HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE
Mom and Son don't always agree.
Courtesy Photo: Berkeley Rep.
Pictured: Linda Gehringer and Tyler Pierce
A Son has come home to take
care of his mother who is on the edge of dying. She (Linda Gehringer) is feisty
and contrary. The dying Mom hides her medicines from the Son and she sneaks
into the bathroom to smoke cigarettes. Not a good Idea for someone who is dying
from Cancer.
Her son and care keeper is a
character oddly enough named Bill Cain (the Author’s name) – played by Tyler Pierce.
This play is about a Mother and Son that have a difficult time getting along
together. There are religious issues, fun, bitter sweet memories -- and ghosts
of a father that has recently died.
The play slides back and
forth from the present to the past. Kind of like, “Xmas Past”.
You see the son is a writer.
He is also a Jesuit priest, who is kind and caring – even though the family
basically doesn’t think that writing is anything important. They see it as a
non-job.
The play itself spends a long
time judging people, especially (the Son) – but they never seem to have the
time to judge themselves. This is a brilliant creation that Bill Cain has come
up with. It could work on several levels – even as an Opera. It has that kind
of Operatic feel to it. The staging is very operatic. You expect them to start
singing a sumptuous Aria.
The older women who is dying,
throws out a couple of four letter words. Hey, wouldn’t you also if you were in
terrible pain? There is no good or evil here. Just a family, that is in deep
despair.
I’ll tell you something. This
play will linger in your mind for quite some time. Maybe forever. It’s
certainly better than say, TV’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
You will be crying with
laughter at times. And if you are not affected by the ending – well, then you
are just not human. It surely will remain in your memory for a long time.
THE TRULY AMAZING STELLAR
PERFORMERS ARE: Aaron Blakely, Linda Gehringer, Leo Marks and Tyler Pierce.
The Scenic Design by Scott
Bradley is a miracle. Callie Floor’s Costume Design embraces a whole new
atmosphere. The miraculous lighting design has created a fantastic visual
imagination.
WRITTEN BY BILL CAIN
DIRECTED BY KENT NICHOLSON
RATING: THREE GLASSES OF
CHAMPAGNE!!! –trademarked-
At the Berkeley Rep
(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicle Sunday Datebook and he has produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))
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