Post the stage plays I see in 2010.

Fabulous production at Cal Shakes in Orinda, vividly portraying the choices that women had towards the turn of the century.

Went to Cal Shakes tonight (beautiful area in Orinda with weather that changes from 85 degrees to 55, all in an hour) to see the world premiere adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Pastures of Heaven. The play wove many Steinbeck Salinas characters in and out of the story. Marvelous.

Sylvia is a light comedy about a dog who comes between two apartment dwellers in New York. The dog was played by a young woman who would say “hey!” when barking. Cute.

When my friend and I walked out, she said to me, “Well, I really enjoyed that.” My answer: “That makes one of us.”

Depressing. A dated play about a man who sees nothing wrong in swindling everyone in the town when he made off with their money. Okay, maybe more relevant than dated. Still depressing. And boring. No lessons learned.

It was interesting to see the mother from Little House on the Prairie, Karen Grassle, play Borkman’s wife.

This is a delightful musical now playing at Berkeley Rep. Actually, it’s not a musical per se, but high school boys use the music, pop songs, to express how they’re feeling.

A very funny black comedy playing at the Geary in San Francisco. Stars Olympia Dukakis, who loves to return time and time again to San Francisco. I thoroughly enjoyed this play and highly recommend it.

The “strange devices” include cameras, which were invented in Japan in the late 1800’s. This story, which continues with relatives of characters we meet in the 19th century, concerns photos of Japanese back then, photos which became very valuable in the western world later.

Really intriguing. Now playing at Berkeley Rep.

I’ve never seen Fiddler, live or otherwise. So it was a great thrill. I’m surprised that I knew all the songs, perhaps because they’re now featured in elevators…

An outstanding production, currently at the Geary theatre in San Francisco.

I’m glad I finally got to see this old chestnut. And it was at the Altarena playhouse on Alameda, which means it’s small and intimate. Nice evening, certainly a dated play, the one that made Marilyn Monroe, well, not famous, but certainly noticeable in her early years.