Stage Fog: A Little Something for Everyone
For the last couple of weeks, Stage Fog has been rather thematic, which makes for a nice, tight column. But sometimes we just want variety. Mix those peas and carrots! Besides, the Shakespeare season doesn't start in earnest until mid-July, so let's sample the buffet in the meantime.
Los Big Names at Magic Theatre
Kids of famous parents, especially in show biz, know that it's really hard to live up to their famous names. Marga Gomez knows this. While her parents were well-known in the 1960s as a comedian and a belly dancer, Gomez's major Hollywood break was a part in Barry Levinson's forgettable film, Sphere. Obviously, she wasn't going to be the next Sigourney Weaver. But, if you haven't heard of Marga Gomez by now, you should have. This Latina lesbian comedienne is hot hot hot, packing houses across the country with her wicked stand-up and solo shows. Los Big Names,, a skewering tribute to her parents and Hollywood, was workshopped right here in SF at the Marsh on Valencia Street before its world premiere in DC. Now, she returns to the city for the West Coast premiere, opening Friday night.
What You Will (Or 12th Night) at Traveling Jewish Theatre
We love foolsFURY for bringing the likes of Don DeLillo and Milan Kundera to Bay Area stages and challenging us with avant-garde, groundbreaking theater. Boy, that sounds like a load of pretentious crap, doesn't it? But seriously, foolsFURY doesn't stop at the narrowly prescribed boundaries that defines a lot of local theater -- it actually stretches them. In the past, we've seen layered, nonnarrative work, live DJs and projected video. Now the company reimagines Shakespeare, starting right off with the inverted title. It's Twelfth Night; or, What You Will for you Bardophobes. Sure, we have the usual Shakespeare motifs: cross-dressing, mistakes identities, unrequited love. But as the company says, this isn't your "garden variety Shakespeare." Focusing on the play's sultriness and infusing it with strong physical choices, foolsFURY brings us a 12th Night to remember.
Thunderbabe at Altarena Playhouse
Just a quick jump over the Bay Bridge, Altarena Playhouse in Alameda has certainly produced its share of Neil Simon schlock, but every once in a while it sends out a press release that makes an arts editor do a double take. A world premiere about a former super heroine turned 40-something soccer mom who once again dons her spandex to save the day? Huh? But Thunderbabe just might be the antidote to the oh-so-serious-and-staid theater syndrome. Let's have some fun already! But a little sleuthing on our part reveals that playwright Bobbi Fagone's production company, BJF Creative, is the master -- oh, sorry -- mistressmind behind this world premiere. And Fagone also plays the starring role. Let's hope this Wonder Woman doesn't fall prey to the pitfalls of a vanity project.
SFist Karen, contributing
Photo credit: Photo of Marga Gomez by Jonathan Slaff