"Dance of the Holy Ghosts" Takes Us to Church, at Ubuntu, Oakland by Robert M. Gardner

Marcus Gardley: Poet of Dysfunctional Love  by Robert M. Gardner Marcus (talented Michael Curry) recites poetry as he fumbles through puberty and on to adulthood, the mediator for his fra…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 12:20am on March 23, 2018[SHARE]

"Between Us" Forges New Paths, at TheatreFIRST, Berkeley by Robert M. Gardner

Viñas, Sakata, Tracys' Heroes Inspire by Robert M. Gardner TheatreFIRST steps out boldly in its premier production of "Between Us," Part B"with three solo plays by Bay Area artists. Part …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 5:14pm on March 5, 2018[SHARE]

"A Streetcar Named Desire" Thrills, Chills, at Ubuntu Theater, Oakland by Robert M. Gardner

Lisa Ramirez Dazzles as Star-Crossed Blanche DuBois by Robert M. Gardner Tennessee Williams elicits emotions far beyond the daily lives of his working class characters in the 1940s French Qu…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 4:33pm on February 9, 2018[SHARE]

"Skeleton Crew" Reveals Workers' Woes, at Marin Theatre, Mill Valley by Robert M. Gardner

Dominique Morisseau Is Sticking to the Union by Robert M. Gardner In bringing "Skeleton Crew" to the Marin Theatre stage, Dominique Morisseau gives us a raw look at the lives of four auto wo…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 2:03am on February 4, 2018[SHARE]

"Born Yesterday" Arouses Laughter, Reflection, at S.F. Playhouse by Robert M. Gardner

Garson Kanin Predicts Trumpian Times by Robert M. Gardner Set Designer Jacqueline Scott has fashioned a spectacular, opulent, hotel suite with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the U.S. C…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 9:09pm on January 30, 2018[SHARE]

"Man of La Mancha" Gives Dreamers Hope, at Custom Made, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Katz and Dietrich Deliver a Timely & Rousing Musical by Robert M. Gardner In the opening scene of "Man of La Mancha," Miguel de Cervantes (striking Edward Hightower) transforms himself o…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 6:38pm on January 17, 2018[SHARE]

"Beautiful, The Carole King Musical" Transports Us, at San Jose Center by Robert M. Gardner

Sarah Bockel as Carole King Makes the Earth Move by Robert M. Gardner The latest version of "Beautiful"The Carole King Musical" features a fast pace and talented performers, especially the h…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:51pm on November 17, 2017[SHARE]

"The Liar" Delights, at Center Rep, Walnut Creek by Robert M. Gardner

David Ives' Modernized Corneille Classic Rings True by Robert M. Gardner "The Liar" is a hoot!  This is a very good comedy that delights on many levels. The Lesher Center has scored anoth…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:40pm on November 7, 2017[SHARE]

"The Song of the Nightingale" Takes Flight, at Town Hall, Lafayette by Robert M. Gardner

Min Kahng Puts Modern Twist on Classic Fairy Tale by Robert M. Gardner Set in Ancient China but with its feet firmly planted in the present, Min Kahng's musical adaptation of the Hans Christ…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 10:46pm on October 11, 2017[SHARE]

"Barbecue" Sizzles with Satire, Comedy, at S.F. Playhouse by Robert M. Gardner

Robert O'Hara Cooks Up Social Class Ridicule by Robert M. Gardner In a working-class community, we meet two O'Mallery families"one white, one black"who are gathering in the park for an inter…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 5:05am on October 4, 2017[SHARE]

"Ain't Too Proud"The Temptations" Dazzles with Harmony, at Berkeley Rep by Robert M. Gardner

Otis Williams Reveals Life Behind Music by Robert M. Gardner "Ain't Too Proud"The Life and Times of The Temptations" takes us on a whirlwind tour of music by The Temptations, The Supremes, a…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:58am on September 23, 2017[SHARE]

"Rashomon" Explodes Reality, at Ubuntu Theater, Oakland by Robert M. Gardner

Philip Kan Gotanda Strikes a Blow for Truth by Robert M. Gardner Say a lie long enough and loud enough, and it becomes the truth.  "Rashomon" In Philip Kan Gotanda's new adaptation of "Ra…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 7:58pm on August 29, 2017[SHARE]

"Castle Happy" Recreates Hollywood Party, at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda by Robert M. Gardner

Dunn & Freed Score Scandalous Musical Intrigue by Robert M. Gardner "Castle Happy" provides us with many happy moments as we meet William Randolph Hearst (skilled Leland Morine) whose ex…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 1:11am on July 25, 2017[SHARE]

"A Life on the Ocean Wave" Whips Up a Storm, at Exit Theatre, S.F. by Robert M. Gardner

Stuart Bousel Serenades Ghosts, Sirens, and Sailors by Robert M. Gardner Lovers of the sea and the stories that surround it will enjoy careening across the stage (err…waves) with this roll…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:45am on July 15, 2017[SHARE]

"An Ideal Husband" Marries Politics with Love, at Town Hall, Lafayette by Robert M. Gardner

Oscar Wilde, the Jon Stewart of Victorian England by Robert M. Gardner Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband," at Town Hall Theatre, pulls out all the stops with great acting, luxurious sets, and …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 3:38am on June 6, 2017[SHARE]

"Monsoon Wedding" Dazzles at Berkeley Repertory Theatre by Robert M. Gardner

Mira Nair Imports Spectacle, Songs, Sweethearts"Bollywood Style by Robert M. Gardner "Monsoon Wedding" depicts a well-to-do Dehli family's frenzied preparations for the elaborate arranged ma…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 8:49pm on May 23, 2017[SHARE]

"The Events": Shock and Terror at Shotgun Players, Berkeley by Robert M. Gardner

David Grieg Exposes Our Innermost Fears by Robert M. Gardner Caleb Cabrera (The Boy) is a wild force of nature. A lithe, seething, multi-faceted actor, Cabrera moves as easily across the sta…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 5:44pm on May 15, 2017[SHARE]

"End of the Rainbow": Judy Dazzles Again, at Lesher Center, W.C. by Robert M. Gardner

Janelle Lutz Sings the Highs, Lows of Judy Garland's Life by Robert M. Gardner It is 1968 in a hotel room in London at the Ritz where Judy Garland (the spectacular Janelle Lutz) arrives with…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 5:35am on April 25, 2017[SHARE]

"To The Bone" Hits Home at Ubuntu Theater, Oakland by Robert M. Gardner

Lisa Ramirez Traps Latina Torment in a Cage by Robert M. Gardner Ubuntu Theater Project's "To The Bone" by Lisa Ramirez shocks us with its immediacy.  Writer and lead actor, Lisa Ramirez …

SOURCE: Theatrius at 9:15am on April 6, 2017[SHARE]

"Smokey Joe's Café" Sizzles, at Town Hall Theatre, Lafayette by Robert M. Gardner

Lieber and Stoller's Whirlwind Trip Down Memory Lane by Robert M. Gardner Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that two Jewish boys from New York wrote the musical timeline of m…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 6:34pm on March 12, 2017[SHARE]

"Don Quichotte," A Romance in Two Ages, at Island City Opera, Alameda by Robert M. Gardner

Massenet Twists the Tale of our Favorite Knight by Robert M. Gardner "Don Quichotte," the second show of Island Opera's 2017 season, capitvates us with its comedy and romance. The intimate v…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 4:07am on March 9, 2017[SHARE]

"Don Pasquale" Delights at Island City Opera, Alameda by Robert M. Gardner

Talented Singers Update Donizetti's Comic Opera by Robert M. Gardner What makes a complete life?  This age old dilemma is the central question of this little gem of a production of Donize…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 11:18pm on January 22, 2017[SHARE]

"Tenderly, Rosemary Clooney Musical" Steals Hearts at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda by Robert M. Gardner

Reliving Juke Box Memories with "America's Sweetheart" by Robert M. Gardner Rosemary Clooney charted four Number One hits in the 50s, including "Come On-A My House, "If I Knew You Were Comin…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 6:03pm on January 9, 2017[SHARE]

"Darwin in Malibu" Surfs Big Ideas, at Indra's Net Theater, Berkeley by Robert M. Gardner

A New Look at Evolution vs. Faith in the 21st Century by Robert M. Gardner Be prepared for a wild ride of imagination in Indra's Net Theater's "Darwin in Malibu" at the historic and beautifu…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 11:14pm on January 1, 2017[SHARE]

Robert M. Gardner by Robert M. Gardner

Robert M. Gardner, a native of North Dakota, is trained as an archaeologist, with a life-long love of the arts. He taught for many years at at Saint Mary's College of California, teaching co…

SOURCE: Theatrius at 8:08am on July 5, 2016[SHARE]