Feb 03
One of the things about having season tickets for a theatre company is that you end up attending performances that you would otherwise have skipped. The latest play at San Jose Rep, called “Tranced” would have been such a play for me.
Nationally recognized psychologist and playwright, Robert Clyman, takes you on an electrifying ride. Philip is a highly respected psychiatrist famous for using a form of hypnosis called “trancing” to help his patients uncover suppressed memories. When he trances Azmera, an African grad student, he unexpectedly learns of a secret that could have profound consequences for thousands in an African village. Enlisting the aid of an ambitious reporter with connections to the Director of African Affairs, Philip is pulled into a suspenseful vortex of moral deliberation, truth and the powerful art of persuasion.
I was not that excited when I read this description, but playwright Robert Clyman’s characters enchanted me from the very first lines of dialog. The plot took a number of unexpected turns but by that point I wanted to follow these characters to find out where the story would end. I would recommend “Tranced” for both for Clyman’s writing and the fine performances of the San Jose Rep cast.
Popularity: 25% [?]
Dec 06
I just returned from the one man show “This Wonderful Life” at the San Jose Rep. The play is an adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic movie with one actor playing all the parts.
The award-winning playwright Steve Murray has created a visually stunning stage adaptation of the perennially popular holiday film, It’s a Wonderful Life. This one-man tour de force delivers a witty and moving story that is sure to capture your heart and captivate your spirit. There’s the family man George Bailey; evil and miserly Mr. Potter; Clarence, the dotty angel in waiting; devoted Mary, and Zuzu with her petals. But we can’t forget the image of a man standing alone on a bridge on Christmas Eve…the story of how he got there, and how he found his way back home. This Wonderful Life reminds us of the power of perspective, friendship and family…the perfect holiday gifts.
The San Jose Rep’s version featured Dan Hiatt in the role of… well… everyone. It takes a fine performance to captivate an audience for 75 minutes. Granted it helps a lot when half of the scenes are replaying in the imagination of the audience for this familiar story. But, Hiatt did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life first in a 30 second version of the movie and then in the longer 75 minute version. The staging was also creatively envisioned and executed, bravo.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Nov 23
San Jose Police officers who are part of the body art generation are having to adapt to new rules coming from the police chief that tattoos can no longer be visible when they are in uniform.
The San Jose Police Department recently adopted a policy that prohibits cops from displaying tattoos while on duty. So officers with tattoos will either have to wear long-sleeved shirts year-round to cover up or have them removed.
Responding to unhappy officers, Police Chief Rob Davis last week agreed to exempt cops with tattoos the chief decides are not offensive to the public.
Over the past several months, the matter of officers and tattoos has become a nationwide issue in law enforcement and the military. Many agencies, including the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles Police Department, have adopted policies prohibiting personnel from showing off body art while on duty.
“It’s absolutely one of the big issues,” said Bobby Lopez, president of the 1,360-member San Jose Police Officers Association. “It’s been coming for a while, only because the next generation always goes over the top.”
But Chief Davis believes the policy, which went into effect Sept. 23, is necessary. Davis first became aware of the issue after hearing people in the community voice concerns about the tattoos being displayed by officers. After looking internally, Davis found that “the concerns people voiced were valid.”
“We cannot settle for anything less when it comes to the presentation of our officers in the community, and how we are perceived in the community,” Davis said.
The Marine Corps cited similar concerns when it banned new, extra-large tattoos below the elbow or the knee earlier this year.
Even the Marine Corps is banning tattoos? Wow.
Popularity: 36% [?]
