Bore-antine Streamin’: ‘Radioactive’ / ‘Chemical Hearts’ / ‘Let Him Go’ / ‘Come Away’
Pandemic lockdown has forced first-run films online. Here are four I probably would have skipped anyway.
Sock-Hopped: ‘Grease’ at Berkeley Playhouse
Electric choreography from the Berkeley Playhouse can’t quite save this revival of the popular musical.
Missed its Stop: ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ at Ubuntu Theater
Ubuntu’s attempt to deconstruct Tennessee Williams’ classic paradoxically reveals how little they understand of the material.
One Wacky ‘War’: ‘Shakespeare or Space Wars’ by Peripatetic Players
The Bard bumps up against blast doors in this hilarious new comedy from the Peripatetic Players.
Only a Fraction of an Idea: ‘An Octoroon’ at Berkeley Rep
Fine acting and great Berkeley Rep production values can’t save Branden Jabobs-Jenkins’ God-awful script.
Delusion of ‘Grandeur’: Han Ong’s world premiere Gil Scott-Heron play at The Magic
Not even amazing set design and two-out-of-three great performers can save an unforgivably terrible script in this Magic Theatre world premiere.
‘Chuck’ it Out
A fascinating true story is given the worst made-for-tv treatment in biopic.
Lost in these ‘Woods’: ‘Into the Woods’ at SHN
One company’s attempt at a bare-bones (but big-budgeted) take on Sondheim’s classic makes one wonder if they know what show they’re staging.
Barely ‘Live’-ing
The failures of Ben Affleck’s latest film put all the Oscar-winner’s past successes into question.
The Gift of ‘Gab’: ‘Hedda Gabler’ at Cutting Ball
The bewildering choices of slapstick and steampunk are just two-of-many poor decisions in this Cutting Ball production.
The Thinking Man's Idiot (Charles Lewis III) 