Momix Marin Center October 28 8pm

Went with Mark A (with dinner before at Sushi Ran's bar in Sausalito, which was crowded, so make reservations or have lots of time if you want to go).

Really enjoyable show. Somewhere between Pilobolus and Cirque du Soleil. Lots of neat movement and lots of illusion. I want to see their other shows.

I particularly liked (and am writing here for my own reminder in case I want to crib ideas later) jellyfish, rope waves, half black/white costumes, white legged four- and six-legged beings, the arm birds, dancing on the inflatable balls, the spirit puppets, and the spinning webs, much of it lit with blacklight footlights, and all shown behind a scrim (to help hide apparatus, black clothing, and helpers and puppeteers in black).

From press materials: "Known internationally for presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, Momix has been celebrated for its ability to conjure up a world of surrealistic images using props, light, shadow, humor and the human body." More on the Momix web site.

Troijka

Went to see this with MarkA (after yummy dinner at Thai Basil).

I generally like Stuart's work, and this one actually pulled me in enough that when the revelation came, I was actually surprised and had my head spin for a minute making sense of what had gone before.

See http://horrorunspeakable.com/chronicles_troijka.html for more.

Beethoven Quartet
Another good concert, this time with just one quartet. Lecture style was smarmy to me, but interesting in content.

Bouquets to Art
Mar 21-25 at DeYoung Museum
Floral designers put dozens of arrangements and installations related to various works and rooms around the museum. Interesting to see how different designers pull different things (textures, colors, compositions, even images) from the works and respond to them in flowers.

Wasn't as interesting this year as last for me. There were a couple of striking pieces (the three lamps in flowers with the woman and a glass of port, the oval arrangement with the woman bronze).

It was nice to see the new DeYoung. A few appealing things: the fern garden between wings, the contemporary mirrored glass forms, nice and reasonably priced cafe, and best of all the room of Hudson River School paintings. Heart-wrenching and inspiring to me. Bummer that the tower closed before I could make my way up it... Guess that'll be next time.

http://www.bouquetstoart.org/

Love's Labour's Lost

Went with DavidvdW (who also liked it) and DaveIS (not so much) to see this after sushi at Hana Zen.

I enjoyed it quite a bit, laughed out loud, felt the visceral "oh no, this will go badly", and was only disappointed a few times when the language went past me.

I liked it enough that I'd kind of like to see it again, maybe after reading it or a bit more about it.

I thought the contemporary back-alley bar setting with rock music and music video prelude and interludes worked well and were fun.

Exit Theater
www.horrorunspeakable.com

Gem of the Ocean
Feb 15 at ACT in SF

Went with David vdW and enjoyed the production. It was compelling, but I was surprised that I felt an observer all the way through, rather than being pulled in, despite the City of Bones ritual and other moving elements.

Pilobolus
Marin Center Jan 28 '06
with Val & Russ & Cory

Good show. Liked Aquatic a lot. The Empty Suitor clown bit on pipes was a good 5-7 minute concept presented in 5-7 minutes. Symbiosis and Day Two were enjoyable Pilobolus. Unfortunately, I was a bit sleepy/dozey during Day Two.

Cirque du Soleil Corteo
11/18 in SF DavidSe, JimL, Jeff & Ellen, Bill & Chalet

Another good Cirque show. The pre-curtain illusion is interesting and fun. The early bed/trampoline act is cool.

Phaedra
11/17 at Climate Theater in SF
http://www.horrorunspeakable.com/ 11/3-19

An intimate and nicely done performance. I must admit I got a little lost toward the end, but I enjoyed the show and am looking forward to Stuart's next show in the late winter/early spring.

Miss Liberty
by Irving Berlin presented by 42nd St. Moon 11/13 at Eureka Theater in SF
A friend from college, Brandon, is working on this show. Other 42nd St. Moon shows I've seen have been really enjoyable.

This was no exception. Not a particularly deep or moving show, it was nicely done and enjoyable. As corny as the song "Big Fish" is, it's catch and it's still on my mind whenever I think of this song. The performers were appealing and compelling all around. Fun.

http://www.42ndstmoon.com/42newweb/season/currentseason.htm 10/27-11/13

Varla Jean Merman in I'm Not Paying for This!
Fri 10/14 at Victoria Theatre in SF
A fun drag show done by a performer I saw perform at Folsom Street Fair.
http://www.varlaonline.com/see_varla.html

Went with JimL

AbsolutAccord
Sun Oct 9, Unitarian Universalists Church, 300 East Santa Inez Avenue in San Mateo
A rare treat--an excellent accordion quintet concert, doubling as their CD release celebration.
http://www.absolutaccord.com/

Nice concert with lots of new (mostly classical) material plus their fun favorites. (Nice introductions including reference to Richard cracking the whip for Norma's and the rest of their pleasure.)

The Crucible
Sat Oct 8 at SF Playhouse
Arthur Miller classic about witch hunts done by a company whose Our Town I thought was quite well done.
http://www.sfplayhouse.org/
to 10/22
Attended: MarkA, DaveSe, DavidvdW and Carl

Good show, with yummy sushi before.

AlanA just told me about Upcoming.org
http://upcoming.org/

I might use this in addition to or instead of this blog.

The Overcoat Sat Oct 1, Geary Theatre in SF A wordless movement/mime theatre piece that I've heard good things about (mostly). http://act-sf.org/index.cfm?s_id=&pid=tkt_ove to 10/2

Saw this with JimL and DavidvdW. Fun and interesting performance. Neat to see how storytelling works without words. Fun and sexy tailor scene.

Jeff Jacobson in Hard Left Fri Sept 30, Larkspur Cafe in Larkspur A one-man show put on by a great guy I met this summer. http://www.larkspurcafetheatre.com/html/shows.htm Fri-San 9/30-10/1

JayD, JimL and I went to see the show. It was impressive to see this first theatrical show by Jeff and how well he captured the emotions and experiences of different situations, and the feelings and impressions of himself at different ages in his life.

Touching, funny and moving.