Lynne Friedmann
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Science writer and author. Current focus: The history and science of ink.
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Articles by Lynne Friedmann
Scapin
A pair of entitled young men lose their hearts to penniless maidens. Bliss is interrupted when their domineering fathers return from extended travel and announce arranged marriages are in place for each of the beaus. If the financially dependent sons stand up to their patriarchs, they are certain to be disinherited. How can the lovers possibly get out of this pickle? Through farce, of course, in a masterful adaptation of the 17th century theatrical classic “Scapin” by Molière.
The Most Happy Fella
In 1927 Napa Valley, a smitten man woos a young woman he knows only through letters and postcards. She agrees to marriage not realizing that the face in the photo sent by her suitor is that of a different man. Can the two get past deception, achieve forgiveness and embrace love? The answer lies in the musical “The Most Happy Fella,” at North Coast Repertory Theater.
Beau Jest
Sarah is a young Jewish woman in love with the perfect Jewish boyfriend. Her parents are delighted with the news and can’t wait to meet him. The problem is Mr. Wonderful doesn’t exist. Sarah invented him and hires an actor to pretend he is her beloved; this in an effort to halt her mother’s relentless efforts to introduce her to eligible men. By the way, Sarah actually does have a boyfriend, but he isn’t Jewish.
The Maltese Falcon
Hard-boiled detective Sam Spade is solving crimes and slaying funny bones in a laugh-filled reimagining of “The Maltese Falcon,” a world premiere at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Hewing faithfully to the 1930 novel by Dashiell Hammett and the 1941 film starring Humphrey Bogart, the plot revolves around the whereabouts of a priceless, jewel-encrusted statue of a falcon and the femme fatale, unscrumptious collector and hired thugs all willing to resort to deceit, betrayal and murder to claim it.
Louisa Ellis
The power of the pen takes on new meaning when a letter written as an act of revenge on an unfaithful husband traps three generations on a 40-year rollercoaster ride of toxic emotions in the world premiere of the drama “Louisa Gillis,” on stage at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Louisa inhabits the story, but we never meet her. All we know is she came from Old Money and lived on New York City’s upper West Side in a mansion built a century ago by the Astor family.
Louisa Gillis
The power of the pen takes on new meaning when a letter written as an act of revenge on an unfaithful husband traps three generations on a 40-year rollercoaster ride of toxic emotions in the world premiere of the drama “Louisa Gillis,” on stage at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Louisa inhabits the story, but we never meet her. All we know is she came from Old Money and lived on New York City’s upper West Side in a mansion built a century ago by the Astor family.
Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground
In 1962, a group of 75 historians ranked US Presidents in terms of their contributions to the nation and effectiveness as leaders on the world stage. President Dwight D. Eisenhower landed far down the list in the “mediocre” category as the scholars pronounced him a “great American” but not a “great President.” Ouch! This slight informs the solo drama “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground,” receiving its San Diego Premiere at North Coast Rep.
Observing Jane Goodall
Dusk on a spring evening, in 1997, in downtown Los Angeles. I stood in the backyard of a multimillion-dollar residence straddling a hilltop overlooking a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game in progress. Muted freeway noise drifted up the escarpment. The adjacent garden featured meandering walkways and succulent plants, appropriate for the home’s Mission Revival architecture.
Noises Off
Ever wonder what goes on backstage of a theater while actors are center stage? Wonder no more thanks to The Old Globe’s production of the farce “Noises Off.” It’s a chaotic, comedic reveal, albeit with a few caveats.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
Before the advent of DNA ancestry services streamlined the hunt for distant relatives, the British relied on Burke’s Peerage for researching genealogy, the more aristocratic the better. In the musical comedy “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” a man, who has led a life of privation, suddenly learns he has noble blood coursing through his veins and hatches a plan to get the upper hand on the upper crust.
Peril in the Alps
A kidnapping, a gold digger, a whistling bricklayer, mysterious notations on a spouse’s calendar, a murder and endless cups of hot cocoa. It can only mean one thing: Detective Hercule Poirot and sidekick Captain Arthur Hastings are shifting clues in the case of “Peril in the Alps,” a world premiere comedy-mystery at North Coast Repertory Theatre. Returning to the NCR stage is actor Omri Schein as Agatha Christie’s character Poirot, last seen in “Murder on the Links” (2023).
What the Constitution Means to Me
Care to hazard a guess as to which is the most produced play in America today? It’s Heidi Schreck’s “What the Constitution Means to Me,” an insightful report card on how this 237-year-old document has performed its job for We the People. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with this captivating Tony nominated, Pulitzer Prize finalist drama, making its San Diego Premiere at North Coast Rep.
The Half Life of Marie Curie
You would think life would be a bed or roses for someone with two Nobel Prizes on their resume. So why, in 1911, did Marie Curie, one of the most famous scientists in history, find her reputation in tatters and her laboratory research in jeopardy as everyone – colleagues, friends and the public – turned their backs on her? Everyone, that is, except one. The power of female friendship is at the heart of “The Half-Life of Marie Curie,” receiving its San Diego Premiere at New Village Arts Theatre.
Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
“Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help” is a comedy with a bite, centered on a singular event (and it’s a doozy) in the life of a devout Irish American family. Through inspired writing and intricate plot development, playwright Katie Forgette opens a wide aperture on the 1970s, an era in which women young and old redefined themselves and their role in society. The story’s location isn’t pinpointed, but suffice to say it could be any community where small minds and big mouths exist.
Murder on the Orient Express
An opulent train stranded without hope of rescue, a stone-cold corpse, suspects galore and a private investigator who thought he was on vacation are sidetracked on a comedic ride in a new telling of the Agatha Christie classic “Murder on the Orient Express,” at the Old Globe Theatre.
A View from the Bridge
A landmark drama, written in the 1950s, about fidelity, toxic masculinity and the scapegoating of undocumented immigrants continues to resonate in a searing production of Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge,” launching the 43rd season of North Coast Repertory Theatre. Set in a downtrodden neighborhood in Brooklyn, Eddie Carbone is a longshoreman of Italian descent for whom justice and honor are of the utmost importance.
8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s
Want to learn all about or simply refresh your memory of what life was like in the 1970s? No need to consult a mountain of scholarly books or watch multiple episodes of the History Channel. Everything you need to know is in the toe-tapping, head-bobbing, shake-your-booty musical revue “8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s,” at New Village Arts Theatre.
Don't Dress for Dinner
The 230-foot-long, medieval-era Bayeux Tapestry is among the most famous textiles in the world. But its needlework intricacy cannot hold a candle to the voluminous, embroidered lies told by a group of naughty adults desperate to avoid being exposed (in both meanings of the word) during a weekend rendezvous that goes bonkers in the uproarious farce “Don’t Dress for Dinner” at North Coast Rep.
Camelot
A man with power must choose between hewing to the letter of the law or doing whatever it takes to advance his personal aims. Don’t know who pops into your mind but I’m referring to King Arthur, whose timeless tale receives a streamlined interpretation in the musical “Camelot” on stage at North Coast Rep.
Stir
It’s 2021 and siblings Henry and Mariana are doing what all of us were doing that year: Living through the pandemic via Zoom. Separated by a thousand miles, one day Henry sets up an urgent call with his sister. What’s the emergency? Beans. Specifically, their late mother’s black-bean recipe that, try as he might, Henry can’t seem to master. Is there a secret?
The 39 Steps
Your next satisfying belly laugh awaits at New Village Arts Theatre courtesy of a pitch-perfect production of the comedy “The 39 Steps.” This parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 drama of the same name is the story of Richard Hannay, a Canadian on holiday, who finds himself in an extraordinary and dangerous situation as a mysterious woman he meets at a London Music Hall reveals she is a spy and implores him to protect her.
Sense of Decency
Following World War II, high-ranking Nazi Germany leaders were brought before the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg to answer for war crimes. Prior to appearing in court, the accused had to be certified as mentally competent to stand trial. A young U.S. Army psychiatrist in charge of overseeing these critical assessments spent months conducting interviews with a score of defendants in their dingy detention cells.
Tartuffe
A 360-year-old satirical comedy still delivers razor-sharp wit in the 21st century in a captivating production of “Tartuffe” at the North Coast Repertory Theatre.
Intimate Apparel
The year is 1905, and there’s a bridal party going on at a boarding house in Lower Manhattan. Absent from the festivities is an African American woman who, for nearly two decades, has sat alone at a treadle-powered sewing machine in her rented room crafting exquisite lingerie for other women. Having just turned 35, she resigns herself to never finding love.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
This Halloween season, skip the haunted house tours and head to North Coast Rep for an edge-of-your-seat theatrical experience as good and evil do battle in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” This adaptation, by playwright Jeffrey Hatcher, of Robert Louis Stevenson’s gothic Victorian classic pays tribute to the original while adding ingenious constructs that ratchet-up the suspense, such as having four actors take turns (at times simultaneously) portraying the sinister Edward Hyde.
The Angel Next Door
A man writes a novel based on a woman he idolizes. A playwriting duo crafts a script based on the book draft and envisions it going straight to Broadway and critical acclaim. Unfortunately, the author’s love is unrequited, the book has no publisher, the play has no producers and the only copy of the typewritten manuscript is in danger of vanishing. Words on paper got everyone into this mess.
Pippin
North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego A young man in search of meaning and significance in his life finds unexpected magic in North Coast Rep’s enchanting production of “Pippin.” The time is now, and we meet Pippin (Brendan Dallaire) as he stages a break-in of a deserted and derelict theater. Meandering backstage he beholds the ghost light moving across the boards of its own accord and soon Pippin is surrounded by a gaggle of costumed performers who appear seemingly out of thin air.
Eleanor
North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego Eleanor Roosevelt, diplomat, author, speaker, humanitarian and longest-serving First Lady of the United States, is buried next to her husband Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the family’s estate in Hyde Park, New York, yet her spirit is troubled. She finds solace only when seated on her favorite park bench in Washington, DC in “Eleanor” making its West Coast Premiere at North Coast Rep.
Singin' in the Rain
New Village Arts Theatre, San Diego Pulling out all stops, New Village Arts has delivered an exuberant staging of “Singin’ in the Rain,” with a gifted cast that pays tribute to the mid-century MGM musical romance-comedy that starred Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, while indelibly making this show all its own.
Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play
Old Globe Theatre, San Diego The transition from childhood to adolescence is an emotional rollercoaster as the first steps toward independence collide with adult authority, sibling rivalry, budding romance and – in the case of one teenager – a family secret that takes center stage in the comedy “Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play,” receiving its world premiere at the Old Globe.
The Roommate
New Village Arts, Carlsbad, CA Two middle-aged women, each on wildly different journeys of transformation intersect in “The Roommate,” receiving its San Diego Premiere at New Village Arts Theatre. Sharon, played by Milena (Sellers) Phillips, is a chatty Midwesterner whose son lives a thousand miles away and routinely ignores his mother’s multiple-times-a-day phone calls and text messages.
The Cherry Orchard
North Coast Repertory Theatre, Solana Beach, CA While it may seem a reach to tickle an audience’s funny bone with a story of an aristocratic Russian family forced to surrender its ancestral home and magnificent orchard, historic documents attest to Chekhov’s intention the play be performed as a comedy. The director of the 1904 world premiere in Moscow, however, had other ideas and delivered a dark tragedy that set audience expectations for more than a century that are hard to unspool.
The Ferryman
It’s harvest time in rural Northern Ireland. A time of hard work, but also an occasion for exuberant celebration as those gathered give thanks for kinship and the year’s bounty. For one family, the harvest of 1981 will bring with it a bitter crop reaped from political seeds sown a decade earlier in the drama “The Ferryman,” at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. In the sprawling first act, we meet the sprawling family of farmer Quinn Carney (Thomas Edward Daugherty).
The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci
If you have ever imagined yourself attending a fantasy dinner party where Leonardo da Vinci is a guest, the closest you will come to fulfilling that wish is seeing “The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci,” on stage at the Old Globe. Playwright-director Mary Zimmerman has created a remarkable theatrical experience – devoid of a traditional storyline – that marries passages from Leonardo’s famed notebooks with engaging imagery and dazzling performance feats.
Blues in the Night
North Coast Rep. San Diego. The Blues tells it like it is – love, loneliness, sex, betrayal but also humor and resilience. In “Blues in the Night,” three women and a man repeatedly cross paths in a rundown Chicago hotel in 1938 with their interwoven stories told entirely through the songs of Bessie Smith, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Alberta Hunter, among others. This musical revue of early jazz and blues standards tugs at the heart and comforts the soul.
Two Pianos, Four Hands
North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego There are many reasons for a child to take piano lessons. Aside from the mastery of an instrument and musical scores, beginners learn concentration, a strong work ethic and how to push themselves.
Annabella in July
A couple hoping to rekindle their stale marriage is inexplicably drawn to a California ski resort in the off-season where a door opens of its own accord beckoning them into a magical portal of self-discovery for the characters and audience members alike in the comedy “Annabella in July,” receiving its world premiere at North Coast Rep.
Dial M for Murder
Tony Wendice is a world-class cad. Married for money, neglected his wife, got his nose out of joint when she took a lover and now wants her dead. To ensure fulfillment of that impulse doesn’t send Tony on a trip to the gallows, he has spent a year methodically planning the perfect crime to both eliminate his spouse and enlarge his bank account with her fortune. A life hangs in the balance when a fateful phone call is placed in “Dial M for Murder” at The Old Globe.
The Remarkable Mister Holmes
A World Premiere at the North Coast Rep Sherlock Holmes is having an off day. Housekeeper Mrs. Hudson is in Glasgow visiting family and Dr. Watson is inexplicably absent from 221b Baker Street. Finding himself at loose ends, Holmes removes a pair of maracas from a desk drawer, confides to the audience that his ambition in life was to become a dancer and launches into a lively cha-cha.
The Outgoing Tide
North Coast Repertory Theatre, Solana Beach, CA A man, who spent his working life negotiating with Teamsters, presents an audacious proposal to his wife and son to end his life on his own terms before dementia removes his voice from the bargaining table. The North Coast Rep production of “The Outgoing Tide” succeeds masterfully in acknowledging issues none of us want to discuss yet urgently need to address for ourselves and our loved ones.
An Iliad
Need proof of the sustaining power of the performing arts in troubled times? Look no further than the North Coast Rep’s gripping production of “An Iliad,” in which Homer’s ancient classic “The Iliad” informs a meditation on unrest in the modern world. This is must-see theater.
The Homecoming
In the dead of night, a university professor returns unannounced to his childhood home in a scruffy part of London after years of estrangement from his working-class family. An old key buried in his pocket effortlessly unlocks the front door. It’s a tip-off that, in addition to the lock, nothing here has changed including the combustible family dynamics that prompted his earlier escape to America.
1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas
New Village Arts Theatre launches its 20th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of the musical “1222 Oceanfront: A Black Family Christmas.” Featuring a mix of re-imagined classic carols and original songs, it’s a touching and humorous story about how nostalgia can unwittingly hold people back from a more rewarding future.
Ben Butler
In the early days of the American Civil War, a political appointee with no military experience is placed in charge of a Union-held fortification in Virginia. Within days of the commanding officer’s arrival, three runaway slaves seek sanctuary at the fort, but federal law compels the return of the trio to their owners “within the territory of the United States.” Hold on. Virginia has just seceded from the Union effectively making Old Dominion a foreign nation in which U.S. law does not apply.
CultureVulture Hair - CultureVulture
Live theater is back at The Old Globe after a 17-month pandemic hiatus with an exuberant full-scale, outdoor production of the groundbreaking musical “Hair,” and San Diego theatergoers – some wearing bell-bottoms, tie-dye shirts, and flowers in their hair – are more than ready to turn on and tune in.
CultureVulture Dr. Glas - CultureVulture
A principled, duty-bound man takes a step out of his lane and loses his moral compass in the engrossing world premiere of the psychological thriller “Dr. Glas,” a world premiere filmed for streaming by North Coast Rep.
Becoming Dr. Ruth - CultureVulture
Among the hallmarks of 1980s culture were big hair, shoulder pads, yuppies, MTV and a middle-aged Jewish woman with a heavily accented raspy voice who achieved worldwide fame as a sex therapist. In “Becoming Dr. Ruth” you learn that Ruth K.
The Mango Tree - CultureVulture
A girl and her brother, a volatile river goddess, and a ripe mango tantalizing just out of reach on a branch high above the ground combine to deliver an evening of storytelling magic in the MOXIE Theatre streaming production of “The Mango Tree.” This world premiere of playwright/performer Bibi Mama’s one-woman play plays homage to the tradition of West African folk tales passed down by her father.
CultureVulture Trying - CultureVulture
First-day-on-the-job jitters take on new meaning when your boss was a judge at the Nuremberg trials for Nazi war criminals. How a young woman, at the beginning of her life’s journey, finds common ground with a tormented man at the end of a storied career, is earnestly told in “Trying;” a top-notch streaming production by North Coast Rep. We meet retired Judge Francis Biddle (James Sutorius) in his home office, in Washington, D.C., where he has been burning through secretaries at a fast pace.
Same Time, Next Year - CultureVulture
Two people away from home allow flirtation to lead to a fling. What should be a one-night stand instead stands the test of time in the romantic comedy “Same Time, Next Year,” at North Coast Rep. We meet George (Bruce Turk) and Doris (Katie MacNichol) as they untangle bedcovers, round up jettisoned clothing and come to terms with guilt after waking up together in a guest cottage of a Northern California inn.
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