The East Bay offers three very different yet well-done productions during June. Whether you prefer a fanciful musical, an endearing world premiere or an intense drama, you’ll find it in the East Bay this month.
“Memory,” with its soulful combination of loss and hope, has long been one of my favorite songs. Add in a well-directed musical about graceful feline creatures and I’m in my happy place. Thanks to the talented cast in Berkeley Playhouse’s stirring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats,” you can find your own happy place.
Director Kimberly Dooley keeps up a lively pace as one Jellicle feline after another gathers to celebrate the annual Jellicle Ball. Here their leader, Old Deuteronomy (Kyle Herrera), will choose one cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer for a new life. As each cat tells its story and hopes to be the chosen one, the audience is treated to one gorgeous song after another. In keeping with their feline characters, cast members spring about doing impressive acrobatics and hanging on various set pieces.
Costume Designer Ashley Renee and Costume Craft Artisan Jennifer Elsie Costa create spectacular costumes with Hair and Makeup Designer Lyre Alston adding the finishing touches to the feline masterpieces.
And who is the lucky cat to be rewarded with a new life and sings my favorite song? It’s uber talented Tielle Baker, whose operatic-trained vocals and emotional depth make for a particularly stirring rendition of “Memory.”
“Cats” continues through June 28 at architect Julia Morgan’s beautifully designed theater on 2640 College Ave. in Berkeley. For tickets, call 510-845-8542, x351 or go to berkeleyplayhouse.org.
Also in Berkeley: If you’re looking for a unique musical that will energize you while also touching your heart, don’t miss Berkeley Rep’s world premiere of “The Lunchbox,” running through July 5.
From beginning to end, Director Rachel Chavkin, her talented artistic team and her fabulous performers have the audience in the palm of their hands as they tell the story of Ila (Kuhoo Verma), a lonely young wife and Fernandes (Manu Narayan), a soon-to-retire accountant. When the lunchbox destined for Ila’s husband accidentally goes to Fernandes, both their worlds change forever.
Adding to the depth of the piece is Ila’s neighbor Mrs. Desphande (Anisha Nagarajan), who cares for her comatose husband while offering Ila cooking and romantic advice. Shaikh (Aathaven Tharmarajah) fills out Fernandes’ work life as the well-meaning but incompetent trainee with his own set of problems.
What makes this musical so special is the way playwright Ritesh Batra and composers Daniel and Patrick Lazour deal with the pain of loneliness by adding uplifting melodies and artfully placed humor throughout the 90-minute, no intermission production.
All the leads have lovely, soulful voices enriched by a talented ensemble. Together they shape powerful performances enriched with Choreographer Reshma Gajjar’s intricate movements.
Music Director Sheela Ramesh and her tight orchestra stay close to the action inhabiting two of the apartments on Scenic Designer Mimi Lien’s elaborate, multi-level stage which spins around showing various parts of the apartments. Lien’s creative design also allows for quick and artfully choreographed set changes.
This is a show not to be missed. For tickets, call 510-647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org.
Oakland: A herculean effort is involved in moving its ambitious production of Federico Garcia Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda Alba” from the Oakland Theater Project’s intimate space at the Flax building to the large ballroom at the Omni Center on 4799 Shattuck Ave. in Oakland. Here OTP can give Lorca’s tragedy the space needed to tell of the widow Bernarda and her five daughters.
Lisa Ramirez is the tyrannical Bernarda in Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda Alba” running through June 7 at Omni Commons in Oakland. (Photo courtesy of Ben Krantz Studio)
While Chay Yew’s adaptation makes the story more accessible for today’s audiences, it still retains the intensity of a Greek tragedy as the oppression of the women by the patriarchal society and the power of the Catholic Church unfolds.
Sam Fehr’s ingenious set adds intensity by enclosing the performers in a glass box while the lone male (Jaden Ramsey) wanders around the outside walls. A large white cross surrounded by dirt becomes the main playing area enhanced by Sarah Phykitt’s projections and sound, and Ashley Munday’s lighting.
Here a tyrannical Bernarda (Lisa Ramirez) mourns her husband while her daughters (Natalie Pasquinelli, Èssa Vilanue, Antonella Scogna, Sarah Jiang and Sarah Kasuga) long to be free and their grandmother (Angelina Fiordellisi) slowly goes mad. The only one who dares to stand up to Bernarda is her long-time servant Poncia (Jacinta Kaumbulu).
Director Michael Socrates Moran brings out the best in his talented cast as does Bear Graham with his stylist movements. The rhythmic music and sorrowful singing provide a welcome release to the tension.
While Lorca 1936 work protested the fascism taking over Spain, Yew reminds us that current attitudes towards minorities and women is just as damaging.
“The House of Bernarda Alba” runs through Sunday. For tickets, call 510-646-1126 or go to oaklandtheaterproject.org/house.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.