San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre finds itself on Cloud 9. Caryl Churchill's farcical comedy, that is, running May 5-June 30. The revival, part of the sixth Pride Season, is directed by Arturo Catricala (Snakebit, Debunking Love).
The winner of three Obies and two Drama Desk Awards, Cloud 9 takes non-traditional casting to satiric heights. Set in "darkest" but British Africa in the Victorian 1880's and modern-day London, the comedy casts a man as British official Clive's wife Betty, a rag doll as their daughter Victoria, a girl as their son Edward and a white actor as the black servant Joshua. These visually strange characters are complimented by the Clive's friend Harry, the bisexual explorer and lesbian governess Mrs. Saunders, who runs around in a riding habit. Act Two finds these same characters in the sexually free 80's, still trying to establish their identities.
Churchill's other works include Mad Forest: a Play from Romania, Serious Money, A Mouthful of Birds and Top Girls.
Tickets are $25-$15. The New Conservatory Theatre Center is located at 25 Van Ness Avenue near Market Street. For tickets, call (415) 861-8972. The New Conservatory Theatre Center is on the web at http://www.nctcsf.org.
— By Christine Ehren
