THE BEST MAN – Dirty Tricks in the Backroom

STARRING: Charles Shaw Robinson (Candidate Russell) – “Perfection.” Tim Kniffin (Candidate Cantwell) – “A Major Presence.” Deb Fink (Mrs. Cantwell) – “Dazzling, wonderful!” Charles Dean (ex-president Hockstader) – “Gripping Performance.” Emilie Talbot (Mrs. Russell) – “Compelling.” Also starring with “Grade A” performances is: Michael Patrick Gaffney, Brendan Kussman, Elizabeth Benedict (various roles), Michael Cassidy and Jackson Davis (various roles). All give amazing, unique and magnificent performances.

This play tears away at any pretense of a fair way of picking a presidential candidate. Gore Vidal wrote the play in the 60’s, and it is amazing how things have not changed. What happened then still happens today. Yeh – the sleaze train never stops running. And here we are in 2008, and politicians still have no principles. It’s a rare look at the World’s ‘second’ oldest profession. The first of course, is prostitution. I agree, though, it’s hard to tell the difference.

Cantwell seems a lot like Richard Nixon (Tricky Dick). And his opponent, Russell, seems a lot like John F. Kennedy. The resemblance here is that he was a womanizer, as is the candidate in ‘The Best Man’. And we know what Tricky “D” was about.

Cantwell seems to be the most corrupt; of the two wanna be Presidential candidates, from an unnamed party. There is a ‘softer side’ to Russell and Cantwell picks up on that – knowing that Russell will never use the ‘H’ card (Homosexual) on him. No matter how much Russell threatens to use the revealing touchy feely affair that took place during his Navy days, Cantwell is confident that he will win, and that he has the biggest Balls.

Here’s a funny scene: When Russell is told about Cantwells Gay Escapade: He says to his manager: “That can’t be true. No one, with that awful wife and ugly kids can be Gay”!

The dialogue is amazing. It has the crackling pace of a big budget film. A pretty good feat, since it is on the stage. One thing that the play will not do -- is Restore your faith in ‘Voting’.

The Aurora Theatre has put together an Artistic Triumph! The spectacular acting makes it damn right combustible. It couldn’t get any hotter on that stage – unless it was staged in a Massage Parlor.

Both candidates are ruthlessly sleazy as they pull out every indiscretion that they can against their political challenger. The nomination of a presidential candidate has not changed in decades. This is cut throat business. One drag’s out a homosexual escapade, that took place in the navy. The other prez hopeful also has a secret. He had some mental problems. Welcome to the Sewer.

One claims to be a populist “a man of the people”, but is a ruthless jerk that will go to any lengths to get this nomination. And doesn’t this sound familiar? Neither man believes his rival qualified to be President. Isn’t that exactly what is being said today between Obama and McCain? Both sides have claimed that mantra. Wow! Gore Vidal was not only a great writer – but he is a tremendous visionary.

Here’s the BIG Question. Can a man retain his integrity and still be a politician? And, the answer is NO!

Of the two candidates, one has more reserve and dignity, and tries to keep the contest clean – but he falls into the clutches of his over testosterone manager. The other candidate is much more ruthless and has an equally sleazy manager. He is the type that would throw his grandmother in front of a car, if it would get him a few votes. So there you have it. A flawed system.

As I see it. This play shows us the hopelessness of ever having a fair election of any kind. The process has become a joke. And, my friends – the joke is on us. We get what we deserve and it is not what is best for us, and the country. Vidal’s play makes this very clear.

In the end -- the ‘Best Man’ turns out to be the worst man. But, there is an unexpected twist.

You absolutely must see “The Best Man”. It’s not about America – it’s about what America isn’t! And that would be honesty!

AT THE AURORA THEATRE

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed to the San Francisco Sunday Chronicle Datebook, and produced a long-running Arts segment on PBS KQED)))


Brian Rivera and Craig Piaget (Getting Harassed in Yellow Jackets). Photo: Kevin Berne.

YELLOW JACKETS -- RAUNCHY HOODLUMS

KIDS WILL BE KIDS! Or, at least they used to be. Even during the times of “The Cleavers” there were always the school Jerks. You know, the ones who wait around to trip you, or pinch the front of your tee shirts to make it look like you have girl’s nipples. Well, as you know they have not gone away. In fact, they have become dangerous. They don’t sit in the seat in school. Instead they stroll in and out when they feel like it. Learning is something they are not familiar with. And, they usually ‘Dog’ the students that look more vulnerable. In the case of this play at the Berkeley Rep – they are mostly giving the White kids a bad time.

Some of them are not even Students. They just wander in off the street and pretend that they are students looking for something that they can inflict pain on. The Teachers are no help. The classes are too big – and even if they do say something they are afraid to speak up for fear that they will be the next target. It’s a world that we all know that exits – but no one does anything about it.

In this illuminating play, we get to see the nitty gritty of schools today. With acting of the ‘highest order’ in this play, we see a world that we rarely see. And aren’t we lucky? Thank God – I never had to go through anything like that when I was in school. Sure, we had our jerks – but they never became dangerous and murderous.

Going to school in this envirionment is like living in a Third World Country. Wake Up America – this is not school…it’s an insane asylum. It should be open only to those who want to learn. And that is what “Yellow Jackets” tries to address. They have a school paper that tries to flush out racial feelings. The paper is banned for running articles that hint that the school has racial problems.

But this story is an old one – and a story that is not going to go away soon. If you can afford it, send your kid to a private school. Even though they also have smart Asses enrolled in those schools – at least they are rich ass holes, and you can sue their rich parents.

There is no answer or solution to today’s mess that they call education. There is no control. The idiots are in command. Idiots being the Graffiti jerks, the lazy, listless hoodlums that only come to school to terrorize students and teachers. The schools are too big to control them. If anything comes out of a play like “Yellow Jackets” it is the message that too many kids in one place in not a good idea. Small Neighborhood schools in each neighborhood would probably be the best way to go. But, this is not likely to happen.

The school is Berkeley High School, and the story, is based on a students experiences when he attended that school. I’m sure that the characters portrayed are pretty accurate. But, you don’t have to go to school to see them – they are in every subway station, they are on the streets on every corner in every neighborhood looking for a prey.

The more I think about “Yellow Jackets” the more I think that people should see it. Not because it solves anything, because it doesn’t. What it does do, it show how serious and dire going to school has become. No wonder so many kids try to commit suicide.

It also shows us that race has nothing to do with it. But, being a jerk does. My Question is. Why should anyone have to put up with this Bull Shit in High School? Here’s a plan that might help. Change the seating plan every day. Assign seats to each student and make sure that they sit where you assign them. This gives the tormenters less space to target their victim.

What I found out about this school is this. This is a public school and hardly anyone can speak good English. And they expect to get a job? Young people need to wake up and smell the green backs.

Grabbing your crotch every 5 seconds is not going to get you anything. The same goes for pants around your knees. Rap might be fun to listen to – but it won’t go over in the corporate world. Turn it off.

Yellow Jackets started out at Berkeley Rep’s School of Theatre in 2007. A draft was given to Berkeley High teacher Jordan Winer. Winer worked on the script with his advanced acting students. Tony Taccone spent the day with the Students. When they saw themselves – a few were critical of the play.

There are moments in Yellow Jackets that reminds of “To Sir With Love” and Up The Down Staircase”. Both dealt with race and rebellious kids. And that was in the 70’s. Now the game has become more violent.

My hope is that enough High School kids see this play and see themselves – and maybe they will decide to take the high road and bath themselves in the light of learning.

Here are the exhilarating and captivating actors: Shoresh Alaudini, Jahmela Biggs, Alex Curtis, Ben Freeman, Lance Gardner, Amaya Alonso Hallifax, Kevin Hsieh, Adriennne Pap, Craig Piaget, and Brian Rivera. The cast couldn’t be better or better matched.

AT THE BERKELEY REP.

RATING: THREE GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-



The Photo of Lee Hartgrave Boy Reporter is by Jim Ferreira – Film Noir & Hollywood Glamour. www.lafterhall.com.

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