"Macbeth" Wades into Familiar Corruption & Cruelty, at Ubuntu, Oakland by Bdhorwitz

Michael Moran's Sorcery Exposes U.S. Excess & Delusion  by Barry David Horwitz Watching Macbeth go down the muddy hole, circling the bloody drain of ambition, cynicism, and self-delus…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 8:58pm on February 14, 2020☆⚑

"You'll Catch Flies" Enchants with Laughs & Honesty, at NCTC, S.F. by Bdhorwitz

Ryan Fogarty Exposes Boys in the Bandwidth by Barry David Horwitz Ryan Fogarty's gay bromance puts guilt, love, and regret on extravagant display. The hosts, a flamboyant gay couple: Dev (li…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 5:29am on February 1, 2020☆⚑

"Becky Nurse of Salem" Brews Shocking Comedy Potion, at Berkeley Rep by Bdhorwitz

Sarah Ruhl Mixes Witchcraft, Women, & Wit by Barry David Horwitz As you walk into Berkeley Rep, you see life-size mannequins in Puritan costumes, looming over the ground-level stage. It …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:58pm on December 23, 2019☆⚑

"The Jewelry Box" Overflows with Love & Laughter, at The Marsh, S.F. by Bdhorwitz

Brian Copeland: A Genuine Christmas Gem! by Barry David Horwitz Everyone knows that Brian Copeland, famed for his "Not a Genuine Black Man" solo show that has toured the country and played f…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:52am on December 4, 2019☆⚑

"Bull in a China Shop" Smashes Women's Roles, at Aurora, Berkeley by Bdhorwitz

Bryna Turner Depicts Daring Lesbian Leader by Barry David Horwitz Under the old filagree wooden arches and overflowing ivy of a small women's college"thanks to designer Nina Ball"we enter tw…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 6:20am on November 26, 2019☆⚑

"Amaluna" Invokes Tempestuous Female Vision, at Cirque du Soleil, S.F. by Bdhorwitz

International Acrobats Leap, Fly, Dance into Our Dreams by Barry David Horwitz Acrobats and spectacular gymnasts from Japan, Brazil, Canada, Russia, UK, Australia, and U.S. come together in …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 11:12am on November 18, 2019☆⚑

"Free for All" Unleashes a Comic "Miss Julie" on Nob Hill, at Cutting Ball, S.F. by Bdhorwitz

Megan Cohen Ridicules the Rich in Climate Apocalypse by Barry David Horwitz Under the deft hand of director Ariel Craft, a new vein has been opened in San Francisco satirical theater. With p…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 7:48pm on October 16, 2019☆⚑

"White Noise" Amps Up Crisis of Black & White Millennials, at Berkeley Rep by Bdhorwitz

Suzan-Lori Parks Imagines Slavery with Amazing Grace by Barry David Horwitz Looking for a dramatic meditation on what it's like to be a millennial black guy or gal in these days in the good …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 10:36pm on October 8, 2019☆⚑

"The Great Wave" Exposes Brutal Abductions & Spycraft, at Berkeley Rep by Bdhorwitz

Francis Turnly Revives North Korean & Japanese Betrayals by Barry David Horwitz Like the Greeks and Elizabethans, modern playwrights have found a voice to examine national secrets throug…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 9:29pm on September 25, 2019☆⚑

"Admissions" Explodes 'Elite' Schools with Flair, at Los Altos Stage Co. by Bdhorwitz

Joshua Harmon's Witty Comedy Fuels First-Rate Acting by Barry David Horwitz At Los Altos Stage Company there's a surprise waiting for you. A spectacular production of "Admissions" by Joshua …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 8:36am on September 21, 2019☆⚑

"The Humans""Comedy of the American Nightmare, at Novato Theater Co. by Bdhorwitz

Stephen Karam Looks at US from a Funny Angle  by Barry David Horwitz What if aliens were observing us from another world, watching our daily lives? Would they be amused? In other words, w…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 5:33pm on September 16, 2019☆⚑

"Titus Andronicus" Spotlights Our Present & Future, at Theatre Lunatico, Berkeley by Bdhorwitz

Shakespeare's Roman Empire Strikes New Trumpean Notes by Barry David Horwitz I have always avoided this play. It's a horror show of grotesque, gory, and ghoulish murders, rapes, and tortures…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:58am on September 7, 2019☆⚑

"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" Refuses to Bow to Whites, at Multi Ethnic Theater, S.F. by Bdhorwitz

August Wilson's Twenties Saga Traces 'Race' Records by Barry David Horwitz "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" burns with suppressed Jazz Age anger: "How to deal with the white man?" Accomplished sin…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 9:24pm on August 30, 2019☆⚑

"House of Joy" Boasts Indian Spectacle in a Bubble, at Cal Shakes, Orinda by Bdhorwitz

Madhuri Shekar Unmasks Our Lies: Joy, Freedom, Equality by Robert M. Gardner & Barry David Horwitz Madhuri Shekar's "House of Joy" delivers ancient Indian spectacle, gorgeous costumes an…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 5:42am on August 23, 2019☆⚑

"A History of World War II""A Queer Eye on Sharp Nazis, at The Marsh, Berkeley by Bdhorwitz

John Fisher's One-Man Army Triumphs! by Barry David Horwitz John Fisher is obsessed with WWII. When he was a kid in the Marin suburbs, John Fisher found a way to escape his family's bigoted …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 5:47pm on August 9, 2019☆⚑

"At the Illusionist's Table" Offers Fine Food for the Mind, at Cal Performances by Bdhorwitz

Scott Silven Connects His Guests to Each Other, Magically by Barry David Horwitz Scott Silven, a consummate storyteller and performance artist, artfully connects an elegant dinner, mind-bend…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 8:45pm on August 8, 2019☆⚑

"Kill Move Paradise" Explodes, Enlightens, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley by Bdhorwitz

James Ijames Ships Black Myths to Hell by Robert M. Gardner & Barry David Horwitz One after the other, we meet four intriguing, intelligent, young black men, ranging from age 15 to 30, e…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 1:25am on July 29, 2019☆⚑

"Roan@The Gates""Snowden on Estrogen, at Central Works, Berkeley by Bdhorwitz

Christina Gorman Probes Whistleblower & Wife by Barry David Horwitz Christina Gorman's political thriller depicts the intriguing case of a couple who each want to "do the right thing." W…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 1:35pm on July 24, 2019☆⚑

"A Streetcar Named Desire" Burns Up the Tracks, in Brooklyn by Bdhorwitz

Tennessee Williams Gets A Smart Stanley & Trans-Blanche by Barry David Horwitz In a storefront theater in Brooklyn, Stanley Kowalski charges in with a roar of "STEEEELLLLAAAA!" that echo…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 7:08pm on July 20, 2019☆⚑

"Kill Move Paradise" Exposes Minstrelsy & Murder, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley by Bdhorwitz

James Ijames Captures Black Lives in Limbo by Jesse Marley and Barry David Horwitz Walking into Ashby Stage, we are confronted by Celeste Martore's magnificent, stark white set, an abstract …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 4:08am on July 17, 2019☆⚑

"Caveman Play""Lovable Parable on Prehistoric Planning, at Faultline, S.F. by Bdhorwitz

Savannah Reich Stages Hilarious Debate: Farming vs. Hunting by Barry David Horwitz When you enter the great cave at Z Space for Faultline Theater's "Caveman Play" by Savannah Reich, it's fil…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 10:04pm on July 15, 2019☆⚑

"Measure for Measure" Highlights Top Talent, at Marin Shakes by Bdhorwitz

Shakespeare's Dark Comedy Illuminates #MeToo, #Resist by Barry David Horwitz At Marin Shakespeare Company, a rich complement of fine comic actors bring on the fun in "Measure for Measure," a…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 11:35pm on July 3, 2019☆⚑

"Wink" Hilariously Highlights Our Basic Instincts, at MTC, Mill Valley by Bdhorwitz

Jen Silverman's Cat Takes Fabulous Human Form by Barry David Horwitz Once that cat climbs out of his grave and assumes human form"even though he's been skinned alive"all bets are off! And th…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 1:27am on June 29, 2019☆⚑

"Rent" Spotlights Young Stars, at SHN Broadway, S.F. by Bdhorwitz

Jonathan Larson Sings across Two Decades"to US by Rachel Norby and Barry David Horwitz After twenty years of fame and fortune, "Rent" has become a star-making machine. Young people from all …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 10:52pm on June 19, 2019☆⚑

"Archduke" Steals Hearts, at TheatreWorks, Mtn. View by Bdhorwitz

Rajiv Joseph's Comedy Exposes Seduction of Innocents by Barry David Horwitz Could there be a more topical play than Rajiv Joseph's "Archduke"? Here's a new play about young people manipulate…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 12:30pm on June 17, 2019☆⚑