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Live theatre, with a Covid-age twist

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Sonoma Valley Sun

Sonoma Arts Live has mounted its first piece of live theatre in over a year with Pinky, a play by David Templeton. The pandemic-era twist: the show will be streamed live, with a new evening performance each night February 19-21. 

The tale of an oddball courtship stars husband-and-wife team Julianne and Mark Bradbury. It may be on the small screen, but the production, says director Larry Williams, is a big deal. “This new method of safe theater is challenging in so many ways,” he says. “There’s almost more work involved: more cues, visuals stepping in for set pieces, finding the necessary equipment, and experimenting with a completely new form of theater.” 

The show is offered by donation-only at Sonomaartslive.org.

The company was eager to get back on stage, says Executive Artistic Director Jaime Love, even if that means the home of the married actors. The result is, “a story of young love that is sure to soften your heart and perhaps remind you of the crazy things you did for love.”

Keeping theater alive has been a struggle since the turn of events last February, says Williams. “We theater folk are resilient and determined, though.”

Williams is familiar to SAL audiences, both as an actor (Higgins, My Fair Lady) and director (Enchanted April; A Christmas Story: The Musical). With Pinky, “We’ve come up with a production that can be presented to you from the comfort of your home – a romantic story of first love.”

Written and performed as overlapping, sometimes merging monologues, Pinky – based loosely on a true story – invites its two now-grown-up characters to take turns telling their own, sometimes conflicting, versions of what actually happened one magical, surprise-packed summer all those years ago.  

“Until we can be together again on the Rotary Stage in Andrews Hall of our beloved Sonoma Community Center, we look forward to sharing creative work with you, live, online,” says Love. 

 



One thought on “Live theatre, with a Covid-age twist

  1. Thanks so much for the shout out to PINKY! It’s so beautifully written, and based on a true story by local playwright David Templeton! Don’t be afraid of the medium, just click on zoom link, and director Larry Williams will be there to talk you through setting up to see it as intended! Actors are terrific and we are grateful they turned their home into a studio with green screen and three cameras!!

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