Greek Magic in San Francisco
When the gluten-free diets start to affect the sourdough bread industry in San Francisco, some of the more forward-thinking bakeries start to figure out how to offer gluten-free options. It can be done, and the results can be absolutely delicious. So when theatre as an art form starts to fall into serious trouble, finally giving way to the threat of the talking pictures, there are way and means of making the stage come to life again. In San Francisco, the key has always been a careful but bold ability for reinvention, and it happens all over, but in particular, the Magic Theatre has come through with a spectacular flair, and it’s also absolutely delicious.
With Loretta Greco at the helm as artistic director, it continues to be a very powerful force in global theatre. For locals, or anyone lucky enough to have reservations at a hotel in San Francisco during the season, it’s a great night out. It’s very much alive and well these days, and it’s been able to change with the times. With Luis Alfaro’s version of Oedipus kicking off the year, there is evidence that the bold choices are still the core of what they do. This was an amazing production, and the power of the performance still lies squarely in the hands of the very capable actors.
It’s a continuation of the Magic’s incredible history. It began in 1967, at the Steppenwolf Bar, with a production of an Ionesco show. That was a tumultuous time, and Ionesco is a playwright who understands what revolution is all about, and the combination of elements made for an electric beginning. This is where Michael McClure got his theatre muscles toned, and where Sam Shepard made his home for some rather important years in the history of the new American Realism. These would be hard times to live up to, but the people working and making theatre here now are every bit as formidable as the last generation, and there’s more Magic to come.
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