BEYOND EXAM - "SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH" -- BEST PRODUCTION EVER!

BEYOND EXAM 

OVERWROUGHT...BUT THRILLING AND FRESH

This 'Sweet Bird of Youth' is Highflying drama that takes your breath away. I love, love the staging and the phenomenal actors. This is a perfect production. I could have watched five more hours...it is that mesmerizing.

Yep, I sat through Three hours of watching Chance Wayne as he satisfies rich women as he dreams about finding fame in Hollywood. Sure he's sexy, but he is also desperately insecure. And...plus, he takes amphetamines, as he sexually performs for Alexandra Del Lago on the satin bed sheets. 

Princess Alexandra's cleverness, is that she manages to keep Chance on the bed. She's a faded screen star and she lets 'Chance' think that she will make him a star. 

And if you think that this is the end of the story -- think again. Chance -- with his strong powerful performance drops names, gives large tips (that he gets from the Princess). She lures him on. They both spend lots of time in bed... she boozes -- and they both take drugs along this journey to no where. Well, not exactly -- it appears that the Princess will come out on top. 

In Tennessee's play there is plenty of  talk about an abortion and castration. No one can mask the hot-dynamics between Chance and the Princess. 

Chance (drugged out) - becomes confused and desperate. He constantly rubs his hands together as he pleads urgently over the phone...and begs for help. 

Casting is the Magic in this 'Tides' production... (by Sally Dana, is quite breathtaking and stunning.) And the play is a 'masterpiece' of direction by Jennifer Welch. 

This is a huge cast...and everyone of them set a new standard. It's a wondrous gift! They are -- Dan Fagan (Chance), Fontana Butterfield (The Princess Kosmonopolis), James Martin, John Lowell, Joe Kearns (Boss Finley), John Terrell, Carolyn Ford Compton, Hilary Hesse, Francis Serpa, Shannon Warrick, Sean B. Hallinan, Carmen Yvette, James Baldock, Jeff Graham, Sam Vegas. And there you have it...the most amazing performers I have seen in years. 

NOW PLAYING AT THE 'TIDES THEATRE
- 533 SUTTER STREET - 2ND FLOOR (between Powell & Mason) 

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) -trademarked-

(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and he produced and hosted a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))