Legs Kicking, a Drowsy Person … An Opera House Reborn, and a King and a Queen -- plus a Prince in the East Bay. Not to Mention Sex, Cheeky Performances, Something Buggie, Live Orchestras, Siegfried & Roy and a Magical Voice. This, and Placido Domingo … and A Midsummer Night's Dream is Just a Taste of Some of the Ultimate Seductions and Murder Out There Waiting For You in the Dark ...

It's action-packed comedy that is a throwback to the classic ‘whodunit’ murder mystery that takes place in a posh Russian River resort. This place I have to see! But, this sounds like so much campy fun. And they say it will keep you guessing until the last body falls.

The Playwrights, Andrew Black and Patricia Milton have co-authored three plays: One was called “Porn Yesterday” – and now NCTC has their World Premiere Comedy “It’s Murder, Mary!” Begins May 9. Didn’t the Andrew Sisters have a song called “It’s Murder Mary” or something like that? Of course, I could be wrong, I frequently am.

Taking classics a step further is SHN with a completely fresh and new take on Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Nights Dream.” What makes this so different, you ask? It’s a musical. I remember seeing it the “Old” way and commented at the time that it was just O.K. – but that if they would take out just a few words here and there, it would be just perfect. To which – Herb Caen immediately lashed out at me in his well-read column – “And another genius, Lee Hartgrave thinks that there are too many words in Shakespeare’s Midsummer Nights Dream.” Well, at least he called me a genius. Opens May 7. At the Curran Theatre.

Seigfried & Roy are presenting a limited engagement at San Francisco’s Post Street Theatre. His name is Darren Romeo, who is a protégé of Siegfried and Roy. Romeo, who is called The Voice of Magic because in his show he combines an evening of theatrical extravaganza that melds together music and magic. Siegfried and Roy said: “It’s a thrill to bring Darren and this show to the Post Street Theatre. He’s a brilliant young talent.” The music ranges from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Billy Joel Opens on June 10. Rumors are flying that Sieg and Roy might just be at the opening. I do hope they leave the Tigers at home.


Queenie Pie (Amanda King) with customer. Photo: Ralph Granich.

“QUEENIE PIE” – Jazz great Duke Ellington’s only Opera will Finally get a premiere at the Oakland Opera Theater. This will be a first look at Ellington’s only opera. It was not completed before his death, but a team of experts has completed the jazzy opera gem. It was originally intended as an hour-long TV special. This production will be set on a TV sound stage in the late 1960’s – similar to an Ed Sullivan show. The Opera will have the Marcus Shelby jazz Orchestra, and will feature as Queenie Pie, awarding winning Amanda King, and stage and film actress Kathleen Anoonia, and stage veteran Noah Griffin. The opening is on May 9, at the Oakland Metro Opera House (three blocks from jack London Square.) Ellington died in 1974, but his spirit will surely be at this momentous Jazz-Opera event.

Well, Bug, Bug, Bugaroo. In a seedy motel room outside Oklahoma City (are there any other kind?) – Agnes, a drug-addled cocktail waitress, is hiding from her ex-con ex-husband. Then a friend, a Lesbian, introduces her to a handsome drifter (all drifters are handsome) – who might be an AWOL gulf War veteran. They begin a relationship in the small Hotel room. But things begin to get a little buggy. The place becomes invested with bugs. Is it a government experiment? Or maybe the ex-husband put some bugs in the place. Anyway – one itch leads to another and conspiracy theories are tossed around the bedspread as they scratch each other. Bugs are really big right now. Haven’t you read about the bedbug invasion in the City? This Tracy Lett tale is a psycho-thriller (god knows I know a lot about that) that mixes terror and laughter. Hey, join us other paranoiacs, so we can get scared together. ‘Bug’ opens May 10, at the SF Playhouse.

LEGS ARE KICKING AGAIN. High Kick fever is back in town. The most famous line-up in the world in coming back to the Curran Theatre. A Chorus Line was originally launched in San Francisco at the Curran Theatre in 1976 for an astounding, and long kicking run. Tickets go on sale for the National Tour Cast. There couldn’t be a better place to see it than at The Curran where they filmed “All About Eve” – who knows, the Ghost of Betty Davis might be in the front row. So, fasten your seat belts – as Davis said – “It’s going to be a bumpy night”. Tickets on sale May 4…opens July 8.

OPERA HOUSE RESTORED. That would be the Bayview Opera House that has been totally restored to its former beauty. With the restoration finished there will be an unveiling on this coming Sat., April 26 from 1pm – to 4pm. Felipe Sanchez-Paris, the Bayview Opera House Board Member, enthused: “We have much to be excited about.” The Opera house was completed in 1888, and it was the city’s first and only Opera House. Now, it is largely funded by the SF Arts Commission and provides visual and vocal arts programs for children, youth, adults, and families. The theme of the new beginning for the ‘Bayview” is: “Unveiling the future.”

Lets see -- we’ve already covered the Queen (Queenie Pie), now lets talk about the King and the Prince. Charlie King will appear with The Prince Myshkins and Roy Zimmerman at the la Pena Cultural Center on Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley. King and the Prince are terrific with their biting satire and hope-mongering political songs. King is long known for American folk music and The Prince of satire is renowned for his folk/cabaret and guitar. They say that as a musical satirist about ignorance, war & greed, he crams more syllables of satire into a song than should be allowed by law. Careful, Cheney may attend.

In May the Berkeley Rep Theatre will continue its string of successful solo shows, with the arrival of “No Child”, written and directed by Nilaja Sun, and directed by Hal Brooks. This off-Broadway show became the hit of the year. Sun takes on 17 roles in 70 minutes from a teacher, students, a principal, a janitor and even a security guard with a metal detector at the front door. The solo play shines light on the struggles – and miracles—of America’s public schools. That revelation should in itself make this an interesting evening, indeed. Starts May 12, on the Thrust Stage.

A.C.T is presenting the revised 30th Anniversary Production of “Curse of the Starving Class (Sam Shepard). Oddly enough – as I was walking to get on an underground Muni Train – I spotted a paperback of Sam Shepard’s Plays that someone had left behind. I almost picked it up – but thought I would leave it for someone else. Now I regret not picking it up. It’s interesting to note that the production coincides with the National Sub prime Real Estate Catastrophe. The play seems to have predicted it – along with what the trauma of war can do to the men who come home. Opens April 30. Bargain: On Thurs. May 1st it’s Bring what you can/pay what you wish night. You will be allowed to pay any amount for tickets when you donate children’s books, diapers, or coffee beans to benefit Raphael House, a shelter. At The Geary Theatre.

SHN is bringing the five time Tony Award winning musical “The Drowsy chaperone” to the Orpheum Theatre – on July 22. This upbeat show-within-a-show is a fab tribute to Broadway musicals. It tells the story of a modern day musical theater addict known simply as “Man in chair”. You’ll delight at the Drowsy chaperone, the debonair groom, the dizzy chorine (I’ll bet she’s blonde), the Latin lover and a pair of gangsters who double as pastry chefs. Tix go on sale on May 18.

And lastly we come to the 40th Anniversary Gala Concert called “The Placido Domingo 40th Anniversary Gala Concert” that will be shown at 22 Landmark Theatres Throughout the Country on Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 2pm. “Opera is an art form for everyone, and Landmark Theatres is helping us to capture this experience to music lovers throughout the United States,” – Said Mr. Domingo. “And I am happy that Patricia Racette was able to join me.”

BUZZIN’S 5-SECOND TRAILER TRASHED REVIEWS:

Buzzin’ wants to save you money at the movies. These Five- second reviews of ‘Trailers’ will definitely do that. The Producers LOVE reading Five Second reviews.

MOVIE SCREEN ONE: “88 Minutes’. Star. Al Pacino. You’ll feel that you’ve been there for 88 Hours. Pacino’s BIG Hair can’t save it. The working title must have been … “How to ruin a career in 88 minutes.”

Screen Two: “The Life Before Her Eyes”. Beautiful to look at, but in the end, not worth the money. It’s life changing – you might not live through it. Sorry Uma and Rachael.

Screen Three: “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?” Let’s see – did anyone check the Lincoln Bedroom? Suggestion…Leave the Camel at home. Better still -- stay home with the Camel. Terminal boredom!

Screen Four: “The Forbidden Kingdom.” How many times have these martial artists been warned that some things are “Forbidden”? Of course it’s a battle thing…but the fantasy takes a lifetime. Kick Box this one out!

THE BASEMENT SCREENS:

On the Small Screen: (Close to the Toilet)

“The Love Guru” starring Mike Myers and ----------. Myers is the worst Guru in India. Gross, unfunny toilet humor. For instance….Justin Timberlake prances around in a tight pair of underwear. Myers says to women on plane – “looks like he’s smuggling a Snauzer.” Gee, you ARE you, Mike Myers. Go lay on some nails. Flush it!

How much money did you save by not going to these movies? Assuming that you bought two tickets…and a box of popcorn each. And if you have attended all of the above – you would have spent $240.00. Now, you may bow to buzzin for saving you all that dough. But, if you go – it’s only money and several hours of your life that you’ll never get back.


Price Adam Troche, Jr. in "Hotshot" at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory. Photo courtesy http://www.guerrillarep.org

CORRECTION:

LAST WEEK THE NAME OF THE ACTOR WHO PLAYS ‘BOOSTER’ SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPELLED PRICE ADAM TROCHE, JR. AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAMA CALIZO’S VOICE FACTORY WHERE THE PLAY ‘HOTSHOT’ IS PLAYING. ALSO, TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE GUERRILLA REP (Spelled with two R’s) go to www.guerrillarep.org. You still have a couple of days left to see this truly stunning play. L.H.

THAT’S A WRAP!



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

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