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The Caucasian Chalk Circle - The Mercury News Review

Review: Bertolt Brecht’s classic ‘Chalk Circle’ plays for free in Berkeley

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Below are a few excerpts from the review.
One company that is taking on one of Brecht’s provocative political parables is the community theater Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Actors Ensemble is performing “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” for free outdoors at Berkeley’s John Hinkel Park, where Shotgun Players performed the same play back in 2004. 
 
Annika Bergman narrates the tale with sardonic aplomb as the Singer, who actually doesn’t do much singing. Miranda Tilley is sympathetically perplexed and vexed as Grusha, and Ryan Gonzalez is amiably formal as the soldier who awkwardly woos her. Paulette Herring is flamboyantly daffy as Azdak, a caustic clerk who’s appointed a judge by the soldiers essentially as a nihilistic joke and issues comically nonsensical verdicts based on who bribes her the most.

Review: Bertolt Brecht’s classic ‘Chalk Circle’ plays for free in Berkeley

Thank You

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley is delighted to acknowledge the Berkeley Civic Arts Program and Civic Arts Commission's support in the form of a grant of $8,000.00 awarded in 2017. Also, a thank you to Theatre Bay Area for a grant of $2,500.00.

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Actors Ensemble of Berkeley - P.O. Box 663 - Berkeley - California - 94701 ¦ Our Answering Service: (510) 649-5999 ¦

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID #946139640, since 04-1967