Emily S. MendelFeaturesSan Francisco, CA Highlights of the Jewish Film Festival “Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholem Aleichem” “The Green Prince” “Run Boy Run” “112 Weddings” “Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story” “Above and Beyond” “Havana Curveball” “The Sturgeon Queens” The 34th San ...
David Mamet's early masterpiece weathers an uneven emphasis on laughs in this Aurora Theatre production.
Emily S. MendelTheaterSan Francisco, CA David Mamet’s searing 1975 masterpiece about a botched robbery by three Chicago low-lifes fizzled rather than sizzled through its opening night at Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre. Not that the play isn’t worth seeing, it is. But this production of "American Buffalo" ...
The American premiere of this opera about human trafficking and sexual slavery rises above agitprop and emerges a true work of art.
Suzanne WeissMusicSan Francisco, CA Earlier this year a film called “Twelve Years a Slave” walked away with the Best Picture award at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes. The true story of a free American man of color who was kidnapped in Washington ...
The principals' voices soar and blend in this stunning new production of Puccini's masterpiece on star-crossed love.
Suzanne WeissMusicSan Francisco, CA As a stunning curtain, decorated with modernistic kimonos, rises on an equally striking set, all light and platforms in primary colors, it seems that the new San Francisco production of “Madame Butterfly” is going to be about Jun Kaneko’s production ...
Lavish sets and costumes notwithstanding, this production is, musically, a mixed bag.
Suzanne WeissMusicSan Francisco, CA “La Traviata,” that quintessential tale of a Parisian courtesan-with-a-heart-of-gold-except-she-dies-of-consumption-at-the-end, is one of Verdi’s most beautiful and beloved operas. That’s the first reason to go and see the revival at San Francisco Opera. The second is the production, originally directed by ...
Emily S. MendelArt & ArchitectureCA, While the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art in Washington. D. C. is being renovated, the de Young Museum is the fortunate venue of the outstanding modern art collection donated by real estate developer, Robert Meyerhoff and his ...
This talky bio-performance on Leonard Bernstein can't escape a seen-one, seen-'em-all aspect.
Suzanne WeissTheaterCA, One of my favorite Stephen Sondheim lyrics is sung by a stripper with the improbable name of Mazeppa (he rhymes it with “shleppah”) in, of course, “Gypsy.” The song is titled “You Gotta Get a Gimmick” and it reminds me ...
Steered by the crisp direction of Francesca Zambello and the sure baton of John DeMain, this “Show Boat” fills the opera house stage in a tribute to an American musical classic.
Suzanne WeissMusicCA, Y’all come on down to the levee folks. The “Show Boat” is in town and it’s a singin’, dancin’ romp. But is it an opera? Well, maybe more of an operetta, but who cares? In a spiffy production at San ...
Renata PoltFilmCA, It's disorienting: San Francisco's Silent Film Festival has moved from its iconic mid-July position to the last weekend in May! What's going to enliven the doldrums of summer? On the other hand, what better way ...
Like it or lump it, there's no denying that Tony Kushner's operatic family drama serves up Wagnerian themes.
Suzanne WeissTheaterCA, Playwright Tony Kushner may go down in theatrical history as the Richard Wagner of the stage. The two, although separated by a century, have a lot in common. They both wrote very long works, sometimes too long to squeeze into ...
