as someone who had achieved a lot. In the play in the park, Othello did not stand out as the successful Moor in Venice.

However, I think that the actors did fabulous in their acting job. The actor portraying Othello, Gregory Jolivette, was very good. He has a face that shows a lot of different, yet convincing emotions. When he was reunited with his wife, Desdemona, you could see the love for his wife on his face. Not just in his smile, but his whole face expressed his love for her. And when he was way past any convincing that his wife was not having an affair, you could not only see the anger in his face, you could feel it in your stomach. Very scary to see that anger.

The actor portraying Desdemona, Kirsten Myers, shocked me when she sang "Willow, Willow". I always think that I can tell by the way someone will perform in a song based on how they speak. Well, I sure didn't expect Kirsten Myers to have such a beautiful voice. I didn't think that she had a bad voice to begin with, it just seemed a ordinary. Great acting with a actors voice. However, her singing voice was beyond ordinary. I also thought that she held great poise on the stage during the performance, even when her hat was accidentally knocked off by Othello during an embrace, she didn't falter.

Iago, Iago, Iago. How did they find someone so befitting of the role of Iago in Rod Breton? My only previous knowledge of a performance of Othello, as I said earlier, was in the 1995 movie version of Othello which portrayed Kenneth Branagh as Iago. Rod Breton made me feel the same about him as Kenneth Branagh did for me in the movie version: unbelievable loathing and hatred for you! That is some great acting to be able to get someone to feel such strong negative feelings towards you based on your acting skills. Ingenious

I like the acting of Alondra Mendoza who portrayed Bianca. One word to describe her acting: saucy! She was such a spitfire in the play and I really enjoyed seeing her on stage. She added a little extra "umph" to the play.

For my first Shakespeare play that I have ever attended, I was sadly disappointed because I wanted to see the clothing and correct ethnic and gender roles portrayed in the play. I wanted to experience the full Shakespeare atmosphere. I don't mean to sound as if the play was horrible. It just didn't hold up to what I envisioned as a Shakespeare Festival rendition of Othello. I guess if you close your eyes so that you won't want to be distracted by the weird time period version of Othello, you will probably enjoy the play much better.

Sacramento Shakespeare Festival performs "Othello"

2010-07-18T06:57:44Z

Summer has arrived! It is during this time of year that Sacramento City College’s “City Theatre” puts on their Annual Sacramento Shakespeare Festival. Many years have passed where I have missed the opportunity to partake in the festivities, but not this year!

July 10th I dressed up in appropriate Sacramento Summer attire (think tank top for triple-digit heat and layers for when the sun goes down) and made my way out to William A. Carroll Amphitheatre at William Land Park. While the theatre was a tad bit tricky to find being tucked away on the opposite side of the Sacramento Zoo, I found the perfect parking spot and happily made my way to the box office.

At the box office I was greeted with a smile as I purchased my very first Sacramento Shakespeare Festival ticket ($15/students, $18/general public) for director Luther Hanson’s Othello!

I was surprised to find that the theatre had benches. While they were not very comfortable, I was glad to see that there was structured seating (Honestly, I had pictured people sitting on grass in an empty field).

Once I had taken my seat, I had a chance to observe the exposed stage setting. The stage was this eccentrically crooked wooden set-up, cleverly sloped downwards towards the audience, granting an interesting perspective for everyone out in the trenches…Benches. I mean benches!

The show began with a scruffy Iago (Rod Breton) and surprisingly logical Roderigo (Jason Oler) arguing in front of a 1920’s sepia-colored “city” theme backdrop. The costumes were also 1920’s themed. Am I the only one thinking this was odd? I forgave that choice (It needed forgiving, it was distracting and off-putting).

Having already read and analyzed Othello prior to seeing this production, I was not very convinced at the delivery of Iago’s lines. Rod Breton does a great job in delivery if considering artist-interpretation. He was entertaining to watch, and still, the essence of Iago was not captured. Instead, I was reminded of an annoying little-brother type grown to adult form, being more of a menace than a sadistic schemer who preys on people using their human qualities to create their own demise.

Who comes in to save the day – No other than Gregory Jolivette, cast as Othello, to carry the performance along by captivating his audience. If I could give one reason to see this production, it would whole-heartedly be lent to Jolivette based on his outrageously enthusiastic performance as Othello. Talk about execution! This man not only carried the weight of the play and the supporting characters, but he did it was such grace and precision! Jolivette’s delivery of speech was done beautifully – every word made audible with crisp diction – which is vital for audience enjoyment in Shakespeare productions! Bravo! Bravo!

Kirsten Myers, cast as Desdemona, shone greatly during her “Willow, Willow” scene where she beautifully sang the song of her mother’s servant. It was in this scene that her braided bun atop her head was finally let down. In this moment I saw the character of Desdemona truly come out. Perhaps it was the vision of long locks that gave me feelings of feminine vulnerability, a quality that Desdemona embodies. Kirsten Myers played a very charming Desdemona, but not as powerful of a character as I had imagined her to be.

While this show was definitely entertaining (Thanks again to Jolivette), it lacked the heavy theme of racism, due to casting decisions. Roderigo, for one, was cast to the talent of Jason Oler – an African American actor. In Shakespeare’s Othello, it is written that Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, would rather have his daughter marry Roderigo than Othello for the fact that Roderigo is not a “Moor”. In fact, the issue of racism seemed to dissipate amongst the cast’s ethnic diversity altogether.

The race theme issue aside (and a couple other awkward casting decisions not mentioned), this performance was unique in its interpretation and costuming, as well as delivery of Shakespeare’s complex work.

For my first experience, the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival was a positive one, with much credit given to Gregory Jolivette! I will be back next year to see what else “City Theatre” has to offer. Maybe next year the casting kinks will be worked out, who knows?

Sacramento Shakespeare's "Othello"

2010-07-12T02:28:59Z

“Othello, the Moor of Venice” took the stage of the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival on Friday.

It’s the story of Othello, a black general, who marries Desdemona, a white woman, and the cruel machinations of Iago, Othello’s old comrade.

The production is set in late 1920s New Orleans and features flapper dresses for the women and, oddly, Civil War-like uniforms for the soldiers.

Notable performances included Greg Jolivette in the title role, Tim Sapunor as Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, and Roderigo Breton as a flippant Iago.

The highlight of the show, however, was a touching performance by Christine Nicholson as Iago’s wife, Emilia. Through her sometimes doddering character, the audience could feel the anguish and anger felt by the women in the play. Her sobs over Desdemona’s body were heart-wrenching.

The production’s biggest problem was miking. For years, the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival has had trouble with sound, and this production was no exception. Iago’s seminal soliloquies were lost when Breton turned his head, the lines of upstage characters who weren’t projecting sounded like whispers and mumbles and brilliant dialog hushed or not audible. Altered blocking could have improved the sound.

The time period Is instrumental in helping the production find its feet and aids in setting the play in the 1920s allowed the play to unfold in a new way and from a new angle. An interesting part of the production was the use of knives in place of swords, a device that worked very well in the smaller spaces.

MAX’S RATING: A THUMBS UP, A GASP AND A GREEN-EYED MONSTER

“Othello” runs until August 1.
For more information, visit here.

Sacramento Shakespeare Festival Celebrates 25th Anniversary

2010-06-30T03:28:38Z

With the summer heat getting suddenly hotter and the evenings getting just right, Sacramento can always count on one thing for summer: The Sacramento Shakespeare Festival.

Celebrating it’s 25th year, the festival is at its peak, and continues to entertain locals and draw travelers with its amalgam of brilliant plays, community atmosphere and local talent.

“It’s a little bowl in a park that gets filled up,” actor and student Anthony Person, 25, said. “Families come out and they bring their picnics, and they come and they see a good night of theater.”

This year’s roster boasts two of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a tale of fairies, young lovers and comical fools, directed by David Harris, and “Othello: The Moor of Venice,” the tragic story of an outcast’s life and jealousies, directed by Luther Hanson, festival director.

“They’re crowd pleasers,” Lighting Designer and Sound Engineer Stephen Jones, 37, said. “'Midsummer' is always an audience favorite. Dave Harris has really come up with some creative ways to tell an old story.”

Often in modern Shakespeare festivals a theme is added to the production to add a variable element for the audience. For this year’s “Midsummer,” Harris decided to set the play in a “bohemian world,” adding fanciful recreations of absinthe posters to the set and original songs played on the stage.

For Hanson’s “Othello,” the well-known scenes of Venice and Cyprus have been moved to mid-1920s New Orleans. The setting reflects the recurrent issue of race throughout the play and highlights the mystique of the main character. By setting it in a modern atmosphere, the audience might sympathize more with the protagonist’s struggle with social stability.

Another new spin for the festival this year is the addition of live music onstage for both plays, even having original songs for “Midsummer.”

“We use local musicians, local choreographers, everything,” Hanson said.

The choreographers for the plays are Brent Bianchini for “Othello” and Sunny Mitchell for “Midsummer,” the latter being a choreographer for the Sacramento Ballet.

The Sacramento Shakespeare Festival is a part of City Theatre, the theater department of Sacramento City College. The festival begins with “Midsummer” on Thursday and “Othello” on July 9. Both shows begin at 8:00 p.m.

For information about showtimes and venue, visit here

Sacramento Theatre Company Summer Camp 2010

2010-06-19T00:14:23Z

Want to end your children going “I’m bored!” this summer? You can for at least two weeks by enrolling them in one of Sacramento Theatre Company School of the Arts Summer Camp programs.

STC Summer Camp Director Lynn Baker wants parents to know that kids spend a full day and are very busy being exposed to many aspects of live theater. It's like “a full year of master classes in two weeks," she said.

What’s in it for the kids? First off, it is just plain fun. It is a great opportunity to make new friends. Kids also learn skills they can use all their lives, whether or not they continue in theater arts. Baker encourages kids to attend with their friends. Most importantly, no previous experience is needed. Many previous attendees have had so much fun that they return as interns to mentor the new kids.

Session 1 runs from July 12 to 23. For the younger children that will be in first through fourth grade this fall, there is Act, Dance, Sing. They do improvisations, dance and movement, yoga, puppetry, singing and more. Most importantly, they actually perform in a show.

For kids in fifth through ninth grade this fall, there is Create an Ensemble. Everything done in Act, Dance, Sing is taken to a higher level and more is added, such as stage combat, scene study and Shakespeare. This session can help this age group prepare for actually doing a Shakespeare play during the second session.

In the second session, July 26 through Aug. 6, Act, Dance, Sing is available again. Kids that attended the first session can continue. Kids that didn’t attend the first session can jump in at this point.

For kids in middle school and high school in the fall, there is Shakespeare Alive. This program adds things such as theater history, clowning and text analysis. They act in a Shakespeare play directed by well-know Sacramento actor and STC interim director Matt Miller. This is a great opportunity.

For some children, STC Summer Camp is a fun way to spend two weeks this summer. For others that are more serious, it is an opportunity to learn and prepare for auditioning for the Sacramento Theatre Company’s Young Professionals Conservatory.

The Young Professionals Conservatory is a program for those 12 to 18 years old. It is a 10-month rigorous theater training program with after-school and weekend classes. The conservatory members appear in four shows during the year and have an opportunity to audition for main stage productions.

“I work on this program because I wish I had something like this when I was these kids' age,” Baker said.

She especially encouraged the younger boys who think this is just girl stuff to give it a try. They will be surprised at how much fun they will have.

For more information go to the School of Arts site at www.sactheatre.org or talk to Lynn Baker at (916) 446-7501 x116 or e-mail STCensemble@yahoo.com.

All photos from STC Summer Camp and Shakespeare Alive 2008 Courtesy of Sacramento Theatre Company

Big Idea Theatre's "Richard III"

2010-04-14T23:43:05Z

In the first four history plays that William Shakespeare penned, by himself or with the aid of multiple writers, he brought us "Richard III", and showed a monarch at the height of power, corruption and finally the downfall of such a king.
Big Idea Theatre’s latest production of the tragedy opened last Friday, and while the play itself is engaging, some performances and an uncut script brought the pace to a crawl more than a few times.
WIth a cast of 12, most playing at least two parts, the play fits a multitude of colorful characters within the small black box theatre.
The shinning points of the production made the whole better, especially the talented and enigmatic Brain Harrower (Richard of Gloucester), whose only fault seemed to lie in his choice of being the only one using an English accent.
Other bright spots were Nina Breton (Queen Margaret/Young York) and Justin Munoz’s vibrant performances (King Edward/Richmond/Lovell).
The play, uncut, is well over three hours without an intermission. Such a play is generally edited for a modern audience, and unfortunately the director, Justin Chapman, felt it unfit to cut more than a few lines.
Unfortunately, the length of the play mixed with some performances, namely those of Carrie Joyner (Queen Elizabeth) and David Fox (Clarence/Dorset), made it a bore to sit through, especially the scenes where they were the focus.
The play, when it finished, gave the audience more than one reason to cheer at Richard’s death, since it marked the end of not only the tyrant but also the play.

2nd Saturday weekend doesn't disappoint

2009-07-09T21:14:51Z

Ahhh, yes, it's that time of the month again folks. Second Saturday weekend that is! Although there are great things going on all month long throughout Sacramento, many locals will argue that the second weekend of the month in Sacramento is their favorite time to venture out on the town. In addition to the Art Walk on Saturday, this weekend has a plethora of cool things to check out. And for Sactown, mid-July is looking to bring us some relatively mild weather to boot! Take a look to see if any of these events can lure you to venture out...try something different this week!

Thursday 7.9

Food & Wine: California Grape & Gourmet -- $50 ($70 day of)
Where: Sacramento Convention Center
When: 5:30-8:30pm
Why: A charity event produced by the California State Fair to benefit the Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Fund. This exquisite wine and food tasting event features more than 600 award winning wines and delicious food from nearly 90 of Northern California's best restaurants. Take home a commemorative wine glass and maybe even purchase some of the award winning wines! There will be also be live musical entertainment, an assortment of exceptional cheeses and award winning micro brews (Commercial Cheese and Commercial Craftbrew Competition winners) to enjoy. This is touted by many Sacramentans as “The Best Wine Event in Sacramento” as well it should be!
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Music/Nightlife: DJ Kaskade -- $17 (presale)
Where: The Park Ultralounge
When: 8pm
Why: If you missed him last time, you should really try to make this show. I am not much of an electronic music fan these days but Kaskade really knows how to mix some good music! He’s not your average DJ…
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Music: Beyonce -- $20.75+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 7:30pm
Why: She’s not the best paid celebrity in America under the age of 30 for nothing! Her big debut to fame was back in 1993 (!) with Destiny’s Child, but only after she broke away as a solo act did she really come out of her shell. She is now married to rap superstar Jay-Z and makes over $80 million a year! See what the hype is all about while she’s in town- you’re not likely to leave disappointed.
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Music/Nightlife: Cheese & Olive Oil Pairing -- $45
Where: Cest le Cheese
When: 6:30-8:30pm
Why: Decadent pairings inspired by ancient times. Explore the rich world of artisan cheeses paired with extra virgin olive oils. Laura Martinez, cheese and olive oil connoisseur and author, guides you through California's finest offerings while dipping into timeless and surprising food pairings. Perfectly accompanied by sparkling wine.
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Music/Museum: Night at the Museum featuring the Pyronauts -- $Free w/ admission ($8/7/4)
Where: California Auto Museum
When: 6-9pm
Why: Don’t miss your chance every Thursday during the summer to cruise down to the CA Auto Museum, enjoy the evening, & experience car culture as it comes alive! This Thursday enjoy live music from The Pyronauts, a local surf band who specializes in the sounds of Dick Dale and The Del Tones, The Surfaris, The Ventures and more! Take some time to browse around the museum’s current exhibit “Carved Elegance: Woodies, Wheels, and Waves” while you’re there.
Details: http://www.sacramento365.com/event/detail/39351

Friday 7.10

Music: Concert in the Park -- $Free
Where: Cesar Chavez Park
When: 5pm-9pm
Why: This week features Kate Gaffney & Boulevard Park along with West of Next, Christopher Fairman & The Stilts! If you live and Sacramento and have still not checked out a CIP, you are missing out! Its free family fun that the adults can enjoy too! Afterwards, don’t forget about the weekly concert crawl (Post Concert Specials!!): Show your concert wristband and receive specials at local bars and restaurants. Receive special happy hour deals on food and drinks when you ask for the Concert Crawl Deal.
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Music Festival: Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival --$
Where: Sleeptrain Amphitheatre
When: 2:15pm
Why: The most electrifying carnival to ever hit the summer concert circuit, is back…and bigger. MARILYN MANSON and SLAYER will top the bill on this year’s highly anticipated tour kicking off here in Sacramento! Featuring many of rock’s heaviest bands: Marilyn Manson and Slayer headline joined by Bullet for my Valentine and a special guest; also Trivium, All That Remains, God Forbid and the Jägermeister Battle of the Bands winner, Cannibal Corpse, Job for a Cowboy, Behemoth, Black Dahlia Murder and Whitechapel. In addition to catching a slew of “speaker-shredding performances”, play the newest video games, peruse vendors, attend autograph signing sessions and a host of other interactive activities that will add to the festival experience. Stage sponsor Jägermeister will be sampling their products and providing fun surprises for attendees.
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Special Event: News10 Blood Donor Day-- $Free
Where: News10 Studios
When: 6am & 7pm
Why: The summer months are a critical time for blood banks so we need everyone to be a hero and donate a life saving pint of blood. News10 Blood Donor Day with Delta Blood Bank is the perfect opportunity to do some good, and also have some fun!! Every donor will receive a free t-shirt, as well as a coupon for a pint of ice cream from Baskin Robbins!! In addition, you will also get a coupon for a free cherry limeade at Sonic!! Plus, you can get swabbed to be on the national marrow donor list and the swabbing fee will be waived for this one day only! Thank you for being a hero and helping us save lives. For more information, please visit news10.net.
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Film & Video: MOBS presents, Rock That Uke w/ Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra -- $5
Where: Guild Theatre (2828 35th Street)
When: Screenings, 7:00pm & 9:30pm; Performance, 8:00pm
Why: The screening of "Rock That Uke" will be accompanied by a live performance by Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra! Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra is a Denver based 6 piece chamber-pop band that features ukulele, tuba, trombone, clarinet, glockenspiel, drums, and synth. Additionally, the Director of the film- William Preston Robertson will be in attendance. Robertson has lent his voice to numerous Coen Brothers films and authored the definitive book on the Coen Brothers, "The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film!" Come see the movie at 7 and hang around for Ukulele Loki's performance at 8 PM, OR come to see Ukulele Loki at 8 PM and stay for the second screening. About the movie: “A funky, curiously philosophical cinematic love poem that examines the near mystical allure of the four-stringed underdog of the musical world and the recent surge of alternative, post-punk musicians on the American mainland who have taken up the instrument, and have incorporated the ukulele not just into their raucous and irreverent original compositions, but into a counter cultural, post-punk ethos.”
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Music: American Idols Live 2009 Tour -- $40.50+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 7pm
Why: Calling all American Idol fans!! It’s your chance to see your favorite “Idols” live and in person! Only featuring the top 10 contestants: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre, this is sure to be a great show. The phenomenon that American Idol has become is sure to be well received here in Sacramento.
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Saturday 7.11

Kids & Families: Downtown Kids Week -- $Various
Where: Saturday 7/11-Saturday 7/18
When: Various
Why: Families from around the region are invited to join in the fun of Downtown Sacramento’s first annual Downtown Kid’s Week. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP), California State Parks, local museums, theatres and restaurants have come together to make Sacramento’s central city the place to be this summer vacation by offering family-friendly events, activities, exhibits and special offers throughout the week.
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Art: Progeny Exhibit w/Artist Talk -- $FREE
Where: 40 Acres Art Gallery
When: 4pm-5pm (Artist talk)
Why: Progeny pairs Deborah Willis and her son, Hank Willis Thomas, in their first official collaboration. Willis is a photographer, educator and curator. Thomas has become known for his stinging critique of advertising and its impact on contemporary life. Consisting of photographs and video, the exhibit is a narrative of their family history, their developments as artists, and the fusion of the two. Exhibit previously shown at the Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Florida and the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York. This will be an excellent opportunity to get the artists’ perspective before the exhibit opens July 14th.
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Music/Art: 2nd Saturday for Families: Gordy Ohliger, the Banjo-ologist -- $Free
Where: Crocker Art Museum
When: 12pm-3pm
Why: The Crocker aims to bring family fun events to the 2nd Saturday lineup! Banjo-ologist Gordy Ohliger will present a heritage you can hear with his movable museum of antique instruments. Toe-tapping, clap-along music, California paintings and hands-on art bring the early years of the Golden State to life. This is a limited seating event so reservations are required.
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Kids & Families: Butterfly Bash -- $6/5/4
Where: Discovery Museum Science & Space Center
When: 12:30pm-3pm
Why: The Discovery Museum hosts many fun and interactive exhibits for your little ones to enjoy. Have any fans at home of these mesmerizing winged insects? There is really no other insect that I can think of to hold such beauty as a butterfly. There will be cases of local & exotic butterflies on display to peruse. How many butterflies can you spot in our butterfly garden? Also, kids will be able to design their very own butterfly ring to wear.
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Film/Video: Esquire IMAX Theatre 10th Anniversary Celebration -- $Free
Where: Esquire IMAX Theatre
When: 10am-5pm
Why: To celebrate the Esquire IMAX Theatre’s 10th anniversary the public is invited to enjoy a free movie this Saturday! Beginning at 10:00 a.m., the Esquire IMAX Theatre will run eight free shows, up to 400 seats each, of the film Wild California! on the hour each hour. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Make sure to get there early!
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Food & Wine: Common Table: AgFest 2009-- $25-100
Where: Freemont Community Garden/Guild Theatre
When: Tours & workshops, 8:30am-3:00pm; Movie, 2:30pm & 4:00pm; Dinner, 5:30pm
Why: Brought to you by Slow Food Sacramento, Common Table is a day of tours and workshops culminating in a sit-down gourmet dinner in the Fremont Community Garden. Benefitting the Sacramento Hunger Coalition and the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, the goal is to raise awareness about local urban gardening and food programs, as well as to advocate for improved city, county and state food policies that enable more locally grown foods in urban locations. The dinner of fresh, seasonal faire will be catered by Magpie Caters. Dinner speaker Braham Ahmadi of Peoples Grocery in Oakland will share his insights on Innovative Solutions for Food Justice. Additionally, the Avid Reader will be on hand selling a variety of books on gardening and the urban food movement, and a live auction will feature an array of culinary opportunities, including local gourmet restaurants that will offer private dinners, private gardening consultations and an opportunity to dine out with a prominent food critic Blair Anthony Robertson. During the day a variety of workshops will be held relating to community gardening, backyard organic gardening, composting, food gleaning and local food swap programs and a special showing of the movie "FRESH" will be showing at the Guild Theater. "FRESH" celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.
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Classes & Workshops: Macrobiotics Wellness Class -- $20
Where: Arden Hills Resort & Spa
When: 10:30am
Why: Never heard of a macrobiotics diet before? It’s a low-fat, high fiber approach to foods designed for optimal health and longevity through nutrition. Don’t miss this special “Macrobiotics” class to learn how a simple diet rich in whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, vegetables and soy products might be the right approach to improve your diet and overall well being for a longer, more healthful life. We can all use a little dose of healthy habits right?
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Sunday 7.12

Kids & Families: Sacramento Street Scenes -- $Free
Where: Old Sacramento
When: 10am-6pm (Every Sat & Sun through August)
Why: The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation in collaboration with the City of Sacramento is proud to introduce a new Street Scene Program beginning this month. Calling upon the talents of musicians, jugglers, storytellers, re-enactors, volunteer fire fighters, artisans, and even some burros, Old Sacramento will offer free, family-friendly and historically educational entertainment every Saturday and Sunday June through August. This Sunday there will be Storytelling, Children's Games, Bowling- Gold Rush Style, Juggling, & Shootouts!
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Special Event: Antique Fair -- $3 Adults/ Children Free
Where: X & 21Sreets
When: 6:30am-3pm
Why: An Outdoor Antique and Collectible Marketplace held the 2nd Sunday of every month!! Hundreds of antique dealers from throughout Northern California selling furniture, textiles, architectural pieces, jewelry, cultural pieces, china and glassware, garden accessories, rugs, art and collectibles of all kinds will be on hand with their quality goods. Browse around and who knows what sorts of treasures you’ll find!
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Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing~ Sacramento Shakespeare Festival -- $18 General/15 Students
Where: William Land Park
When: Doors: 6:30pm; Curtain: 8pm
Why: This is the 24th season of the Shakespeare Festival in Sacramento! Its recommended that you buy your tickets online to avoid the ticket line. Plus, get free parking by showing your printout to the parking attendant. Don’t hesitate to bring a picnic, low lawn chairs and a blanket and enjoy Shakespeare under the stars!
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Keep in mind that all of these events and many more can can be found on Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events. If you have an event you would like to add to Sacramento365.com, visit the website. Its easy and free to add your events!

Also, if you want to mention an event that I didn't squeeze into this little article- add it to the comments below! Have a great weekend!!