Last week Will and I were fortunate enough to go and see Mikhail Baryshnikov in the play "In Paris" at Berkeley Rep. Since Will received comp tickets for working on the show, we were able to make a date night of it by including a delicious dinner in Berkeley.
Now Will and I love to check out fancy new restaurants in the Bay as often as we can afford it. Most of the time, because of my vegetarian tendencies, we end up eating Italian (which I adore!). There are some great places, including the scrumptious looking Pizzaiolo in Oakland, but this time I wanted to do something a bit cheaper and down-to-earth. So we decided on the ever-popular Saturn Cafe for vegetarian burgers and fries!
That's right folks, this beloved Santa Cruz institution now has a branch in Berkeley right off of Shattuck. The decor and menu are the same, and it is comforting to know that this vegetarian/vegan diner is now closer to my current home. What better place than Berkeley?
After a stop at the Ben and Jerry's store for some delicious dessert (Bonnaroo Buzz, anyone?), we took a leisurely walk down to the theatre.
"In Paris" is definitely a show I would recommend to all of my theatre friends. I have sat through many experimental shows on my college campus, Yet I had never experienced something so out of the ordinary on a professional level.
The 80 minute play was adapted from a short story by Ivan Bunin, composed and directed by Dmitry Krymov. Starring Baryshnikov, Anna Sinyakina, and a stellar ensemble, this piece was a compilation of scenes that were driven by movement, music, and limited dialogue (note: all in French or Russian with English supertitles). The pace was slow, like an old film, and focused more on portraying the moment, whether solitary or between two people, instead of relying on fast action and rapid dialogue.
The design was a mixture of the low and high tech, marrying 2 dimensional set pieces (carried on and off by the ensemble) with clever use of projections. Everything gave off the air of being incredibly simple--from the illuminating lighting to the quick-change costumes--and yet so much thought was put in to each choice. You could see the influence of movement and dance in the action, choices, and the design. There were both incredibly funny and poignant moments throughout, and the primarily black-and-white design did transport you to Paris in the 1930s. Barishnikov had almost an hypnotic power onstage--it is easy to see how his performance has captivated audiences (and women) for decades.
As stated above, this piece was very experimental. It took a few days for me to process the show, and it is a play that lends itself well to discussion. However, there were people in the audience around us who seemed less than pleased. I think many people expected something different, and if they were paying full price it may have been a bit disappointing for them.
I, for one, was so happy to have been able to see the show. There is a lot of theatre that I would not get to see without comp tickets, and I am extremely grateful for these opportunities. Date night and theatre performance both get an A from me.
This was a wonderful date night. I love downtown Berkeley because there are so many awesome places within walking distance. We parked across from the theatre, which had a $5 flat rate after 6pm, and stayed on foot for the evening. This, and our choice of delicious comfort food over fancy fare, made the evening an affordable alternative to a night out in the city.
Price: Moderate
note: I categorize this date as "moderate" because we received comp tix. If we had paid in full, the price of the date would be categorized as "splurge." However, Berkeley Rep does offer an under 30 discount--look around and you might find that the theatre is more affordable than you think.
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