Charles Dickens

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A Roving Pack of Raving Santas

Twain Shall Meet

The Best of Times

Un-Scripted Theater's Improvised Dickens Musical Is Hard Times Indeed

Here's a testament to the make-it-up-as-it-goes ethos of improv. If a show isn't going anywhere, really, the cast might have it in themselves to fix it as they go. Such a phenomenon occurred last weekend at a performance of Un-Scripted Theater's A Tale of Two Genres, and ambitious -- perhaps too m ... More >>

Bouncer Meets the Panhandlers Outside Hobson's Choice

Here's a testament to the make-it-up-as-it-goes ethos of improv. If a show isn't going anywhere, really, the cast might have it in themselves to fix it as they go. Such a phenomenon occurred last weekend at a performance of Un-Scripted Theater's A Tale of Two Genres, and ambitious -- perhaps too m ... More >>

Bouncer Gives a Hobson's Choice to a Panhandler Outside Hobson's Choice

​From this week's Bouncer column: Hobson's Choice is a great name for a bar in this town, and not just because it's also the title to a great David Lean film. The phrase "Hobson's Choice" is a reference to Thomas Hobson, who was a postal carrier in 1500s England. When he wasn't using his hors ... More >>

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Our critics weigh in on local theater

More Theater Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

More Theater Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

More theater reviews

Our critics weigh in on local productions

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Our critics weigh in on local theater

More Theater Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Top 5 Most Excruciating Moments in Music Documentaries

We've yet to see Joaquin Phoenix documenting his own nervous breakdown in new movie I'm Still Here, but critics have been largely disgusted by what's on view. With that in mind, here are five other moments in music documentaries that have left us feeling queasy and depressed.5. Jim Morrison Having H ... More >>

Bouncer’s Christmas Carol

We've yet to see Joaquin Phoenix documenting his own nervous breakdown in new movie I'm Still Here, but critics have been largely disgusted by what's on view. With that in mind, here are five other moments in music documentaries that have left us feeling queasy and depressed.5. Jim Morrison Having H ... More >>

A Christmas Carol : Dickens in CGI

We've yet to see Joaquin Phoenix documenting his own nervous breakdown in new movie I'm Still Here, but critics have been largely disgusted by what's on view. With that in mind, here are five other moments in music documentaries that have left us feeling queasy and depressed.5. Jim Morrison Having H ... More >>

Christmas Dinner: Don't Knock the Steak

By Matthew Stafford Christmas dinner is the great afterthought of the holiday season. So much time is spent shopping and card-writing and party-going and eggnog-sipping, there's barely enough time to think about what to eat for supper once the presents are unwrapped and the stockings are emptied. C ... More >>

No Dickensian Christmas in SF as Harlots, Peaceniks, Go to Washington

Traditional Christmas in San Francisco is a colorful Charles Dickens pageant of ragtag peaceniks and harlots on Market. Street, in the Tenderloin, and in the Mission. Most years, they recreate the mood of a Victorian-London slum by begging passersby for alms in exchange for political pamphlets or se ... More >>

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Our critics weigh in on local theater

Also Playing

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Also Playing

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge ably spoofs A Christmas Carol

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Caffe Shines During Visit From Oliver Twist and Bouncer

Our critics weigh in on local theater

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Our critics weigh in on local theater

An Intoxicating Combination

Neil Bartlett's Oliver Twist makes the Dickens classic resonate with modern audiences

A Scrooge Is Born

Neil Bartlett's Oliver Twist makes the Dickens classic resonate with modern audiences

Yule Be Sorry

A shimmering play about the darkness of the past

Christmas Present

ACT's new Carol brings out the best and the worst in a favorite holiday tradition

Say Schwa

Spending depressed days at Tosca, eavesdropping on silly bands

Artful Dodging

Polanski's Oliver Twist misses the grit of Dickens' classic

Encore

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Encore

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Encore

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Encore

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Encore

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Encore

Our critics weigh in on local theater

The Picnic Papers

Cal Shakes' outdoor, sprawling Nicholas Nickleby moves fast enough to hold your attention

Holiday Events

Cal Shakes' outdoor, sprawling Nicholas Nickleby moves fast enough to hold your attention

Reps Etc.

Cal Shakes' outdoor, sprawling Nicholas Nickleby moves fast enough to hold your attention

Night&Day

Cal Shakes' outdoor, sprawling Nicholas Nickleby moves fast enough to hold your attention

Holiday Listings 2002

Arts, Crafts, Events, and Performances for the Holidays

EVENTS

Arts, Crafts, Events, and Performances for the Holidays

San Francisco Victorians

At the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, 'tis always the season for historical fidelity

Hard Times

Outside Providence

Stage

Outside Providence

REAL ASTROLOGY For an Unreal World

Outside Providence

Night + Day

Outside Providence

Johnny Gets His Gun

Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man lies on the frontiers of tedium

Letters

Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man lies on the frontiers of tedium