Pacific Sun 08.30.2013 - Section 1

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››THEATER

Marin Shakes ‘ends well’ After a ‘shaky’ start, the summer Bard troupe leaves us laughing... by Charles Brousse

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peaking candidly, it hasn’t been a boffo summer for Marin Shakespeare Company. Not that the first two shows, Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy and A Comedy of Errors, were truly bad. They just fell somewhat short of expectations. Since both have script issues that are hard to overcome—Errors is often considered one of the author’s “problem plays�—MSC deserves credit for not trotting out yet another version of overexposed warmweather favorites like A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, or R&J. But—for me, at least—there was something missing, a feeling of lost vision as the directors and their large casts piled on indefensible amounts of schtick to help make the material work. The atmosphere surrounding the current All’s Well That Ends Well is noticeably dif- Parolles and Bertram, on the loose at the Forest Meadows ferent. A cast of nine, ably directed by Robert Amphitheatre. Currier, confidently exploits the show’s many visual and verbal comic possibilities without Abra Berman’s apparent disregard for consissurrendering to excess or traveling the low tency in her costuming and the fact that it was road of bawdiness. Much of the credit must never clear where or when the play’s action go to James Hiser, whose artful portrayal of takes place, MSC’s All’s Well That Ends Well is a thoroughly satisfyParolles, rascally coming entertainment. Not panion to Bertram a bad way to conclude NOW PLAYING (Adam Magill, the play’s a season that started male romantic lead), is a All’s Well That Ends Well runs in shakily. model of comic invenrepertory through Sept. 28, Dominition. Of particular note can University’s Forest Meadows Tip of the week: Amphitheatre, 890 Belle Ave., San is the second act scene Rafael. Info: 415/499-4488, or www. While my recommendain which the blindfoldmarinshakespeare.org. tions are usually coned Parolles, thinking Other Desert Cities runs through fined to theaters located his life is in danger, reSept. 15, Mountain View Center for within a short driving veals state secrets to the the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., distance from Marin, king’s emissaries, Lafeu Mountain View. Info: 650/463-1960, I occasionally make (the always solid Scott or www.theatreworks.org. exceptions. TheatreCoopwood) and LaWorks, one of the Bay vatch (Lucas McClure, Area’s best companies, who doubles as s strolling musician). From beginning to end the seg- is currently presenting a remarkable new play in its Mountain View venue. Jon Robin Baitz’s ment is absolutely hysterical. Other Desert Cities, a 2012 Pulitzer Prize Jack Powell (as the ailing French king) finalist and winner of the 2011 NY Outer adds to the fun and sets a convoluted chain of events in motion by granting the orphaned Critics Circle Award for an Off-Broadway production, comes here from San Diego as Helena (Carla Pauli), a physician’s daughter, a collaboration with the highly respected her wish to marry the man of her choice (no Old Globe Theatre. It retains that company’s matter his rank, or whether or not he agrees) director, a major actress (Kandis Chappell), after she miraculously frees him from the and one of the most impressive stage sets wheelchair to which he had been confined. you’ll ever see. Beautifully acted and leavened Watching the usually reserved Powell leap by insightful humor, this is an articulate, into the air and break into a spirited dance hard-hitting examination of the conflicts that is in itself almost worth the price of admisboth divide and unite a financially successsion. Heather Cherry leaves her mark as an ful American family in today’s chaotic 21st ambitious Florentine mother, whose comely century world. Yes, it’s a bit of a schlep and daughter Diana (Luisa Frasconi) attracts the tickets aren’t cheap, but compared to Bertram’s interest when he leaves France to traveling to New York for a comparable escape his marital responsibilities to Helena. theater experience, I’d say it’s a whale of a Jessica Powell rounds out the fine cast as the bargain. < Countess of Rousillon, Bertram’s anxious Charles can be reached at cbrousse@juno.com. mother. Despite a few glitches, such as designer

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