stage: BohoBlog, North Bay Bohemian

Twelve and On Fire

David Templeton — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 13:07:00 -0800

Bradley Boatright is a troublemaker.

Twelve years old, possessed of a potent imagination, haunted by a childhood tragedy he considers the critical piece in his origin story, Bradley (played with elastic authenticity by New York actor Gabriel King) sees himself as the hero of an epic comic book adventure—though the real details of is life may be anything but comic.…

Nov. 30-Dec. 16: The Ratcatcher at the Imaginists Theater

Leilani Clark — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 12:47:51 -0800

The Ratcatcher, playing through December 16 at the Imaginists Theater is a rollicking, slyly critical musical ride through the mysterious, ancient tale of the Pied Piper. As a refresher, the Pied Piper is the story of a man who arrives in the town of Hamlin, announcing that he can take care of a rat infestation for a small fee.…

New Plays in Ashland

David Templeton — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:24:00 -0700

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland—a scenic six-hour drive from Sonoma County—has become a popular summertime destination for theater-loving travelers from the North Bay and beyond. The prime time for Ashland journeying is between June and September, though the eleven-play season actually opens in late February, starting with shows in its two indoor theaters before opening the massive outdoor Elizabethan stage in June.…

Theater Review: Five Plays at Oregon Shakespeare Festival 2012

David Templeton — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:11:00 -0700

In early Spring, when the world seems equal parts rain and sunshine, our thoughts predictably turn inside out. As the natural world turns green and lush around us, we suddenly feel the urge to trade those inward, reflective, heat-seeking pursuits of winter for anything that gets us up and out, moving and planting and creating.…

Stage Review: 'The Fantasticks' at Spreckels Center

David Templeton — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:00:00 -0800

From the moment the audience enters the room for Spreckels Theatre Company’s shiny new production of Jones & Schmidt’s beloved The Fantasticks, theatergoers are plunged into the celebrated play’s sweetly surreal, amiably over-the-top romantic world. Romping across the splendidly spare set—little more than a raised platform and a large, mysterious wooden trunk—is the Mute, the musical’s silent co-narrator, played with impressive physical charm and commitment by Denise Elia.…