CUTTING BALL THEATRE PRODUCTION OF "THE TENDERLOIN"

In every major city in this country there is a gritty place where you see the downtrodden living with an blitz of hustlers, panhandlers and street people in the rundown neighborhood. These areas are called “The Tenderloin”. Broadway even had a musical called “The Tenderloin” in the 60’s starring Maurice Evans.

Cutting Ball Theatre Company the leading avant-garde group in the Bay Area is presenting the world premiere of Annie Elias’s “The Tenderloin” which is a raw and often mesmeric evening of documentary theatre. It’s currently playing at the Exit on Taylor which is in the center of The Tenderloin. The two hour riveting drama is the theatre’s group attempt to channel the playwright’s realistic portrayal of the area. The docudrama is based upon interviews with the residents of the area, the children, adults, social workers, cops and other professional who serve the area.

“The Tenderloin” is a well-crafted production dramatized series of interviews that were conducted by the actors who superbly play the various characters of the area. It is reminiscent to the Tectonic Theatre production of “The Laramie Project” that was recently seen at the New Conservatory Theatre Center. Playwright also directs this piece of fascinating theatre.

The company literally brings the neighborhood into the theatre even with its opening piece where the audience observes an onslaught of the area against the impressive Michael Locher’s set which is a jumble of broken furniture and personal items. Even Michelle Mulholland’s costumes are authentic to the area.

There are many brilliant performances by the six actors portraying the characters. Michael Kelly vividly recounts the tasks of caring for a baby alone in one of the apartments. He gives a polish performance as a San Francisco policeman working in the area. One ageing couple enchantingly portrayed by Rebecca Frank and David Sinaiko owners of the Cadillac Hotel remembers that once the district was a thriving Greek area and has now been converted into a “containment zone” for the mentally ill. David Sinaiko also frames the story as Tenderloin historian and photographer Mark Ellinger, many of whose photos embellish the set. He relates a beautiful story of meeting a vet who has lost his wife, his home and everything in life. He wonderfully morphs himself into the role of character called “Still Bill”.

Tristan Cunningham gives some enthralling portraits from an optimistic Filipina counselor Ester Aure to a skeptical street cleaner and a homeless beat boxer trying to hold on his pride. Leigh Shaw switches excellently from a bouncy tittering little girl to a penetrating lawyer. Rebecca Frank smoothly surrogates between a sunny, enthusiastic Chinese American high school senior and a street wise devoted male African American youth counselor. Siobhan Doherty gives a conspicuous portrayal of a woman who feels safer in the Tenderloin then in the suburbs of Palo Alto and transforms herself as Mary Ann Finch, founder of “Care through Touch”.

The Tenderloin runs through June 3rd at Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor Street, San Francisco. For tickets call 415-525-1205 or on line at www.cuttingball.com