Arts & Entertainment
C l ay m a n I n s t i t u t e f o r G e n d e r R e s e a r c h
It’s all about the shoes ‘Bad Dates’ is a funny but insubstantial look at dating, footwear and identity by Jeanie K. Smith
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Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District Notice is hereby Given that proposals will be received by the Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District for bid package: Contract No. FMM-11 DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK: The work includes, but is not limited to: The moving of an existing 1440 square foot modular building. Work includes asphalt paving, electrical, ďŹ re alarm, water, sewer, EMS, new ramps, utility trenching and carpet/vinyl for a complete and operational building. Bidding documents contain the full description of the work.
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he Dragon Theatre in downtown Palo Alto makes a habit of tackling lesser-known contemporary plays alongside classics, so it’s no surprise to find Theresa Rebeck’s play “Bad Dates� in its season. Rebeck is an American playwright whose later works, “The Understudy,� “Omnium Gatherum� and “Mauritius,� are frequently seen on the regional-theater circuit, although you might have heard more about the TV shows she’s written for, including “L.A. Law,� “NYPD Blue� and “Law and Order: Criminal Intent.� Rebeck’s earned her place in the pantheon of playwriting, and has turned her hand to novels (“Three Girls and Their Brother�) and nonfiction (“Free Fire Zone�) as well. “Bad Dates,� originally appearing at Playwrights Horizon in New York in 2003, chronicles the return to dating for a divorced mom, Haley Walker (Laura Jane Bailey), a transplanted Texan in the Big Apple. Haley has 600 pairs of shoes and a teenage daughter. Soon after she lands a good waitress job, her Romanian boss is arrested and she’s put in charge of the restaurant, which turns into a huge hit with a
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1. A pre-job conference shall be conducted with the contractor or subcontractors to discuss federal and state labor law requirements applicable to the contract. 2. Project contractors and subcontracts shall maintain and furnish to the District, at a designated time, a certiďŹ ed copy of each payroll with a statement of compliance signed under penalty of perjury. 3. The District shall review and, if appropriate, audit payroll records to verify compliance with the Public Works Chapter of the Labor Code. 4. The District shall withhold contract payments if payroll records are delinquent or inadequate. 5. The District shall withhold contract payments as described in the LCP, including applicable penalties when the District and Labor Commissioner establish that underpayment of other violations has occurred. Bidders may examine Bidding Documents at Facilities OfďŹ ce, Building “Dâ€?. Bidders may purchase copies of Plans and SpeciďŹ cations at American Reprographics Company (ARC), 599 Fairchild Drive, Mountain View, CA 94043, Phone Number (650) 967-1966
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‘Cedars’
ma is never too far away. But what could have been a pulpy, preachy history lesson becomes, in the hands of Guterson and McKeon, an emotionally involving reminder that even in our so-called civilized society, our worst is never too far away. N What: “Snow Falling on Cedars� by David Guterson, adapted by Kevin McKeon, presented by TheatreWorks Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. When: Through April 24 with shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and 7 p.m. Sunday Cost: Tickets are $24-$67 with student, senior and educator discounts. Info: Go to www.theatreworks.org or call 650-463-1960.
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All questions can be addressed to: Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District 25 Churchill Avenue, Building D Palo Alto, CA 94306-1099 Attn: AimĂŠe Lopez Phone: (650) 329-3927 Fax: (650) 327-3588
What: “Bad Dates,� by Theresa Rebeck, presented by Dragon Productions Where: Dragon Theatre, 535 Alma St., Palo Alto When: Through April 17, with 8 p.m. shows Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays Cost: Tickets are $16 to $30. Info: Go to www.dragonproductions. net or call 650-493-2006.
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Bid Submission: Proposals must be received at the District Facilities OfďŹ ce building D, by 10:00 a.m. on May 2, 2011.
Palo Alto UniďŹ ed School District will maintain a Labor Compliance Program (LCP) for the duration of this project. In bidding this project, the contractor warrants he/she is aware and will follow the Public Works Chapter of the California Labor Code comprised of labor code sections 1720 – 1861. A copy of the Districts LCP is available for review at 25 Churchill Avenue, Building D, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
rave review in the New York Times. Successful and more confident, Haley turns her attention to finding a good man to have good times with, which any single professional woman knows is easier said than done, even in a large dating pool. Each scene is a monologue either preparing for or dissecting a dating experience, until her former boss gets out of jail and the Romanian mob shows up — well, it’s all complicated, but the serious bits are balanced by humor and Haley’s hopeful determination. It’s definitely a star vehicle, the kind of one-woman show that actresses love to sink their teeth into, and can showcase talent in a major way. Bailey is an excellent actress who works hard to deliver an evening’s entertainment. She excels at comedy, conveying self-deprecating ironies with speed and intelligence, reminiscent of Lucille Ball or Meg Ryan. She also touches our hearts with a sincere moment of rejection, a familiar and earnest portrayal of hitting an unexpected bottom. Bailey envelops the audience in a warm, friendly demeanor and invites us to
There will be a mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit at 10:00 a.m. on April 13, 2011 at Fairmeadow Elementary School located at 500 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto, California 94306.
PREVAILING WAGE LAWS: The successful Bidder must comply with all prevailing wage laws applicable to the Project, and related requirements contained in the Contract Documents.
THEATER REVIEW
share Haley’s journey. Regrettably, the material is thin and doesn’t live up to its hype. Rebeck doesn’t trust her own story, padding it with trivial pursuits that add playing time but little substance. She seems to know that so much has already been said about modern dating experience, and wants to surprise us with different subject matter altogether. Instead of hearing tale after tale of dating failures, we hear lengthy musings about the relative value of shoes or achieving the right look to avoid sluttiness. We’re inside Haley’s head, getting a protracted look into her psyche, but there’s apparently not much there. There’s also a lot of repetition that slows the script down, so that when action finally arrives it feels anticlimactic; and then the play turns out to be about something else entirely. That something, having to do with identity and self-esteem, certainly merits examination, but it comes with such plot contrivance as to nearly be lost. Many patrons in the audience enjoyed the show a great deal, and it is indeed laced with humor and some delightful moments. It might be just the thing for a light-hearted diversion, provided you don’t expect something deep. N
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