Sophocles
An old question asks: If you could invite five historical figures to dinner (and could speak their language), which five would you pick? My answers change all the time. The Greek tragedian, Sophocles, remains on or near my short-list. He …
Around the World in 80 Days at Lamb's Players
Brian Rickel & Jon Lorenz/photo by JT MacMillan A "give it another week" opening night. Laura Eason adapted Jules Verne's adventure novel (1873) for the stage. Lamb's had most of the logistics pretty much in place. But many scenes felt …
The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, at Moxie
Photo credit: Daren Scott What sounds like an untoward oxymoron's an actual place: Pope Lick is a creek near Fisherville, Kentucky. An old, 90-foot high trestle spans it. Since at least three people died while walking across, today a chain …
Kita y Fernanda at Mo`olelo
On paper, Dona Silva Valderama and daughter Fernanda are documented immigrants from Mexico. They live in a big house in McAllen, Texas. Dona Silva's wealthy husband lives in Mexico and visits on occasion. On paper, Concha and daughter Kita don't …
Life Imitates Art
In his famous preface to Miss Julie, August Strindberg lambastes women's liberation. Those who try to break from male dominance and assert themselves he calls "half-women." "She signifies degeneration." Then, with a huff you can year 100 years away, he …
Julia at Ion Theatre
August Strindberg died 100 years ago. To celebrate the Centennial, Ion Theatre's 50th production is its fifth world premiere. Claudio Raygoza's Julia is not an adaptation. It was "inspired" by Strindberg's Miss Julie. Written in 1888, Miss Julie is one …
He said, she said
Mark Sylwestrzak and wife Eileen Bowman just completed working on stage together in 2 Across at Vista Broadway Theatre. In Jerry Mayer's comedy, strangers meet on a BART train. Both are doing the New York Times crossword: Janet with obsessive …
David Mamet on Glengarry and other matters
Playwrights have studied David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross as much, if not more, than any other contemporary work. Over the years Mamet has made several observations about his Pulitzer Prize winner for drama, 1984. In 1969, he worked as office …
Mistakes Were Made at Cygnet Theatre
The producer's nightmare: push a project to Broadway through a gauntlet of nay-sayers: the playwright, iconic young stars, agents, a tony (small t) British director, and a fund-raiser sheep-dipping for seed money, literally. Even by his own admission, Felix Artifex …
Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir, La Jolla Playhouse
To break the traditional set-up of theater - actors up there, audience down here - the La Jolla Playhouse began its site-based, "Without Walls" series two years ago. Its first production, Susurrus, took place at the San Diego Botanical Garden …
An allegiance
Longtime fans of San Diego theater will recognize her name. For years, Linda Castro was one of our leading lights and award-winners. She moved away almost a decade ago. Since we no longer wear opposing theatrical hats, she has become …
Jack Tygett remembered
Jack Tygett passed away last week. For everyone who knew him, the loss is immense. But rather than me listing his credentials from afar, I asked John Martin, longtime local actor (and cast member of the Marquis Public's legendary Gemini) …
Same Time, Next Year at New Village Arts
Melissa and Manny Fernandes, real life husband and wife, perform with the fluidity and timing of a matched set. In some of the play's more comic moments, they recall Desi and Lucy. In others, George and Martha. Bernard Slade's comedy-drama …
Pippin at Diversionary Theatre
It was the Broadway equivalent of a coup d'etat. Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics, and Roger O. Hirson the book, for a musical about the oldest son of Charlemagne. Pippin's father - Charles the Great - united much …
Honoring the unsung
I once knew a man - old Bill - who didn't just have a black cloud always overhead, he was one. Mention a subject, he'd say "it's stupid." Mention a person, "a bum." I swore he could take on all …
Allegiance: A San Diego Perspective
Allegiance: A New American Musical is having its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre from September 19 through October 21 (previews have begun already). It's based on the "relocation" of West Coast, Japanese Americans following the attack on Pearl …
Quotations
Print versions of the Unforgettable history columns always include three sidebar quotations. I want to include the ones for the Tets Hiraskai columns here — "Letters from the End of the World" parts one and two — because they help …
Hal David
Over the years I've interviewed at least a thousand people. A favorite will always be the one with the late Hal David (who died Saturday) a few years back. A Hall of Famer, David wrote the lyrics for "Raindrops Keep …
Les Miserables at Civic Theatre
A touring "mega-musical" is almost a contradiction. By the time some reach San Diego they have the pared-down look of a road show designed more for mobility than performance. The 25th Anniversary's touring Les Miz has a cramped, letterbox quality: …
Anon.
Out & About in Portland, Oregon. An experimental theater's doing something different, and is drawing national attention. Anonymous Theatre began in 2002. To make a performance feel fresh and un-rehearsed, students at Brown University gave themselves 24 hours from the …