Masquers Playhouse is a tiny community theater that thinks big. Their "Catch Me If You Can" has a large cast which accentuates the amateur know hows from the know nots. W/o amplification brass instruments frequently overpower singers. There's no shame using only keyboard, drums and bass.

Written in 1966, “Wait Until Dark” inspired the 1967 film. A vulnerable, blind, wife alone in her home being visited by gangsters willing to kill for one particular child’s doll is intense. The lower-level, Manhattan pad heightens the feeling of an animal trapped inside a cage unable to break free.

Jessica Huang’s play, “Mother of Exiles,” zeros in on continuing one’s blood line as life’s purpose w/ her “Babies want to be born” thought. Are there other ways from authoritarian-gatekeepers w/ mostly shut eyes and closed hearts? This is an Asian immigrant story from 1898-2063 w/ ancestral visits.

August Wilson is one of America’s greatest Black playwrights. His "King Hedley II" power punches: Being more valuable as a slave than one’s present-day African American worth is a shocking thought. Outside of prison, Hedley find life is no better. “To beat the system you’ve got to step out of it.”

The 1977 musical "Annie" is about the haves and have nots: a ruthless billionaire discovering a gratifying life is more than wealth compared to people’s struggles whether living on the street, in tents or as the forgotten. Sound familiar? "Annie" at Berkeley Playhouse through Dec. 21.

Is it best speaking in real dialects that outsiders may not understand or compromise so most comprehend what's being said while offending native speakers? Dick Van Dyke's fake cockney accent in the film "Mary Poppins" comes to mind as such a conflict of interests. There is no right or wrong answer.

Suzan-Lori Parks’ Sally & Tom rewards us w/ 3 extraordinary monologues as James Hemings, Thomas Jefferson and whoever plays Sally. Each is impressive, stimulating and complicated whether as the actor speaking outside his/her role or their character. These speeches make "Sally & Tom" monumental.

Stereophonic” is riveting. Some questions are unanswerable: What drives talent? Is self destruction often far off? Is ego essential and to what level before it leads to success or failure? The national tour of “Stereophonic” is one intoxicatingly-successful quality production.

America’s suffragist story is the struggle of women committed to justice, equal rights and their role in American politics. (Have things changed enough?) The “Suffs” national tour reminds us battles continue. Its strength is as a musical vaccination to continue marching.

Riveting plays grab hold relaxing their grip just long enough for us to catch a breath. Otherwise audiences are spellbound inside characters’ thoughts, face the same circumstances and react emotionally as if these were ours alone. That's Word for Word’s “Hard Times” at San Francisco’s Z Space.

“Oy What They Said About Love” has potential but timing fizzles as Steve Budd often walks across the stage to change characters. A couple struggles pursuing a future together because they care but we need to care. The best story remains just under the surface yet to be unearthed and developed.

Why do Lapine-Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” endlessly reappear. Proverbs are delivered at warp speed: "Sometimes the things you most wish for are not to be touched". Is it best to remain safe behind walls or take chances? Life continues different from before. There's much to cut into in these woods

Old-school shopkeeper, aging, stubborn opinionated w/ life experiences that bolster his racist beliefs. “Kim’s Convenience” is skillfully written from how Choi incorporates accents and his native language to including Korean history. “Kim’s Convenience” shines light on mom and pop stores. 5 stars

A debate on the morality of animal rights and testing. Debaters are become the experiment w/in their free-range cage given room and board. This science fiction fantasy sounds promising as a serious and thought-provoking time. Chris Chen's, “The Motion” falls short as characters robbed of memories.

From afar ignorance and fanaticism’s absurdness can be amusing. Once stereotypical racism arises tension increases and an all-out confrontation follows in Matt Lyle’s Big, Scary Animals. A “truth bomb” game gives reasons but can we manage our differences or are things hopeless and irreparable?

Substance abuse has a painful domino effect. Brasch’s autobiographical-fictional play "The Reservoir" is a young man trying to gain control of his life while his aging grandparents are losing theirs to dementia. Young audiences won't laugh as readily when they see these sides of mirrored life.

"Shucked" is a comedy act w/ songs. No, a musical w/ loads of jokes. No, a punchball of wisecracks and puns. It's an auditory hoe down: “A paper airplane that doesn’t fly is just stationary”. Combo's "Book of Mormon" and "The Music Man". More than chuckling-silly romp. @ SF’s Curran The.

Berkeley Playhouse’s “Addams Family” musical is charmingly delightful with strong voices from principle performers and a well-rehearsed large cast. The show's underlying tale would bring yawns if it weren’t for the humor and alluring refreshingly-strong Latin flavor. Runs through Oct. 5, 2025.

SF's Ray of Light Theatre, “9 to 5,” show is an unimaginatively-withered musical best as a “newby’s” introduction to musicals. Few of the 24-cast members trained beyond their specialty of singing, dancing or acting so reaches beyond their territory are painful. Sadly it's best from 9 to 9:15.

Two conflicting words join together creating divide: "politically correct". PC brings awareness to the forefront yet insensitively makes others incorrect, even wrong, over the slightest of circumstances and when it comes to significant differences, watch out! Must see "Eureka Day” @ Marin Theater.

Difference between the haves - the few who have lived with an Amazon parrot - and the majority of have nots who imagine a one-master, shrieking and biting beast, entertainingly funny. David Templeton’s “Featherbaby” is an exploration in relationships via a bird as the main character and narration.

A performer’s perfection and honest love for their craft is thrilling to witness. Perfect example: Candace Johnson’s abilities/multi-talents displayed in her play, “Scat-ter Brain: The Music of ADHD”. Q is what’s holding her back when she's so gifted? The Marsh in Berkeley runs thru Sept. 13, '25.

I've heard about the power of art. Rarely has it been so clearly documented and vividly portrayed than in Hend Ayoub’s play, “Home? A Palestinian Woman’s Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness”. In need of fine-tuning B4 moving to Off-Broadway? No. A powerful personal story and a must see.

“The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe” = a stellar observation of the 1960-‘70s. Trudy's a street urchin-nut case. Nutty is calling peanut and olive oils (from peanuts or olives) while baby oil is…you get it, no consistency. Jane Wagner’s an anthropologist w/ astute observations

If the Masquers Playhouse production of, “Into the Breeches,” aimed for indication acting from most of its actors, then mission accomplished. This play-within-a-play of gals replacing men in during WWII (1942) is simple as is Brant’s writing -- perhaps the reason for his play’s success.

“Jurassiq Parq: A Musiqal Parody” is adult entertainment. Playful-camp silliness possibly an improvement to a film I disliked. Mostly free from political-worldly messages. It’s basically people wanting to have fun by putting on a show at one important happenin’ nightclub: San Francisco’s “Oasis”

1st act's refreshing brisk pace gets bogged down in 2nd act. Mandatory(?)-gender issues, misplaced love, florescent colors, exploding fireworks + formulaic love songs. Thinning veil becomes apparent. Desperate “Juliet” confetti-bombs the audience. “& Juliet” @ SF’s Orpheum

Live shows benefit from digital's projections, software, audio discs & synthesizers. AI promises more. Hip-hop musical "Co-Founders" skips more than hops. 28 songs, pedestrian lyrics. Afro-Amer-Oakland gal breaks in and out of tech/Silicon Valley. SF’s Strand thru July 6, 2025. Photos Kevin Berne

Critics need not analyze, dissect or think a review will make a difference on the success of "A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical". It's for “Diamond heads” w/ 28+ songs and god-like Diamond impersonator, Nick Fradiani. SF's Golden Gate Theatre thru June 22, 2025. Photos Jeremy Daniel.

Sasha Velour's tour's "The Big Reveal Live Show". It's beyond outrageous fun. What talent and creativity! At BerkeleyRep thru June 15, 2025.

Substance abuse, sexual differences and acceptance are commonplace in musicals. Present demands for improved health care are getting increasingly louder in musicals. “Next to Normal” forces us to hear those cries. The Ray of Light production now at SanFran's Victoria Theater thru June 15, 2025

TRADE WARS are nothing new. In 1853 Commodore Perry forced Japan to open its doors for foreign trade and the story behind “Pacific Overtures” at San Francisco's Brava Theatre where live theater is affordable to everyone. Good for them! Show runs through June 15, 2025. Jon Bauer Photos