64 San Diego Reader November 3, 2016
ANTI-REVIEW THEATER
night before. From the start, Ronobir
Lahiri’s excellent performance at the San Diego Rep suggests Amir’s a bit off. He’s quick to snap and given to expres- sive stillness. Without ever exaggerating the impression, Lahiri suggests that Amir’s adopted profile has locked him in. The result is an emo- tional paralysis — a slave to his obsessively cultivated image. During a nine-month period — late summer 2011 to spring of 2012 — Amir will break through, then break down. His nephew Abe Jensen (né
Hussein Malik) wants Amir to support a local imam jailed for financing the enemy. In one of the play’s most telling points, Amir realizes that any associa- tion with terrorists — just one dinky percent — could endan- ger his career. He goes to court anyway, risks exposure, and the New York Times spots him. That tiny aperture, that one slip-up in his cultural assimilation, changes his life. But, and here’s another of
Lahiri’s suggestive nuances: did some part of Amir want it to happen all along? You can almost hear a clock
ticking in the Rep’s produc- tion...or a time bomb. Director Michael Arabian builds tension so well it’s certain the fireworks will devastate. But even that sense of growing menace may not prepare you for the fallout from Amir’s manic outbursts. They’re guaranteed to offend just about everyone on the planet, but also to instruct. The production’s so effec-
tive that even when Akhtar layers in a gaggle of melodra- matic revelations — all four characters shed their public “profiles” and unveil their real selves — they feel genuine. One of the play’s themes:
people don’t see individuals anymore, just stereotypes and profiles. The Rep’s five-person cast offers proof. They enter pretty much labels-first. But they peel away externals and expose what we might have overlooked. Credit to expert work: Allison Spratt Pearce’s Emily, whose idealism gets a
AUDITIONS Annie
SAN MARCOS COMMUNITY CENTER 3 Civic Center Dr., San Marcos The City of San Marcos Theatre West invites youth ages 7 to 17 to audition for the musical. Sing a one-minute excerpt from a song of your choice. Bring an instrumental CD if desired. Also bring a school photo and a short list of past experiences you have had speaking, singing, or dancing in front of a group. Beginners are welcome. Auditions: DEC. 9, 10, & 11 5PM
Mothers and Sons POWPAC 13250 Poway Rd., Poway
roles ages 10+ are available. Some actors will play multiple roles. Visit
www.sanmarcosplayers.com for in- formation on roles, rehearsals, show dates, and audition monologue ex- amples. You can also send an email to
sanmarcosplayers@gmail.com. No appointments are necessary. A photo and resume are desirable but not required. San Marcos Players is an all-volunteer nonprofit theater group. Auditions: NOV. 9 6:30PM
Next Fall ONSTAGE PLAYHOUSE
LATELY, I’VE WADED INTO MURKY, NOSTALGIC WATERS more than I prefer. I blame the dwindling sunlight of the waning summer, something about the way the shorter days call out the ephemeral and fleeting nature of things. If an entire day can pass so quickly, what about a week? A year? A decade? Yet, that very eva-
A San Diego County premiere. By turns funny and powerful, Mothers and Sons portrays a woman who pays an unexpected visit to her late son’s partner, who is now married to another man and has a young son. Runs January 27 to February 26. Auditions: NOV. 28 & 29
It’s a Wonderful Life LAKE SAN MARCOS CONFERENCE CENTER, 1121 LA BONITA DR., SAN MARCOS
San Marcos Players are holding open auditions for the onstage radio theater production of the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. A mini- mum of 8 male roles and 6 female
291 Third Ave., Chula Vista No appointment necessary. Audi- tions will consist of cold readings from the script. Perusal scripts may be requested from strattonsusan@
yahoo.com. Synopsis: Luke believes in God. Adam believes in everything else. Next Fall portrays the ups and downs of this unlikely couple’s five-year relationship with humor and honesty.
Auditions: JAN. 8 & 9 6PM
To add your audition to our listings, go to
sdreader.com/ events/submit and select Auditions as the category.
nescence lends a certain gravity to the momen- tousness of all that hap- pens in the blink of an eye. As life rushes by at breakneck speed, it’s amazing just how much breadth and substance gets packed in there while we aren’t paying particular atten- tion; and sometimes a rearward perspective provides exactly the framework to understand things as they were. North Coast Rep dives head-
long into the nostalgia trip with its production of Neil Simon’s
stages Maxwell Anderson’s adapta- tion of William March’s novel. On the surface young Rhoda is sweet, charming, full of old-fashioned graces. But her mother has an uneasy feeling about her. Kristen Fogle directs.
gut check; Richard Baird’s often comical Isaac, way seedier than assumed; Monique Gaffney’s Jory the lawyer who favors “order over justice” (but what about “no justice, no peace”?); and M. Keala Miles, Jr., whose young Abe will de-assimilate and become a fiery Hussein Malik once again.
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THEATER LISTINGS
Theater listings and commentary are by Jeff Smith unless otherwise noted. Information is accurate according to material given us, but it is always wise to phone the theater for any last-minute changes and to inquire about ticket availability. Many theaters offer discounts to students, senior citizens, and the military. Ask at the box office.
A Chorus Line Coronado Playhouse presents the nine-time Tony Award-winning “singular sensation, celebrating the dancers, singers and actors, who pas- sionately pursue their desire to per-
form.” Note: contains adult content. CORONADO PLAYHOUSE, 1835 STRAND WAY, CORONADO. 619-435-4856. 8PM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 2PM SUNDAYS.
After Orlando
The San Diego Repertory Theatre, InnerMission Productions, Diver- sionary Theatre, Moxie Theatre, and the Old Globe Theatre present an evening of short plays in response to the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, June 12, 2016. “Plays have been specifically writ- ten and curated in response to this tragic event and will be read at over 40 venues across the country and throughout the U.K.” LYCEUM THEATRE, 79 HORTON PLAZA, DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. 619-544-1000. 7PM MONDAY.
Art Intrepid Theatre Company stages Yasmina Reza’s “thought-provoking comedy” about three friends react- ing to a large, all-white painting. Is it “art”? If so, or if not, can friendships survive the definition? Christy Yael- Cox directs.
HORTON GRAND THEATRE, 444 FOURTH AVE., DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. 619- 234-9583. 7PM THURSDAYS, 8PM FRIDAYS, 4PM & 8PM SATURDAYS, 2PM SUNDAYS.
Baby with the Bathwater Oceanside Theatre Company opens its new season with Christopher Durang’s satirical comedy about parenting. “Who ever said it was easy?” Or, as Helen says early on, “Bringing up a child is a delicate
thing.” Dhyana Dahl directs. SUNSHINE BROOKS THEATRE, 217 N. COAST HWY., OCEANSIDE. 760-433- 8900. 7PM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 2PM SUNDAYS.
The Bad Seed Lamplighters Community Theatre
LAMPLIGHTERS COMMUNITY THEATRE, 5915 SEVERIN DR., LA MESA. 619-303- 5092. 8PM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 2PM SUNDAYS.
The Cocktail Hour The Broadway Theater offers A.R. Gurney, Jr’s, comedy. John’s written a play about his wealthy family. He needs their permission, but his very proper parents refuse it, until din- ner’s late and the cocktail hour goes
overtime. Randall Hickman directs. BROADWAY THEATRE, 340 E. BROADWAY, VISTA. 760-806-7905. 7PM THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS, 1PM SATURDAYS & SUN- DAYS, 7PM WEDNESDAYS.
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas Once again the Green Meanie will try to ruin the holiday season for the citizens of Whoville. This is the Globe’s 18th staging. This time, will
he succeed? James Vasquez directs. OLD GLOBE THEATRE, 1363 OLD GLOBE WAY, BALBOA PARK. 619-234-5623. 7PM TUESDAYS.
Equivocation Ostensibly Bill Cain’s comedy-drama is about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 (where 13 conspirators schemed to blow up Parliament). And William Shagspere (aka the Bard himself) tires to discover the truth for a play he’s writing. That’s plenty enough for a historical mystery. But Cain — wanting to impress us? — adds several other plots. These make his piece a long sit. Lamb’s Players and director Deborah Gilmour Smyth give a crisp, clear, and lively presen- tation that sustains interest (should Shakespeare tell the truth, and lose his life?; or can he “equivocate” and tell it by other means?) when the playwright takes side-trips. Sean
IAN PIKE Why burn happy memories?
Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Watching the play is tanta- mount to sharing in Simon’s fond remembrance of his days writing for Sid Caesar on Your
ever possible.Why fuel the fires of present sadness by burning happy memories? But, in Laugh- ter, I get the sense that Simon considered himself lucky to have been there for the end of an era — a phrase that is warranted here but that gets far too much vulgar currency. Is it really the “end
David Ellenstein (left) as Max Prince and Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper as Val
Show of Shows, but the play has an uncommonly appreciative bent. Usually, wistful nostalgia occurs in the form of mourning the loss of the good old days. Tat’s the worst thing one can do to precious memories, and it’s the reason I try to avoid nostalgic reminiscence when-
Fanning’s excellent set (the origi- nal Globe stage) and Diana Elledge’s resonant cello enhance throughout. Worth a try. LAMB’S PLAYERS THEATRE, 1142 OR- ANGE AVE., CORONADO. 619-437-0600. 7PM THURSDAYS, 8PM FRIDAYS, 4PM & 8PM SATURDAYS, 2PM SUNDAYS, 7PM TUESDAYS, 2PM & 7PM WEDNESDAYS.
Free Speech (While Supplies Last) The touring company of Chicago’s famed Second City uses skits, stand- up, and improv to exercise their First Amendment right, in this election season, to say what’s on their mind. The results (often based on audience suggestions) varied on opening night (as did the audience suggestions). The hits — like the one about Bang, a New Age firearms boutique in Brooklyn — were huge; the misses, sometimes by a mile. The line “when politics end, people begin” ran through the evening. And to its credit, the show felt like an open forum, where people could speak their minds directly and not in the
confines of a chat room. Worth a try. LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE, 2910 LA JOLLA VILLAGE DR., UCSD. 858-550-1010. 7PM SUNDAYS.
God of Carnage Yasmina Reza’s primeval farce has won several awards (an Olivier among them). In it, two couples meet to resolve a minor crisis and do a Darwinian Devolve into a major one. The play is laced with subtleties and nuances (sides chang- ing, status levels shifting) but New Village Arts treats it as a funhouse freakshow, where the black and white costumes match the black and white set and during major combat, the lighting turns snot green. The technical overkill cartoons the char- acters and detracts from otherwise capable performances by Melissa Fernandes, Manny Fernandes, Jef- frey Keith Jones, and Kristianne Kurner. Worth a try. NEW VILLAGE ARTS THEATRE, 2787 B
of an era” when Hugh Jackman will no lon- ger play Wolverine in Marvel movies? How about when a baseball team fails to make the World Series? Seems like a stretch. To be fair, celebrity
fanboys and sports writers need to overstate. They would have precious little to talk about if they didn’t aggrandize. I, along with Neil Simon, will reserve that sentiment for things that leſt an indelible mark on history. Laughter on the 23rd Floor plays through November 2.
STATE ST., CARLSBAD. 760-433-3245. 8PM THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS, 3PM & 8PM SATURDAYS, 2PM SUNDAYS.
Hamiltunes San Diego Diversionary Theatre hosts Ham- iltunes, the popular LA singalong to the musical Hamilton “and bask in the glory.” Two kinds of tickets: General Admislsion and Sing Along. “If you are interested in singing at a mic on stage, please select a SING- ING ticket. You will receive an email to sign up for songs in the order the
tickets are purchased on EventBrite.” DIVERSIONARY THEATRE, 4545 PARK BL., UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS. 619-220- 0097. 7PM SATURDAY.
Julius Caesar SDSU School of Theatre, Televi- sion and Film stages Shakespeare’s tragedy about a revered leader who may be a threat to democracy. Et tu, Brute? Delicia Turner Sonnen- berg, Executive Artistic Director of
MOXIE Theatre, directs. SDSU’S EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE, 5500 CAMPANILE DR., SDSU. 619-594-6884. 7PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 2PM SUNDAY, 7PM WEDNESDAY.
King Hedley II Cygnet Theatre is staging two of August Wilson’s plays Seven Guitars and King Hedley in repertory. Not only is this a herculean feat, it allows theatergoers to see the many con- nections, and striking differences, of the black experience in 1948 (Gui- tars) and 1985 (Hedley), where the next generation faces even greater constriction. Director Jennifer I. Nelson and a devoted cast deserve credit for the conversations and arias and what Wilson called the “pain
of living” in between. Critic’s Pick. CYGNET THEATRE, 4040 TWIGGS ST., OLD TOWN. 619-337-1525. 7PM THURS- DAYS, 8PM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 2PM & 7PM SUNDAYS.
Laughter on the 23rd Floor North Coast Repertory Theatre presents Neil Simon’s “love letter to his early career as a writer for Sid
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