As a guy it pains me sometimes to use adjectives such as cute, charming, delightful. But these are entirely appropriate for the latest Cinequest screener I watched called Raspberry Magic. Of a strong group of films so far, it may be the best yet. The story is centered around a...

Sophocles' Greek tragic tale of Oedipus, a man who dared believe he could steer his own fate against the curses of the Gods, has seeped into many literary works since it was first performed c. 429 BC. The timeless themes of fate and love are constructed in such a...

San Francisco Opera released their FY 2008-2009 results. There is some good news, and not-so-good news. First, the good: the budget is balanced at about $67M, with an operating income of $416,032. Summer season ticket sales were strong, according to the press release. Contributions to the annual fund accounted...

The best play in the Bay Area is now playing at SF Playhouse. It's called Animals Out of Paper. The most pleasant surprise is how well it works with such obtuse, yet intriguing, subject matter: origami. That's right. This is the first play I've ever seen that is based...

Faeries, a lost child, forlorn love and haunting tales warm a small pub outside Dublin, Ireland in The Weir that opened Friday at the San Jose Repertory Theatre. Conor McPherson's play is intense, an emotional roller-coaster that leaves you somewhat winded, and drained. As the wind howls, a group of...

The opening scene of Aurora Theatre's The First Grade indeed sends us back to the classroom, with Sydney (Julia Brothers) introducing the word of the day, "congenial." Repeat after me, she says with exuberence: con-ge-nial. It's one of several wonderful moments in the world premiere of Joel Drake Johnson's...

I can't imagine many things worse in life than losing a child. We would all agree it is horrible, devastating. But as we find out in the moving production of Rabbit Hole by Palo Alto Players, the process of grieving is individual, painful, and, perhaps for this family, a...

Guest post by Pat Reardon. “Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”  – Shel Silverstein And, anything does happen at Dragon’s latest production, An...

Guest post by Pat Reardon. Jean Webster’s charming 1912 novel Daddy Long Legs is the inspiration for TheatreWorks newest production. This delightful world premiere romantic musical is a feast for the spirit.   Webster’s classic novel tells the story of Jerusha Abbott, a talented orphan who unexpectedly receives the gift of a...

Last night, the eagerly awaited stage production of Dead Man Walking premiered at City Lights Theater in downtown San Jose. It was an evening of compelling drama, pulling at our heart strings as we contemplated capital punishment, forgiveness and atonement. Tim Robbin's script is, of course, a classic, turned...