Page 68 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2020

Georgie (Shannon Rider) spots an attractive older man in the train station (John Craven) and impulsively plants a kiss on his neck— thus sparking conversation and intrigue as the two strike up a tentative friendship that promises possibility. Independent and idiosyncratic, both characters navigate their way into this curious relationship, taking baby steps or big leaps of heart. Surprises and twists make for a bumpy road and opportunities for reflection on the mysteries of love.
As sunshine and blossoms work their magic on tired souls, the women unravel thorny life issues, conflicts with each other, and begin to blossom themselves— until the arrival of unexpected male guests threatens the healing and peace. Amusing, a lot
of fun and yet thoughtful, Matthew
Left Edge’s commitment to
mounting recent plays that
haven’t been produced in
Sonoma County continues to
bring us new and exciting works fresh from Broadway, and this one is a great example. You’ll enjoy the humor and ultimately the heart of Heisenberg.
The Buddy Holly Story: Runs Jan. 10 - Feb. 9 6th Street Playhouse G.K. Hardt Theatre
52 W. 6th Street, Santa Rosa 95401
(707) 523-4185 • 6thstreetplayhouse.com/home/
Mary’s Wedding: Runs Jan. 10 - Feb. 1
Main Stage West 104 N. Main St., Sebastopol 95472 (707) 823-0177 mainstagewest.com/
The Wolves: Runs Jan. 24 - Feb. 9
Raven Players Healdsburg 115 North St, Healdsburg 95448 (707) 433 6335 • ravenplayers.org/
Ripcord Runs Jan. 31 - Feb. 16
3333 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma 94952 • (707) • cinnabartheater.com/
Heisenberg Runs Jan. 10 - Feb. 2 at the Left Edge Theatre
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa (707) 546-3600 leftedgetheatre.com/
John Craven and Shannon Rider
in Heisenberg. Photo by Argo Thompson.
A Breath of Spring in Midwinter ~ January days still short on daylight, rain and grey skies clouding our vision— why not take a brief vacation to sunny Italy, via the theatrical treat Enchanted April presented by Sonoma Arts Live?
Heisenberg Has a Heart ~ British playwright Simon Stevens is best known for his mega-hit, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night- time, but you should get to know his more recent work, Heisenberg, presented by Left Edge Theatre opening January 24. Quirky, funny and smart, the plot follows two very different people as they embark on an unlikely romance.
Lotty Wilton (Katie Kelley) and her friend Rose (Lyndsey Sivalingam), tired of the English weather and marriage strife, spot an ad for renting an Italian villa on the Mediterranean coast. A dream of sunshine leads them to enlist other women to join in this hoped-for respite from gloom. Four ladies make their way to Italy, discovering a hillside haven blooming with bougainvillea and much-needed relaxation.
As LET Artistic Director Argo Thompson notes, “I was attracted to this play because of the writing. It’s fresh and unexpected and took me off guard. The characters are oddballs and make choices that keep the audience guessing about who they are and what will happen next. And, I enjoy the correlation with the uncertainty principal. There is no real way to measure subatomic particles nor can we measure these characters and the choices they make. They keep changing right before our eyes.”
Barber’s sweet play encourages all of us to find our own respite from weariness and a return to sunshine and love.
Director Larry Williams tells me he’s enjoying the rehearsal process with his excellent cast. “I love that this is a female driven show. There aren’t that many around that have such fulfilling characters. This cast knows what the show and the characters are about and are pouring themselves in to the characters!”
A sure cure for winter doldrums, Enchanted April’s lively humor and gentle ode to the enduring power of love takes us on a welcome journey with these delightful characters.
Enchanted April: Runs Jan. 24 - Feb. 9
Sonoma Arts Live Andrews Hall, Sonoma Community Center
276 E. Napa St., Sonoma 95476 • (707) 939-9018 • sonomaartslive.org/
Jeanie K. Smith LOVES live theater so every weekend she’s out experiencing shows then writes up reviews which we post on our website. She’s honest and insightful, which we appreciate. When she says “go see this,” it’s good to follow her advice!
READ Jeanie’s reviews online @ SonomaCountyGazette.com
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