The Language of Flowers

“The Language of Flowers” by Gavin Kayner

March 2 – 24, 2018
(A West Coast Premiere)

Directed
by Michael Tabib

 

This is one of the most tantalizing plays in recent years. Two sisters, with a horrific mystery they share, must shut themselves away from the world until an unintentional intruder shatters their proverbial walls, culminating into unexpected revelations and surprises.

A hauntingly beautiful play! Chock full of literary sensuality and dark humor, Mr. Kayner’s
masterpiece is a must for the discerning theater goer. Adult situations. Don’t miss it!

Selected by the Long Beach Playhouse as a finalist for New Play Prize. 

Come see what critics have called, “…a hauntingly beautiful play (with exceptionally sensual lines) that operates on many inter-woven levels.” and “Highly recommended for those who thrive on fine theater.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rapture, Blister, Burn

Curtain Call Theatre’s next production : “Rapture, Blister, Burn” opens Dec 1. 2017.

After grad school, Catherine built a career as a rockstar academic, while Gwen built a home with her husband and children. Years later, each woman covets the others life, commencing a dangerous game of musical chairs — the prize being Gwen’s husband. This comedy takes an unflinching look at gender politics in the wake of 20th-century feminist ideals.

The recent New York sensation is a hilarious and insightful look at sex, feminism, relationships, marriage, and a whole lot of other juicy subjects. It is also a re-assessment of our modern mores, seen through the eyes of three generations of women from the eras of Germaine Greer to Phyllis Schlaffley. An exciting evening awaits you with some wallops for laughs.

The Elephant Man Critic Reviews

Encountering the Other in Curtain Call Theatre’s ‘The Elephant Man’

The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance received a 4.5 of 5 stars rating, from Alexa Chipman. Author of YA books, theatre critic, travel writer, and resident of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Finding humanity in those who are radically divergent is a struggle for society; if someone looks or acts differently from what we are used to, it challenges our comfort zone. Historically it has been difficult to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and respected equally, as recent news attests to. With the severely disfigured “elephant man” it is easy to react with fear, revulsion, or pity, rather than recognizing him as an intelligent equal worthy of normal attention and dignity. Click here to read more.

Harry Duke Review

Harry Duke is an actor, director, teacher, and theatre critic whose reviews can be seen online at the For All Events website and in print in the Sonoma County Gazette. A member of San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and American Theatre Critics Association.

In the opposite side of the budget spectrum lies Monte Rio’s Curtain Call Theatre. Housed in the Russian River Hall on the north side of Highway 116 just this side of the coast, they’ve impressed me in the past with what they’re able to do with minimal resources. Their current production of The Elephant Man utilizes projections more so than set pieces to evoke a sense of time and place and, because of the playwright’s desire to not recreate the physical deformities that afflicted the title character, allows the audience to get past that potential distraction by displaying photographs taken of John Merrick and his condition. To read more click here.

 

The Elephant Man

The Elephant Man is based on the life of John Merrick, who lived in London during the latter part of the nineteenth century. A horribly deformed young man, who has been a freak attraction in traveling side shows, is found abandoned and helpless and is admitted for observation to Whitechapel, a prestigious London hospital. Under the care of a famous young doctor, who educates him and introduces him to London society, Merrick changes from a sensational object of pity to the urbane and witty favorite of the aristocracy and literati. But his belief that he can become a man like any other is a dream never to be realized.

Bernard Pomerance is a young American playwright born and raised in New York City. While a number of his plays have been produced in London, The Elephant Man is his first major American production. During its opening season, The Elephant Man won all the major drama awards, including three Tonys, three Obies, the Drama Desk Award, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.

Give Back Tuesday August 1

Dear Theater Lovers,

It’s our privilege to be hosted at The Rainbow Cattle Company local bar in Downtown Guerneville this coming Tuesday August 1 for our whopping Fundraising Event.

Join us at 6PM for a terrific Buffet, only $5 donation, then partake in the exquisite and imaginative gift baskets and valuable items offered at a raffle.

We have a lot of fun doing this twice a year as a benefit for Curtain Call Theatre, your all-volunteer local theater company.

The “Rainbow” will also donate 10% of their bar proceeds that evening to CCT, so the more you support them, the more we benefit.

It’s a win-win. So come along to this friendly place and enjoy a delightful time with us. Everyone is welcome. No reservations necessary.

Pass it on to everyone you think might also be interested in supporting our local theater company.

Catastrophe Turns Comedic in ‘Noises Off’

Noises off by Michael Frayn received a 4 of 5 stars rating, and a rave review from Alexa Chipman. Author of YA books, theatre critic, travel writer, and resident of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Noises Off is a hysterical story about a theater troupe’s misadventures. As actors in this play-within-a-play rehearse, forgotten lines, dropped trousers and lost plates of sardines create onstage pandemonium. Meanwhile, it is total chaos backstage as love triangles, petty bickering and ruined affairs lead to pratfalls, flying props and more than one bloody nose. In the end, at the frenetic final performance, everything merges into one perfectly ravaged and wholly uproarious theatrical nervous breakdown.

In rehearsal for a flimsy, trope heavy farce, with actors ready to walk on the project, Noises Off is an attempt to put on the play within a play Nothing On. What begins as slight technical glitches and the occasional missed line becomes a disaster by the final act, with axe wielding actors, incorrect cast members on stage during crucial scenes, and sardines everywhere.

Directing this barely contained mayhem is Avi Lind, who stages humorous tableaux, particularly in the second act, when Michael Tabib and Jake Hamlin’s set design shifts into a backstage setting. What is amusing to the audience is doubly so for those of us who have participated in productions where similar fiascos occurred. Nadja Masura’s haunted, stressed expression upon realizing the rest of the cast has no idea what to say, and she must take up the torch to keep the play moving is all too familiar.

To read more click here.

Noises Off

Hilarity and chaos ensue in Curtain Call Theatre’s production of Michael Frayn’s ingenious play-within-a-play Noises Off, about a third-rate British acting troupe desperately trying to stage and tour a third-rate farce called Nothing On.

Noises Off is a hysterical story about a theater troupe’s misadventures. As actors in this play-within-a-play rehearse, forgotten lines, dropped trousers and lost plates of sardines create onstage pandemonium. Meanwhile, it is total chaos backstage as love triangles, petty bickering and ruined affairs lead to pratfalls, flying props and more than one bloody nose. In the end, at the frenetic final performance, everything merges into one perfectly ravaged and wholly uproarious theatrical nervous breakdown.

Noises Off premiered in London in 1982 and won the London Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy. It opened on Broadway in 1983 and was nominated for four Tony Awards including the 1984 Award for Best Play. In 1992, Marty Kaplan wrote a screenplay for Noises Off and turned it into a successful film directed by Peter Bogdanovich. The play was revived on Broadway in 2001 and was nominated for the 2002 Tony for Best Revival of a Play.

 

2017 Daniel Patchin Concert at Russian River Hall

For some I am a neighbor,
for some your brother
for some The Handiest Man in Guerneville,
for some I build theater sets;
for some I play bass;
for some I’m a stranger
and others, not so strange
some would say something else . . .
but I’m not nothing, because nothing’s perfect

On Saturday evening, April 15th
I will stand before some of you and sing songs.
Accompanied by a wonderful Piano player named Sandy Geller.

I would be greatly honored by your attendance at:
the Russian River Hall in Monte Rio
At 7:30 on Saturday April 15th, 2017

Admission is:
$12 (or $9 if you’re as old as me).
the cashier can only deal with cash or a check

I will be boldly stepping to the center of the stage at 8:pm
Beginning a repertoire of all kinds of songs.
We’ll have a break before 9 PM
Then I’ll play some guitar for a few songs, then a big finish with a sing-along

A Presentation of the Beth Freeman Vocal Arts Studio
For a Reservation call Daniel: (707)869-9957

Improv Without A Net

Invites YOU to A Fabulous Evening of
Improv Comedy & Song

Monte Rio Show: Friday, April 14, 2017
8 PM at the Russian River HALL
20347 Hwy 116, Monte Rio, CA 95462
Tickets – $15
To Reserve, contact Susan
susanjpacker@gmail.com

Come laugh and enjoy the excitement of “Improv Without A Net”

“Brilliant!” “Hilarious!” “You are all so talented.”
“I never know what’s coming next.”
“You mesh together beautifully.”
“That song could be on the radio – great!”
“I laughed so hard I peed!”

For more information click here.

Murder Mystery at Curtain Call

Murder is his business and generally speaking Edward Bare is a successful “business man.” Married first to Monica, rich, doting and many years his senior, Edward waits amicably for her to die. It is not “poor Monnie’s fault” that he comes one day to the mistaken conclusion that she is about to make a will in favor of her sister, and decides that, his only course is to hasten her end. But Edward has misjudged the old woman for she meant to leave him everything. As it is, he finds himself with less than he had when she was alive. Edward is not daunted: He looks around for another rich fish to net, and finds the answer to this pressing necessity in the person of Freda Jefferies, wealthy widow of a hotel proprietor. Freda, who has always seen that her head ruled her heart, marries Edward, at the same time keeping a tight hold on her purse strings. This does not suit Edward and when Charlotte Young, another rich woman, arrives on the scene, he is all set to remove the one that irks him most. Charlotte appears easier game than the tough Freda, and Edward sets about staging the scene for an exciting last situation. Which lady will receive the brunt of his murdering tactics? Packed with suspense and thrills, the machinations of the killer’s mind are laid bare for the observation of the audience, and the twists are unexpected and spine-chilling.

“Murder Mistaken” by Janet Green is Curtain Call’s upcoming Production opening March 3 at Russian River Hall. And it promises to be a real smash hit. Ms. Green is also the author of many well known mysteries for the screen including “Midnight Lace”, “Victim”, and “Cast A Dark Shadow”.

CCT has lined up six of its best actors to impersonate these lively characters and keep you on the edge of your seat the whole evening. Come have fun with this Who Done It and Why!

Make sure you also look into the rest of the Season while you’re at it. You can still purchase your Season 2017 passes at 25% off the regular prices. You may even apply your regular ticket for “Murder Mistaken” to the rest of the season. (Sorry, but Pay What You Can Fridays are not applicable for this Special).

Call 707-524-8739 and reserve today; OR call 707-867-6866 for details about our 2017 Season.

See you at the HALL.

Next Page »