Curtain Calls: ‘Fully Committed’ performance delivers charming comedy to East Bay
Formerly an actress, waitress and coat check girl, Mode certainly had the experience to write this fun comedy which takes place in the reservation office of a high-end New York restaurant.
As the show opens, Sam, a struggling actor, reports for work to find his two office mates missing, forcing him to juggle the constantly ringing restaurant lines by himself in addition to his own busy cell phone and the hotline to the demanding chef.
If you’ve ever felt like you were being pulled in too many directions, you will relate to this charming comedy.
Sam Barksdale does an amazing job as Sam in Altarena’s production. With stamina to spare, he runs from desk to desk on Tom Curtin’s multi-level set answering phones while voicing and physicalizing each caller. Thanks to his talent, as well as those of Director Kimberly Ridgeway, Barksdale has given each caller a distinct voice and physicality.
While many of the calls he answers are from demanding socialites and threatening businessmen and celebrities, Barksdale shows an endearing humanity when dealing with calls from his supportive father who hopes to have Sam home for Christmas or an 80-plus year-old woman customer with a walker. Switching between the woman and Barksdale’s reservationist persona is hilarious.
Although there is only one person on stage, you’d swear there were many more as this accomplished performer fully commits to each character and has the acting chops and physical stamina to make it work.
Kudos to Lighting Designer Stephanie Anne Johnson, Sound Designer Alex Fakayode and Stage Manager Vicki Kagaway, who must manage a plethora of light and sound cues.
For tickets to a fun evening of theater, call the Altarena at 510-523-1553 or go to altarena.org.
Berkeley: The unlikely combination of Shakespeare and hip-hop becomes a compelling tribute to the power of language and music in Berkeley Rep’s production of “How Shakespeare Saved My Life,” playing through March 1.
Directed by former Berkeley Rep Artistic Director Tony Taccone and written and performed by Jacob Ming-Trent, the semi- autobiographical solo work takes the audience on a journey through the life of Jacob, a young Black man with a gift for poetry and, unfortunately, an unstable family life.
Jacob’s mother had enough of his father’s substance abuse and threw him out of the house when Jacob was a young teen. Jacob would suffer the same fate several years later forcing him to drop out of high school and live on the street. Fortunately for Jacob, his introduction to Shakespeare became a powerful force for good in his life.
Throughout the 90-minute piece, Ming-Trent cleverly merges Shakespeare’s verse with music from such hip-hop staples as Tupac Shakur, Chuck D and Biggie. The result is a powerful tale brought to life by a consummate professional.
In his compelling performance, Ming-Trent connects with the audience early, making them an important part of the performance as he easily shifts from Jacob to various characters in his tale.
Takeshi Kata’s scenic design, Alan C. Edwards’ lighting design and Alexander V. Nichols’ projections bring a beautiful fluidity to the tale as they effortlessly move Jacob from one locale to another.
For tickets to this impactful work, call 510-647-2949 or go to berkeleyrep.org. Berkeley Rep is located at 2025 Addison St. Please note that the show uses strong language.
Also in Berkeley: Central Works presents its 79th world premiere with the new comedy “Welcome to The Pirate Festival.”
Written by Patricia Milton and directed by Gary Graves, the play focuses on the aftermath of Hurricane Happy to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Here, Brenda Barrow, owner of a family-run oil company that sponsors the annual Pirate Festival, desperately searches for a last-minute replacement for the Pirate Queen. Her estranged niece Kat returns apologizing for running off after the hurricane hit. But Kat’s new membership in the Climate Commandos brings into question whether she’s there to reconcile with her aunt or to attack the family’s oil company.
“Writing a play about our climate crisis is particularly difficult as the situation becomes more and more grim,” said Milton. “Like death, people may be willing to acknowledge the reality but are unenthusiastic about coming to terms with it. What can theater do to address this reluctance? Bring to the stage plays that inspire conversation and effective action…leavened with a bit of humor.”
For tickets, go to app.arts-people.com/?show=307657.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.