”
Think of it as a cartoon version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth,
”
responds Director Jim Cave to my question regarding how South
County audiences can prepare themselves for what will be, for many,
their first foray into the Theatre of the Absurd. This certainly
reduces the level of mystery and mystique associated with a genre
not often performed in small communities but in no way undermines
the commitment of Gavilan College Theatre Arts to expanding
Gilroy’s theater horizons and raising the bar for quality
performing arts experiences.
“Think of it as a cartoon version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth,” responds Director Jim Cave to my question regarding how South County audiences can prepare themselves for what will be, for many, their first foray into the Theatre of the Absurd. This certainly reduces the level of mystery and mystique associated with a genre not often performed in small communities but in no way undermines the commitment of Gavilan College Theatre Arts to expanding Gilroy’s theater horizons and raising the bar for quality performing arts experiences.
I have been assured that not only do we not need to be intimidated by Gavilan’s performance of Eugene Ionesco’s “Macbett,” but we can also anticipate a play infused with lots of humor and sight gags. The production can be characterized by a broad, vaudevillian style that brings out the comedy while acknowledging the absurdity of Ionesco’s imagery.
Theatre of the Absurd is a term coined by the critic Martin Esslin and refers to the work of a number of dramatists of the 1950s and early 1960s who shared the view that man’s existence in this world is pointless and futile, a view strongly influenced by the traumatic horrors of World War II.
The play opens this weekend and runs through April 12, so you don’t have too much time to reacquaint yourself with that ambitious Scotsman and other notable characters from the original tragedy. This would certainly help in understanding Ionesco’s version that follows the original story closely and, though a comedy, also explores the powerful force of evil.
Curtain call is 7:30 pm, but make sure to get to the college’s theatre by 7 p.m. in order to enjoy an outdoor pre-show by Indigenous Chaos, a family troupe performing comedy, parodies, music, skits and poetry. Tickets are available at the door or call 848-4717 to make reservations. Due to the adult nature of the show, the recommended minimum age is 18 years old.
Another Gilroy production featuring local thespians is in its second weekend and will be running through April 19. Entering the Pintello Comedy Theater is like being invited into someone’s home, Rod and Marion Pintello’s to be more specific. This dynamic theatre couple has seen a dream of opening a comedy club become a reality this year. With one play behind them, another one on stage, and yet another in the works, the next few months will determine whether their theater is here to stay. Judging from public response to date, I would say the betting odds are pretty good that the theatre’s motto “There’s something funny going on here!” will be hanging on the wall for a long time to come.
Ticket reservations for “Let’s Murder Marsha,” a play about Marsha’s misinterpretation of an overheard conversation and the mayhem that results from that, can be made by calling 776-8004 or emailing [email protected]. The theatre is located at 8531 Church Street, and all shows begin at 8 p.m.
Though growing up quickly, The Pintello Comedy Theater is still a baby in comparison to two other Gilroy cultural organizations, both of which are hosting interesting events this month. The Gilroy Carnegie Museum is a no-bells-no-whistles museum chock full of memorabilia, artifacts and information relating to Gilroy’s history, and Saturday would be a perfect day to visit it. At 2 p.m., Museum Assistant Susan Voss will speak on Andrew Carnegie and the legacy he created by funding 2509 library buildings in the English-speaking world. The museum is located at 195 Fifth Street; refreshments will be served and the regular exhibits will be available for viewing.
When the South Valley Symphony performs, there is really no need to leave town for an evening of classical music. At 8 p.m. April 15 at the Gavilan College Theater, the orchestra will perform a program of operatic favorites, and Gilroy’s own Sonja Gariaeff, Mezzo Soprano, will be the guest soloist. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in town at The California Music Company and Porcella’s Music.
The list of places to eat in town prior to a show is definitely growing, and I welcome the addition of J.R. Brewski’s, 8080 Santa Teresa Blvd. Though the food is not as imaginative as elsewhere in town, it serves tasty, generous portions of what it advertises – steak, seafood and beer – and thus fills a huge need in this community for just such a restaurant. Though I am not a beer connoisseur, members of my party were and assured me that the 24 beers on tap gave legitimacy to the “brew” in “Brewski.”
The décor and lighting are tasteful and warm. I had been warned that the decibel level could get quite high because the bar and the restaurant are in the same room, but I found the atmosphere, except for the party sitting next to us that hopefully had a designated driver waiting outside, quite comfortable and, for lack of a better word, happy.
Hopefully, a reservation policy will be developed soon because the lack of one and the inability of the keepers-of-the-waiting-list to explain why there was no such policy and why some parties were being seated before others could do some damage. Let me put it another way … it’s a good thing I didn’t have a train to catch (or a show to attend) last Saturday night.
The lack of attention prior to our being seated was offset by the excellent and prompt service we received once we were shown to a table. Though I found the owner’s question “Have you folks had enough to eat?” a bit tacky, I still appreciated the attention. Good luck, Jeff and Robin Parsons. With a reservation policy, you’ll have a really fine brew house and eating establishment.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the difficulty of writing this column and sticking to my arts and entertainment assignment while my head and heart are filled with the images and details of the war. We continue on with our lives here because it is what we do and what we care about, but they pale next to the reports from Iraq.
Just in case there are any Gilroyans in the service who are able to keep up on local news by reading The Dispatch online and who somehow made it to the end of the paper where this column can be found and, even more miraculously, made it to the end of this column, I want you to know that I am humbled by your bravery. I hope someday to meet you at a local concert or play and tell you that in person.
