Stark Insider

Needless to say, besides all of the other selections that made it to our cellar, a case of the 2009 Ancient Vine Zinfandel Reserve futures is safely on order.

At first blush Reynolds does not strike one as quite the lothario type, but he evinces enough of an artist’s ego, passion, and an insouciant, Latin charm to win one over.

After close to a half hour following the evacuation, with fire fighters still inside the theatre, the cast of “Curtains” gathered upon the landing, and one cast member called to the audience, asking them to congregate on the lower flight and below.

On the west shore of Lake Tahoe there is a section of 10 MPH hairpin turns, overlooking the most magnificent view of Lake Tahoe.

The opening sequence is a poignant solo rendition of Dire Straits’ “Romeo and Juliet” by chorus member Miranda Morris. It sets just the right, wistful tone and serves as an introduction to the narrative for the uninitiated.

Between each of the three hysterical, exhausting “acts,” the affable Canadian takes a short break on stage as himself to talk to the audience. And after the finale he once again steps out of character with a short epilogue explaining the genesis of the show and how he ultimately obtained permission from Lucasfilm to continue parodying their intellectual property.

We all have expectations about how great life will be once we have the freedom to follow our dreams, once we break out of our old tired patterns. Ooooh, life is gonna be soooo perfect once I have achieved that next big thing.

Admittedly, Sir Elton John has composed some of the most memorable pop melodies of our time, but he fails to deliver a single one for this disappointing, albeit often entertaining, extravaganza.

Steering clear of the transition zone, that place of limbo. I’ve got one foot on either side, and a big sea in between.

With this production, Ray of Light Theatre has once again proven itself to be a force to be reckoned with in Bay Area musical theatre.