Emily S. MendelTheaterBerkeley,
With vivid and fond remembrances of Berkeley Rep’s extraordinary 1999 production of acclaimed writer and director Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” (produced at UC’s Zellerbach Playhouse), I wondered whether a re-do could ever live up to my memories of the original. Happily, this ...
Josh BaxtTheaterSan Diego,
Letters are such a great narrative device. Think of the notes between Abigail and John Adams in 1776 or the chats by the far-flung addicts in Water by the Spoonful or the personal ads from lonely truck drivers in The Few. There’s a vulnerability that’s ...
Toba SingerDanceSan Francisco,
Who captures Mozart in motion better than neoclassical grise eminence choreographer George Balanchine? The lines of dancers from every rank who opened Tuesday night’s Kaleidoscope program with a frothy “Divertimento,” gave their definitive answer. Koto Ishihara and Julia Rowe step confidently out of ...
Emily S. MendelArt & ArchitectureSan Francisco,
“Monet: The Late Years,” an exquisite and enlightening exhibition, presents the evolution of the fabulous French Impressionist Claude Monet (1840-1926) from 1913 to his death. After a lapse in painting brought on by the deaths of his second wife and his eldest son, the 73-year ...
Emily S. MendelTheaterBerkeley,
“Creditors,” written by the much-admired and influential Swedish playwright August Strindberg (1849 –1912) known for his forward-thinking and naturalistic dramas, has been produced much less frequently over the years than some of his more well-known offerings, such as Miss Julie. However, with the new ...
Toba SingerEtc
The Theater, Dance and Performance Studies Department at the University of California at Berkeley is hosting “Art & Design Thursdays @ BAMPFA (Berkeley Arts Museum, Pacific Film Archive),” where the public sits in on faculty and guest lectures on ...
Emily S. MendelArt & ArchitectureSan Francisco,
An exquisite experience awaits all who see the San Francisco Asian Art Museum’s new exhibit, “Kimono Refashioned,” which examines the influence of the kimono on global fashion from the Victorian era to the 21st century. Over 40 striking ensembles, accessories and artwork from nearly ...
Toba SingerDanceSan Francisco,
Diablo Ballet’s pocket-sized troupe of seasoned dancers performed to a full house at what has become its home-base suburban venue, the Del Valle Theater in Walnut Creek. It is cause for optimism that works by first-rank choreographers, polished by veteran stagers, ...
David E. MorenoDanceSan Francisco,
“Impact” is Kristin Damrow’s third evening-length work and a world premiere. It uses Brutalist architecture and design as its inspiration and reactive counterpoint. This design influence is instantly recognizable in the clear-cut set by Alice Malia, whose concrete-like structure suspends from the ceiling and in lighting designer, Allen Willner’s ...
Emily S. MendelTheaterSan Francisco,
Edward Albee’s (1928-2016) trenchant view of life, combined with his inventive, creative mind, resulted in plays that are disruptive, adult, intellectual experiences. And his 1975 play “Seascape,” which was awarded one of his three Pulitzer Prizes, is not an exception, ...
