San Jose Stage — Attraction in San Jose

Play That Goes Wrong was not just a mere comedy of errors filled with slapstick hilarity, the play was executed with exceptional proficiency. The parade of non-stop stunts were quite dangerous, but the expert cast executed the many wire-thin pratfalls, et.al. with, shall we say grace?

The play, a Noises Off 2.0 meets The Real Inspector Hound (with a splash of Cocteau thrown in) is almost too funny. The climactic schtick never seems to come and travesty builds on more travesty as the crowd near-literally rolls in the aisles with panting laughter.

And to effect the actor's grace, they had to know that all the set piece gimmicks, peligroso as they were, would not fail, would not become stuck, would work perfectly every time. Awesome job, set and props crew. Finally, Michael Storm's fight choreography must be noted for it's seeming imperilment, including rag doll floppings-around of numerous dead bodies, yet all were safe and far from the harm they portrayed.

Ken Keliher, a Hall of Famer in San Jose theater from large scale classics and tragedies to the delightful 100 seat house comedies he has helmed as Master Director, simply does it again with this piece of perfection.

All the cast: lovely job. The voices, the faces, the trips and hiccups, the timing, the dialects, the pauses: expert, delightful, tops.

The biggest delight was to see the astonishing success that Cathleen and Randy have helmed and weathered for these 2 score years in an often unforgiving artistic climate in the many years when San Jose, CA, was a seeming sister city of Podunk.

Their tenacity, vision and success is unique in the South Bay as countless theater companies of varying sizes have come and gone, brief as the lightning in the collied night.

Thank you, Randy and Cathy, You, as well as the theater, are National Treasures. I am so honored to have been a part of SJS's first decade. Excited to see the next major phase with yet another new theater space (I once performed with SJS in an former auto repair shop with no windows and one door).

Hey San Jose: more ...

We have been members here for several years now. They never fail to disappoint. Their season consists of usually 4 shows and a summer musical. The plays range from classics like "Death of a Salesman" to some contemporary pieces like "RFK" which was a monologue and amazing, to some other more risque subject matter like in "Wild Nights". They also have a summer musical. Two of my favorites have been "Toxic Avenger" and "Aadams Family". The year is a small production so if you go and like it consider becoming a season ticket holder. They are reasonably priced and you would be supporting local art in your community. The theater itself is small and only has a really tiny lot so get the a little early to get street parking. The is usually intermission. It is easier to just bring cash if you want to buy a drink. Summer Musical is up next and will be "Hedwig and the...

I really really like San Jose Stage. I have been attending plays here for years and I am very impressed with the quality of the works and the choices. They have been putting on very sophisticated and high quality productions. I attend a lot of theater in both San Francisco and Berkeley and New York and I am very impressed with San Jose Stage. Plus it is a great theater. There isn't a bad seat in the house and the size allows for a very intimate feel. And everyone there is so determined to please from the artistic director who goes out of his way to make sure the performances are terrific to the incredibly nice staff and volunteers who make you feel so lucky to be there. San Jose is very fortunate to have such a wonderful...