Have you ever looked at a beautiful painting and wondered what the people portrayed in the painting were like? Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine creatively answer that query with the enchanting musical “Sunday in the Park with George,” currently playing at Shotgun Players on 1901 Ashby Ave. in Berkeley through Jan. 25.
Based on George Pierre Seurat’s painting “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” (painted 1884-86), Sondheim and Lapine bring Seurat’s characters gloriously to life. As they interact with one another, personalities and relationships emerge. A tableau of Seurat’s famous painting ends Act I and begins Act II before jumping to 1984 where George’s cynical great grandson is exhibiting his contemporary art.
“I’ve never seen a musical that digs so deeply into the experience of being an artist and the creation process,” wrote Director Susanna Martin in the show’s program. “The doubt, fear, rage and joy that go into making something. But then, it captures the impact that obsession has on those we love.”
Martin, along with Music Director David Moschler, found skilled actors and musicians more than capable of tackling Sondheim’s intellectual and emotionally rich songs as well as Lapine’s colorful characters.
Kevin Singer (George) embodies the fictionalized version of Seurat, who puts his painting above everything else in his life. In Act II, that obsession transfers to his great grandson, also named George and played by Singer.
Marah Sotello (Dot/Marie) amazes with her stunning voice and the depth she gives to Dot, the artist’s model/lover, as well as George’s 98-year-old grandmother Marie in Act II.
Once again Nina Ball creates an impressive set design that is its own work of art easily transforming from scene to scene while Costumer Madeline Berger impresses with her colorful period costumes, parasols and hats.
For tickets, call 510 841-6500 ext. 303 or go to tickets.shotgunplayers.org.
Also in Berkeley: Not that many years ago, many people thought climate change was a hoax. Now, as sea levels rise and the weather exhibits drastic changes, more and more believe it to be true.
Playwright Jessica Huang tackles the very real impact of environmental changes and migration as well as the plight of illegal immigrants in “Mother of Exiles,” playing at Berkeley Rep on 2025 Addison St. through Dec. 21.
In this world premiere piece, Huang takes the audience on a disturbing journey as she follows several generations of the Lopez-Loi family. This is not a show for the faint of heart or anyone looking for a light comedy.
Mostly fine acting and Reza Behjat’s lighting cannot compensate for what seems like an unfinished script. Confusion is inherent in the work as it jumps from 1898 to 1999 and — finally — 2063. As time progresses, characters from the first scene transition into ancestors on a walkway above the main stage.
Camila Moreno and Ricardo Vázquez in a scene from the world premiere of “Mother of Exiles” running at Berkeley Rep through Dec. 7. (Photo by Kevin Berne)
Huang starts her tale on Angel Island where a young pregnant Chinese woman Eddie Loi is detained and gives birth before being deported. Loi appeals to her ancestors to save her newborn child. The ancestors’ answer her plea in a hazy video projected on the back wall. Almost comical and definitely jarring, the projection takes away from the seriousness of characters on stage.
Time and place shift to1999 Miami where Loi’s grandson is a new border guard. Here another young woman makes it to shore with her baby. Scenes between the grandson and the young woman work well as opposed to the overdone comedic actions of the other border guards.
The final scene paints a disturbing dystopian world where land masses have been swallowed by rising tides. With water and food almost gone, a mother, father, daughter and her newborn child desperately try to make it to a land mass. After consulting the ancestors, a ship appears but those on board will only take the child. The young mother lifts her daughter up to the strangers as the stage plunges into blackness.
While the convoluted script is daunting at times, the subject matter kept me emotionally tied to the piece, especially the ending. Hopefully, some judicious re-writes will allow this work to realize its potential as a powerful work on the horrors of immigration and climate change.
“Mother of Exiles” runs 90 minutes with no intermission. For tickets, call 510-647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org.
Castro Valley: Plethos Productions and Chanticleers Theatre offer a funny, holiday-style parody “The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon” from Friday through Dec. 14 at Chanticleers on 3683 Quail Ave.
Written by Don Zolidis, the whirlwind of quick changes, heartfelt satire and holiday cheer will definitely get you in a festive mood. Ben Chau-Chiu directs this satire of cheesy Christmas movies.
For tickets, go to plethos.org.
S.F.: “Judy Garland: We Need a Little Christmas,” starring Debbie Wileman as Garland, comes to A.C.T.’s Strand Theater on 1127 Market St. in San Francisco for two nights only Saturday and Sunday.
Go to https://www.act-sf.org/.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.