Let My Enemy Live Long!, Tanya Shaffer's recounting of her dangerous solo journey up West Africa's Niger River to Timbuktu, opens April 19 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Performances began April 14 for a run through May 2.

Let My Enemy Live Long!, with its title based on a West African proverb, premiered at San Francisco's Venue 9 in 1998, then moved to the Eureka Theatre, where it was nominated for a 1999 Bay Area Theatre Critic's Circle Award. Shaffer has previously performed and toured in her solo show Miss America's Daughters and her play Brigadista. A traveler with a taste for exotic and less-traveled destinations, she is a frequent contributor to Salon.com, which will publish "Wanderlust: Real Life Tales of Adventure and Romance," an anthology that will feature some of her work. She is also at work on a book about her travels in West Africa.

Bab Duru Demetrius accompanies Shaffer on several authentic West African instruments and drums. With an African musical background, Demetrius has performed with Joe Henderson, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock.

Drama-Logue and Bay Area Critic's Circle Award winner Amy Mueller directs. Designing the show are Mikiko Uesegi (sets), Keri Fitch (costumes), Richard Olmsted (lighting) and Matthew Spiro (sound). Elisa Guthertz is the stage manager.

Tickets are $48.50-$19. Berkeley Repertory Theatre is located at 2025 Addison Street. For tickets, call (510) 845-4700. Berkeley Rep is on the web at http://www.berkeleyrep.org. -- By Christine Ehren