Lemony Snicket returns to Berkeley Repertory Theatre
A series of fortunate events led to Daniel Handler’s new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
“Imaginary Comforts, or The Story of the Ghost of the Dead Rabbit,” which runs through Nov. 19, is a world premiere collaboration between the writer best known as Lemony Snicket and Berkeley Rep artistic director Tony Taccone. They first worked together in 2010when the Rep staged “The Composer Is Dead,” an adaptation of Handler’s book.
Now they are joining forces on Handler’s first play, a witty tale of death, rabbis and yes, a rabbit. Starring the inimitable Danny Scheie, the story was inspired by the loss of Handler’s father and it’s steeped in the tragicomic chaos of mortality.
Although Handler is quick to point out that this is not a play meant for children, he is indeed famous for embracing the darkness and doubt of human existence even within the usually saccharine world of children’s literature.
That’s one of the most refreshing aspects of his classic Baudelaire opus, “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” which is how Taccone first encountered Handler’s work, reading about the unlucky orphans to his own kids.
Details: Performances at Berkeley Rep’s Peet’s Theatre; $50-$97; www.berkeleyrep.org. — Karen D’Souza, Staff
Famed composer debuts new work
An-Lun Huang’s music has been heard around the world — in 1995, pianist Lang Lang won the first prize in the International Tchaikovsky Youth Piano Competition with the Chinese-Canadian composer’s Chinese Rhapsody No. 2.
This week, Bay Area music lovers can hear one of Huang’s major works, as Symphony Silicon Valley presents the world premiere of his new oratorio, “Patch the Sky.”
Composed for orchestra, two choruses and vocal soloists, with a libretto in Mandarin by Guo Ke, the work is based on ancient Chinese mythology, and tells the story of the goddess Nüwa, the creator of humanity. The dramatic narrative features a battle between the Spirit of Water and the Spirit of Fire, which plunges the world into darkness. It’s up to Nüwa to patch the sky and save the world.
Joining the orchestra are the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale and the A-Sharp Chorus; the vocal soloists include soprano Amanda Kingston, mezzo-soprano Liya Fang and baritone Weiguang Dang. Rui Zhang conducts.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; California Theatre, San Jose; $35-$65; 408-286-2600, www. symphonysiliconvalley.org. — Georgia Rowe, Correspondent
Zoppé Family Circus returns to Bay Area
It’s a family tradition that dates back 175years. The old-fashioned Zoppé Family Circus from Italy returns to the Bay Area Friday for another run at the Red Morton Community Park in Redwood City.
The multinational troupe’s circus features acrobatic feats, juggling and sword balancing acts, canine antics, clowning and plenty of audience participation. It’s all overseen by Nino the Clown, played by Giovanni Zoppé, a sixth-generation performer.
New this year will be an unusual bicycle act by an 18-year-old Argentine performer, Chiqui, and a re-creation by Tosca Zoppé of her father’s famous
bareback riding act.
Details: Through Oct. 29; matinee and evening performances scheduled; $12-$26, available at www. redwoodcity.org/zoppe or at the circus tent, 1455Madison Ave. — Linda Zavoral, Staff
Brian Wilson performs ‘Pet Sounds’
Fans just can’t get enough of the Beach Boys’ music. That was evident when the legendary SoCal band performed before a packed house of smiling and very vocal fans at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga just last month.
And it will likely be a similar situation when Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson — who now leads his own group — plays the same venue Friday.
It’s your chance to hear some of the greatest pop/ rock songs of all time. We’re talking about the likes of “Surfer Girl,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” “God Only Knows,” “California Girls” and, of course, “Good Vibrations.”
It’s also the chance to hear one of the finest albums ever made — 1966’s “Pet Sounds,” which Wilson and his band will be performing in its entirety.
Details: 7:30p.m.; $49.50-$129.50; www.mountainwinery.com. — Jim Harrington, Staff
Exhibition includes 99-year-old’s paintings
Grandma Moses has got nothing on Emeryville’s Bea Finger!
The 99-year-old resident of the Bayside Park senior home has, for the second year in a row, been invited to hang her paintings in the 31st annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, which is running through Oct. 29 at the EmeryTech building at 1475 66th St. Finger, who had three works chosen for the juried show, was born in Harlem and lived in New York for much of her life, eventually settling in the Bay Area to be close to two sons who live in Berkeley and Castro Valley. She joins some 100 other painters, sculptors, ceramicists, photographers, textile artists and other craftspeople — all of whom live in or near Emeryville — whose works will be on display from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily throughout the exhibition.
This year, the event has expanded to include performance art — there will be a poetry reading amid all the art given by former Emeryville poet laureate Sarah Kobrinsky and several of her friends from 2to 4p.m. Sunday and a multimedia performance by songwriter and music videographer Shadi Shamsavari from 4to 5:15 p.m. Oct. 22that will incorporate storytelling, original songs, acting, dance and poetry. And best of all — there is no admission charge for any of it.
Details: More information is at 510-652-6122 or www.emeryarts.org. — Sue Gilmore, Correspondent
Star on the rise comes to SF Symphony
In recent years, Czech conductor Jakub Hrusa has become an artist to watch. With posts in Prague, Tokyo and Bamberg, Germany, where he is chief conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, the 36-year-old musician has earned a reputation as an alert, insightful podium presence, particularly in the music of his homeland.
Earlier this year, reviews of his Chicago Symphony debut praised his performance of Smetana’s “Ma Vlast” as “glorious,” and his subsequent debut with the New York Philharmonic was described as “colorful and exciting.”
Hrusa makes his first San Francisco Symphony appearance this week, conducting two monumental works by his countrymen: “Vltava” (The Moldau), from “Ma Vlast,” and Janacek’s “Taras Bulba,” Rhapsody for Orchestra. Pianist Piotr Anderszewski joins Hrusa and the orchestra in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17in G major; Dvorak’s “Carnival Overture” completes the program.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco; $15-$159; 415864-6000, www.sfsymphony.org. — Georgia Rowe, Corrrespondent
Bay Area’s bursting with good concerts
There’s so much good music going on this week, including shows with Mason Jennings, NOFX and Torres. Here’s a look at some of the best bets:
Mason Jennings: Are you familiar with this fine folk-pop singer-songwriter? If not, here are two upcoming opportunities to correct that situation — Jennings performs 9p.m. Friday at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz and 8:30p.m. Saturday at the Cornerstone in Berkeley. Details: $20-$25; www.ticketfly.com.
Torres: This rising indie-folk-rock star, whose real name is Mackenzie Scott, comes to Slim’s in San Francisco at 9p.m. Friday. She’s supporting “Three Futures,” the latest winner in her three-album catalog. Details: 9p.m.; $15, www.slimspresents.com.
Punk in Drublic: This craft beer and music festival features NOFX, Flogging Molly, Goldfinger, Less Than Jake, Bad Cop Bad Cop, Get Dead and more. It’s presented by NOFX’s Fat Mike. Details: This is a 21-andover show; 1 p.m. Saturday; Concord Pavilion; $39-$199; www.livenation.com. — Jim Harrington, Staff
Tripping the light Fantastic (Negrito)
The East Bay’s musical triumph of the decade continues to roll as Fantastic Negrito builds on the wave of attention generated by winning NPR’s first Tiny Desk Concert Contest in 2015.
In February, the guitarist and songwriter (born Xavier Dphrepaulezz) took home a best contemporary blues album Grammy Award for the politically charged “Last Days of Oakland,” a collection of songs dissecting the social forces distorting the city. As Fantastic Negrito, he leads a taut band powered by the relentlessly funky Berkeley drummer James Small.
The Oakland triple bill coming to Berkeley’s UC Theatre on Saturday features the Jamming Nachos, a young sibling rock combo, and MAD NOISE, a creatively charged collective featuring trumpet, stand-up bass, drums and vocals by guitarist/songwriter Khalil Sullivan and cellist/songwriter Marica Petrey.
Details: 8p.m.; $22.50; 510-356-4000, www. theuctheatre.org. — Andrew Gilbert, Correspondent
sjDANCEco gets personal
The fall program by sjDANCEco is all about inspiration. The company this week presents new works by co-artistic director Maria Basile, company choreographic adviser Fred Mathews, company choreographer and dancer Hsiang Hsiu Lin and former company dancer Nhan Ho, each of whom uses their work to address their roots in dance and their inspirations in art and life.
The program, titled “Roots and Wings,” also features a revival of “Journey Through the Labyrinth,” co-artistic director Gary Masters’ tribute to famed dancer and choreographer Jose Limon, and Doris Humphrey’s acclaimed 1947work “Day on Earth,” set to Aaron Copland’s Piano Sonata.
Accompanied by the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, sjDANCEco performs today and Saturday at San Jose’s Hammer Theatre Center.
Details: 8 p.m. today, 2 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday; $20-$90; www.sjdanceco.org. The company also brings the program to ODC Theater in San Francisco Nov. 3-4, $25-$40. — Randy McMullen, Staff