Comments on: The Rep is “on fire” http://www.berkeleyside.com/2009/10/26/the-rep-is-on-fire/ News and notes on our city Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:49:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dan http://www.berkeleyside.com/2009/10/26/the-rep-is-on-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Dan Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:50:54 +0000 http://www.berkeleyside.com/?p=353#comment-65 Alas, then, why do I dislike so much of what they produce? I have been an avid theater fan for 30 years, and moved here from Philadelphia two years ago. In Philadelphia there was an abundance of thought-provoking, insightful theater, but through two plus seasons of the Berkeley Rep I find the productions to be well-done but the play selection to be pretty bad. Of the productions listed in the NY Times article (I haven't seen Tiny Kushner yet) only The Vibrator Play was a play at all and it was good but not great. Wishful Drinking was worthwhile, but not a play, and American Idiot was, I'm not sure what to call it, but also not a play. I have spoken to others who feel the same way and have dropped their Rep subscriptions (which we may do after this year). Perhaps I, and these others I know, are not in the mainstream, but I would say the rave reviews for the Rep are akin to praise for the "emporer's new clothes". If anyone knows where we can find great thoughtful theater, I sure would like to hear about it. Alas, then, why do I dislike so much of what they produce? I have been an avid theater fan for 30 years, and moved here from Philadelphia two years ago. In Philadelphia there was an abundance of thought-provoking, insightful theater, but through two plus seasons of the Berkeley Rep I find the productions to be well-done but the play selection to be pretty bad.

Of the productions listed in the NY Times article (I haven’t seen Tiny Kushner yet) only The Vibrator Play was a play at all and it was good but not great. Wishful Drinking was worthwhile, but not a play, and American Idiot was, I’m not sure what to call it, but also not a play.

I have spoken to others who feel the same way and have dropped their Rep subscriptions (which we may do after this year). Perhaps I, and these others I know, are not in the mainstream, but I would say the rave reviews for the Rep are akin to praise for the “emporer’s new clothes”. If anyone knows where we can find great thoughtful theater, I sure would like to hear about it.

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