LONELY WAITRESS LOOKING FOR LOVE GETS MORE THAN SHE BARGAINED FOR IN ‘BUG’.

Agnes, a waitress lives in a run-down hotel room on the edge of town. Her ex-husband has just been released from the ‘joint’ – and he barges in on Agnes (Susi Damilano). He wants her back and when she tells him to leave, he hits her in the mouth. This is not the kind of guy that takes no for an answer.

Agnes lives her days trying to get through life by taking drugs to get over her life draining traumatic past. She lost her son when he was a young man – she was in a bad abusive marriage, and another psycho boyfriend keeps ringing her phone, but doesn’t say a word. That’s enough to turn anyone to drugs, wouldn’t you say?

In comes a new day in her life. A girlfriend of hers brings a new hope into her life when she introduces Agnes to Peter, a handsome shy guy with a good body. Agnes notices the body right away. It is Peter’s shyness and boyishness though that she is attracted to, and she invites him to spend the night sleeping on the floor. Well, that lasted only one night. The next evening he was in the bed with her. Hey, with that good-looking dude in a small room, what is she supposed to do? Kick him out was not an option. But as they say in the play “Ted Bundy was good-looking.” Agnes is too needy to pay attention to that. Pete, and Agnes become, co-dependant.

This play is Trailer Trash heaven. The Motel room is strewn with whiskey and beer bottles. The men are all S%#T Kickers or psychos and you have to walk on eggs when they are around – or they’ll stomp on you like you’re a Bug. Oh well – I’m sure we’ve all been there before – right?

I don’t want to give too much away about the plot of the play, except to tell you that it is hair-raising, and you might find yourself scratching your body from time to time. Creepy, is not even a strong enough word to describe what you will see in this multi-layered thriller. The acting is absolutely astonishing.

Gabriel Marin (Peter) plays the soulful lost boy inside a man’s body with such tension and feeling that you actually want to get up on that stage and hug him. And, you probably would, except for the bug infestation. Marin’s performance starts out with quite precision. He makes you feel and care about him. But later we get a new look at this quite man. He becomes another person that will haunt and repel you. Not since James Dean in “East of Eden” have I witnessed such a powerful performance from an actor. Hands down, this is the best acting performance of the year.

Susi Damilano (Agnes) falls in love too easily. She’s been abused and kicked around all her life. But this time is going to be different for Agnes. This time she gets in way over her head and no amount of drinking is going to make it go away. This time around is much too serious. Damilano’s performance is evocative. She’s a doomed woman. It takes a really good actress to portray the mixed emotions that is required to capture the pain and the emotional curves that come her way. Damilano executes deftly all the temptations to all the snake pits in this bravura performance. Riveting!

In a smaller role, but never the less a really important one--is John Flanagan who plays the convict husband. Flanagan is the kind of guy who takes over the whole room when he enters. His performance is dangerously good. You know the type – like a moth to a flame. His name is Jerry, and he makes sure that you won’t forget him. Or? The room hasn’t rocked until Flanagan rocks it!

Zehra Berkman (Ronnie (R.C.) is Agnes’s best friend. She is a party girl. Every night is a party for her. Later on the friendship hits the skids. Agnes has to decide between Peter and her best friend. The guy always wins. Agnes tells R.C. to hit the road and don’t come back ever. Berkman has hit the target with her portrayal. She is dynamite. The entire cast is a reminder of the power of the stage in this unforgettable tale of friendship and survival.

Jon Tracy directs the Tracy Letts play with hurricane force. Bill English still proves that he is the best-set designer in the Bay Area and maybe the whole USA. Cliff Caruthers Sound design was totally cool as is the lighting by Jon Tracy. Tara McDonough’s Costumes were super and right on target.

“Bug” is like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Every five minutes there is a new surprise.

AT THE SF PLAYHOUSE ON SUTTER NEAR POWELL)

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (Highest Rating) –trademarked-

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


Nilaja Sun in 'No Child" Photo by: Carol Rosegg

“NO CHILD” AT THE BERKELEY REP THEATRE

O.K. So we all know that the schools system in shambles – but what if one Teacher could take a bunch of unruly kids and make them interested in learning. Well, it might work on one child at a time maybe. But would it work on an entire class- room of bored teens? I have my doubts that it would.

The play “No Child” was conceived by Niaja Sun and she also acts in the one-person play. When we first see Sun, she is the janitor, who is limping as he pushes his broom, pausing now and then to narrate the story of the fictional Malcolm X School in the Bronx.

Sun takes on the not-too-easy chore of trying to teach a bunch of unruly 10th Graders, who arrive late or don’t show up at all. Sun as Teacher is determined to get these kids interested in reading and learning. Hard for anyone to do especially in this school. However, in the story it becomes a miracle as Sun arranges to have the kids put on a play. She tells them “You’ll be reading a play.” The kids think it’s a joke. One asks “We gotta Read?" Another pipes up and says – “Oh hell, no!”

What makes this play interesting is that Sun plays ALL THE ROLES. She is the Janitor, the students, the Principal and a Russian teacher. And that is just some of the 17 characters that she becomes in the One Hour and 70-minute play.

The point of the play and the title comes from the Bush administration’s “No Child Left Behind act.” Of course, that is just double-speak, because we all know that too many children are left behind. So from that starting point – Sun tries to show us that with dedication, we can turn the lives around for these kids. Quite frankly, it seems to be more of a wish list to me.

Sun tries to make each character that she plays different in sound and with body language. Some of the time it is right on, but at other times in the play there was not a clear line of who was who at any given time.

Suns message in the show boils down to this. There is more to life than crime. And I hope that by putting this show on that the sentiment will get through to those that need to hear it most. And that would be the students. That’s who need to see this play.

Niaja Sun is a very accomplished actress. Having said that, I do believe that she overextended herself in the play by trying to be too many things. The impact of the message would have been stronger and been more interesting if she spent more time with each student as a separate vignette. Suns story, nevertheless, is a passionate look at a school full of delinquents. It has echoes of the hit movie “To Sir With Love” where a Black Teacher tries to get his class to do better with their lives. That was in the 60’s when students were a little more pliable. Today – it’s a much tougher job, if not impossible.

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


Singer/Actors portray Gilbert and Sullivan at Yerba Buena Theater this Weekend.

CAFÉ INTRIQUE

ACCLAIMED AND BELOVED BAY AREA ‘LAMPLIGHERS MUSIC THEATER’ CELEBRATES 55th SEASON.

The season closes with ‘Gilbert & Sullivan: Straight up, with a Twist!’ – it’s the story about a great musical partnership. In the show you will hear highlights from all 13 G. & S surviving comic operas. The story will unfold in their own words, and of course, there will be a live orchestra and the fantastic voices of the Lamplighters Company. And here is a bonus. The show includes oft-performed favorites and gems from seldom-staged productions. Artistic Director, Barbara Heroux will direct and the Musical Director is the noted Baker Peeples. Where? Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. When? Saturday May 17, 8pm, Sunday May 18, 2pm. More info: www.lamplighters.org.


Linus Roache and Raul Bose in Before the Rains. (Courtesy Photo)

MICRO MOVIE REVIEW

BEFORE the RAINS is a deeply affecting movie with stunning visual photography.
Merchant Ivory presents this period drama that takes place in India in 1937. It’s an English language film with a smattering of other languages. Indian director and cinematographer Santosh Sivan (The Terrorist, Asoka), Directs the movie.

This was a time when the English ruled India. Henry Moores (Linus Roache) is a man with big plans. He wants to build a road through the Sacred lands to make is easier to get Spices for his plantation.

Everything goes along pretty well. He is able to enlist workers from the village. Then, he screws up literally, when he has an affair with his beautiful Indian Housemaid while his wife is away. Problem – the housemaid’s husband finds out about the affair – and the Indians in the village, are not pleased. In 1937, this was a big no-no. Tragedy ensues. The Englishman’s trusted friend, who is Indian (Rahul Bose) -- a brilliant actor – must make a life changing decision.

Extras: You may remember Linus Roache from Law and Order. Nandita Das plays the beautiful tragic Indian House maid. Das’s performance is heart breaking and powerful.
The Englishman’s wife (Jennifer Ehle) and her son arrive back at the plantation. The moral dilemmas begin to overwhelm everyone.


To Sum up: This is an old-fashioned movie that is perfectly wonderful to watch – but also perfectly predictable. If you saw the movie “The Letter” starring Betty Davis, then you pretty much will see a color version of that movie. Although, not exactly the same – there are similarities. A Gun, a Lovers spat, Restless natives and people lurking in the shadows. Still it is a very fine movie about survival and tradition. Although too long, I still would recommend seeing it mainly for the riveting scenes of India and the wonderful performances.

Opening this Weekend at the Landmark Theatres.

RATING: THREE BOXES OF POPCORN!!! – trademarked-



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

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME HERE: leehartgraveshow@yahoo.com

PRESS STUFF: buzztatler@aol.com

Podcasts, blogs, vblogs: web.mac.com/buzzmixer/