I love sandwiches — open-face, wraps, panini and good-old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly on sourdough. A Monte Cristo used to be my go-to sandwich before I became a vegetarian. Evidently, many others concur with my love of a good sandwich, including playwright Lynn Nottage.
Nottage, who has won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice (2009’s “Ruined” and 2017’s “Sweat”), focuses her latest work on a group of formerly incarcerated individuals working at Clyde’s, a truck stop diner and the play’s namesake.
While the characters contend with their prison experiences, drugs, single parenting and homelessness, Nottage adds a large dollop of humor and catchy music to her recipe, resulting in a warm-hearted comedy that will whet your appetite for more. “Clyde’s” is receiving a delightful co-production from Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Huntington Theatre Company that runs through Feb. 26 at 2025 Addison in Berkeley.
Taylor Reynolds skillfully directs the fast-paced, 90-minute, no-intermission show featuring Wilson Chin’s brightly colored kitchen full of a multitude of sandwich fixings. I can only imagine how busy all those ingredients keep the stage manager and props personnel.
April Nixon plays Clyde, the tough-as-nails owner, with panache in a succession of costume designer Karen Perry’s tight-fitting outfits and Megan Ellis’ elaborate wigs. Although mostly ladling out scalding insults, Nixon lets a touch of vulnerability show before slamming that door hard.
Harold Surratt brings sandwich-maker extraordinaire and philosopher king Montrellous to life with his quiet leadership and zen ways while Cyndii Johnson portrays Letitia “Tish” with a sweetness that can quickly turn to steel when challenged. Moving to a Latino beat, Wesley Guimaraes as Rafael adds a touch of sexuality and romance to the mix as he woos Tish while attempting to make the perfect sandwich.
Louis Reyes McWilliams portrays Clyde’s newest hire, Jason. Covered in white supremacist tattoos, he would seem an odd choice to join the kitchen gang, but McWilliams’ multilevel performance soon has Jason an integral part of the kitchen staff. For tickets to “Clyde’s,” call 510-647-2949 or go online to berkeleyrep.org.
Oakland: Up-and-coming female vocalist Yvonne Flores is taking the local jazz scene by storm as she surrounds herself with top musicians. Her debut album, “Sheer Bliss,” not only features Flores’ unique stylings but also renowned percussionist Pete Escovedo, guitarist Ray Obiedo, flutist Elena Pinderhuges and Santana band members David K. Matthews, Jeff Cressman and Bill Ortiz.
Flores will bring her refreshing musical style to the East Bay for the first time in an eclectic live show at Yoshi’s in Oakland (510 Embarcadero West) at 8 p.m. Feb. 9. Known for her heartfelt emotion and exciting texture, Flores combines jazz, contemporary pop and a sprinkling of Latin and Brazilian rhythms in her show. Of course, there will also be her own imaginings of timeless standards from the Great American Songbook.
To catch this powerful and highly expressive performer at Yoshi’s, call 510-238-9200 or go to yoshis.com. Don’t forget to go early and enjoy a delicious dinner before the show!
San Francisco: A stellar production of “Dear Evan Hanson” continues through Feb. 19 at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre (1192 Market St.). Premiering on Broadway in 2016, this highly emotive story explores the feelings of loneliness and invisibility experienced by some teens. They long for a friend, someone who understands and, not finding anyone, decide to disappear permanently. After all, they’re invisible, so who would even notice if they weren’t in this world anymore?
In the musical, Evan Hanson is dealing with his many anxieties and need to belong when a letter he wrote to himself as a therapy exercise falls into the hands of a classmate’s grieving parents whose son, Connor, has just committed suicide. The letter puts into motion a series of events that ultimately brings comfort to those struggling with depression and their families.
Certainly, this is a difficult subject and not one usually portrayed in musicals. Steven Levenson’s sensitive story touched with humor and Ben Pasek and Justin Paul’s expressive music, however, make it a captivating tale about families struggling with mental health issues and how social media exacerbates the problem.
David Korin’s set with Peter Nigrini’s floor-to-ceiling panels of continually moving social media posts and Japhy Weideman’s gorgeous lighting create the perfect atmosphere for the superb cast to tell this important story. Korin’s beautiful orchard in the final scene with cast members in silhouette is particularly memorable.
Anthony Norman is an endearing Evan Hanson battling his own loneliness with a secret crush on Connor’s sister, Zoe. Displaying a powerful vocal range, Norman was especially impressive with his rendition of “If I Could Tell Her.” In the song, every time he turns to Zoe (well played by understudy Gillian Jackson Han) his voice jumps to his falsetto range.
The rest of the outstanding cast includes Coleen Sexton (Heidi Hansen), Lili Thomas (Cynthia Murphy), August Emerson (Connor Murphy), John Hemphill (Larry Murphy), Michaela Lamas (Alana Beck) and Pablo David Laucerica (Jared Kleinman). For tickets, go to broadwaysf.com.
Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.