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The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Presented by Dragon Productions Theatre Company at Dragon Theatre

August 3-August 27, 2006

Avg. Event Rating (4.1 Stars):
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Written in 1944 while Brecht was living in America, The Caucasian Chalk Circle was initially intended for Broadway. It never quite made it there, but was instead premiered by students at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1948. Brecht's source for the play is most likely Klabund's Circle of Chalk, which was based on an ancient Chinese play written in 1300 A.D. with the same name. Brecht adapted this story into parable form and changed the setting to Soviet Georgia near the end of World War II. VIDEO - "Artsopolis FOCUS: Dragon Productions Theatre Company"

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Venue Info

    Dragon Theatre

    535 Alma Street
    Palo Alto, CA 94301

    Full map and directions

  • Admission Info

    Tickets: $10-$21.50

    Buy Tickets

  • Dates & Times

    Dates:
    August 3-August 27, 2006

    Times:
    Thurs-Sat: 8pm
    Sun: 2pm

  • Accessibility Info

    Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.

  • Video & Image Gallery

    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Intimate play with good talent"
      Review posted by: ST from Los Angeles, CA, Aug 14, 2006
      

      Good for a small production play - the narrator\'s singing is quite pleasant and really ties together the entire production and cast... and the story is quite interesting... the theatre environment... Expand

      Good for a small production play - the narrator's singing is quite pleasant and really ties together the entire production and cast... and the story is quite interesting... the theatre environment was quite intimate which made for a very inviting experience for the audience... quite a range of talent... and overall - worth seeing... Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Worth every minute, cent...(and piastre)!"
      Review posted by: SJF from SJ, Aug 11, 2006
      

      A great experience of sight, sound and mind! Amazing \"multiple\" character portrayals/mannerisms from the ensemble of 15, great pacing, dashes of comedy throughout (with surprises and twists),... Expand

      A great experience of sight, sound and mind! Amazing "multiple" character portrayals/mannerisms from the ensemble of 15, great pacing, dashes of comedy throughout (with surprises and twists), hauntingly beautiful singing and music to Brecht's lyrics, a love story with true chemistry. Satire and contradictions galore. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Worth seeing"
      Review posted by: MK from San Jose, CA USA, Aug 11, 2006
      

      It’s interesting that this play is happening everywhere this summer. I’m a supporter of small and local productions and happened to chance upon this one. If you don’t read the story prior to the... Expand

      It’s interesting that this play is happening everywhere this summer. I’m a supporter of small and local productions and happened to chance upon this one. If you don’t read the story prior to the play, you will be a little challenged with the changing story lines and different characters. But if you take the short 5 minutes to read about the story you will be amazed by each actor’s ability to change from character to character. The singer’s voice was beautiful and tied the story together seamlessly. I am familiar with the story of the love for this child but thoroughly enjoyed the twist of the love story folded in. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Going beyond standard theatre"
      Review posted by: REB from San Jose, CA, Aug 11, 2006
      

      A very timely & creative rendition of Brecht's war-torn story. I really liked the combination of music with the story, complete with harmony and accompaniment performed by the actors themselves (very... Expand

      A very timely & creative rendition of Brecht's war-torn story. I really liked the combination of music with the story, complete with harmony and accompaniment performed by the actors themselves (very talented). There was deep rooted humor and irony that kept me chuckling throughout the show. I agree that it's a long show, but it is well worth it. The Female/Male love interest had incredible energy together. Brecht's play is full of meaning and values that go beyond eye candy and drama. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Thank you for making Brecht more clear to me!"
      Review posted by: Alex from San Francisco ,CA, Aug 11, 2006
      

      Having read the play some years back and been overwhelmed by the number of characters and intricacy of the plot, I was happy to have this play performed for me. It made much more sense than when I... Expand

      Having read the play some years back and been overwhelmed by the number of characters and intricacy of the plot, I was happy to have this play performed for me. It made much more sense than when I read it. I was overjoyed. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Amazing Show"
      Review posted by: Elm Kendall from Sunnyvale, CA, Aug 10, 2006
      

      This play is politically potent and incredibly powerful. Great ensemble performances. A must-see...when does one get a chance to see Brecht in this intimate a venue?

      This play is politically potent and incredibly powerful. Great ensemble performances. A must-see...when does one get a chance to see Brecht in this intimate a venue?

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "First act was rather disappointing"
      Review posted by: CB from Sunnyvale, CA, Aug 09, 2006
      

      I didn\'t stay for the second...the space was very
      warm, and we were nodding off. The acting wasn\'t
      as good as I had hoped, and the cast needs more
      male actors to play the... Expand

      I didn't stay for the second...the space was very warm, and we were nodding off. The acting wasn't as good as I had hoped, and the cast needs more male actors to play the male roles. The children were refreshing. I'm not sure if it was the Brecht play itself that was at fault, or if the production was more amateurish than I expected, having seen a good production the last time I was at this theater. The music was good. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Fresh life breathed into Brecht"
      Review posted by: Iris from San Francisco, CA, Aug 08, 2006
      

      This intimate production was fun and surprisingly accessible and politically pertinent to today. The performers, costumes, and music are all wonderful. Part of the joy was watching the actors come out... Expand

      This intimate production was fun and surprisingly accessible and politically pertinent to today. The performers, costumes, and music are all wonderful. Part of the joy was watching the actors come out as a multitude of different characters. The intimate Dragon Theatre makes you feel like you are part of the action. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "An Interesting experience"
      Review posted by: Susannah from San Jose, CA, Aug 07, 2006
      

      Overall a fair production of a play I think was a bit large for the lovely intimacy of the Dragon Theatre. Great music, cohesive costuming, and some solid performances took this very literate and... Expand

      Overall a fair production of a play I think was a bit large for the lovely intimacy of the Dragon Theatre. Great music, cohesive costuming, and some solid performances took this very literate and stylistic piece about as far as it could go. If you like Brecht, and you know this story, wait past the very heavy first 20 minutes and enjoy the love story that unfolds and the comedy of the second act. Collapse

• Media
  Gallery

  • All Media Gallery

    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

• Member
  Reviews

  • All Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Intimate play with good talent"
      Review posted by: ST from Los Angeles, CA, Aug 14, 2006
      

      Good for a small production play - the narrator\'s singing is quite pleasant and really ties together the entire production and cast... and the story is quite interesting... the theatre environment... Expand

      Good for a small production play - the narrator's singing is quite pleasant and really ties together the entire production and cast... and the story is quite interesting... the theatre environment was quite intimate which made for a very inviting experience for the audience... quite a range of talent... and overall - worth seeing... Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Worth every minute, cent...(and piastre)!"
      Review posted by: SJF from SJ, Aug 11, 2006
      

      A great experience of sight, sound and mind! Amazing \"multiple\" character portrayals/mannerisms from the ensemble of 15, great pacing, dashes of comedy throughout (with surprises and twists),... Expand

      A great experience of sight, sound and mind! Amazing "multiple" character portrayals/mannerisms from the ensemble of 15, great pacing, dashes of comedy throughout (with surprises and twists), hauntingly beautiful singing and music to Brecht's lyrics, a love story with true chemistry. Satire and contradictions galore. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Worth seeing"
      Review posted by: MK from San Jose, CA USA, Aug 11, 2006
      

      It’s interesting that this play is happening everywhere this summer. I’m a supporter of small and local productions and happened to chance upon this one. If you don’t read the story prior to the... Expand

      It’s interesting that this play is happening everywhere this summer. I’m a supporter of small and local productions and happened to chance upon this one. If you don’t read the story prior to the play, you will be a little challenged with the changing story lines and different characters. But if you take the short 5 minutes to read about the story you will be amazed by each actor’s ability to change from character to character. The singer’s voice was beautiful and tied the story together seamlessly. I am familiar with the story of the love for this child but thoroughly enjoyed the twist of the love story folded in. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Going beyond standard theatre"
      Review posted by: REB from San Jose, CA, Aug 11, 2006
      

      A very timely & creative rendition of Brecht's war-torn story. I really liked the combination of music with the story, complete with harmony and accompaniment performed by the actors themselves (very... Expand

      A very timely & creative rendition of Brecht's war-torn story. I really liked the combination of music with the story, complete with harmony and accompaniment performed by the actors themselves (very talented). There was deep rooted humor and irony that kept me chuckling throughout the show. I agree that it's a long show, but it is well worth it. The Female/Male love interest had incredible energy together. Brecht's play is full of meaning and values that go beyond eye candy and drama. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Thank you for making Brecht more clear to me!"
      Review posted by: Alex from San Francisco ,CA, Aug 11, 2006
      

      Having read the play some years back and been overwhelmed by the number of characters and intricacy of the plot, I was happy to have this play performed for me. It made much more sense than when I... Expand

      Having read the play some years back and been overwhelmed by the number of characters and intricacy of the plot, I was happy to have this play performed for me. It made much more sense than when I read it. I was overjoyed. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Amazing Show"
      Review posted by: Elm Kendall from Sunnyvale, CA, Aug 10, 2006
      

      This play is politically potent and incredibly powerful. Great ensemble performances. A must-see...when does one get a chance to see Brecht in this intimate a venue?

      This play is politically potent and incredibly powerful. Great ensemble performances. A must-see...when does one get a chance to see Brecht in this intimate a venue?

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "First act was rather disappointing"
      Review posted by: CB from Sunnyvale, CA, Aug 09, 2006
      

      I didn\'t stay for the second...the space was very
      warm, and we were nodding off. The acting wasn\'t
      as good as I had hoped, and the cast needs more
      male actors to play the... Expand

      I didn't stay for the second...the space was very warm, and we were nodding off. The acting wasn't as good as I had hoped, and the cast needs more male actors to play the male roles. The children were refreshing. I'm not sure if it was the Brecht play itself that was at fault, or if the production was more amateurish than I expected, having seen a good production the last time I was at this theater. The music was good. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "Fresh life breathed into Brecht"
      Review posted by: Iris from San Francisco, CA, Aug 08, 2006
      

      This intimate production was fun and surprisingly accessible and politically pertinent to today. The performers, costumes, and music are all wonderful. Part of the joy was watching the actors come out... Expand

      This intimate production was fun and surprisingly accessible and politically pertinent to today. The performers, costumes, and music are all wonderful. Part of the joy was watching the actors come out as a multitude of different characters. The intimate Dragon Theatre makes you feel like you are part of the action. Collapse

    • Event Name: The Caucasian Chalk Circle
      "An Interesting experience"
      Review posted by: Susannah from San Jose, CA, Aug 07, 2006
      

      Overall a fair production of a play I think was a bit large for the lovely intimacy of the Dragon Theatre. Great music, cohesive costuming, and some solid performances took this very literate and... Expand

      Overall a fair production of a play I think was a bit large for the lovely intimacy of the Dragon Theatre. Great music, cohesive costuming, and some solid performances took this very literate and stylistic piece about as far as it could go. If you like Brecht, and you know this story, wait past the very heavy first 20 minutes and enjoy the love story that unfolds and the comedy of the second act. Collapse

• Media
  Reviews

  • Media Reviews

    There are currently no media reviews for this event.

• What's
  Nearby

  • Nearby Dining

    • California Cafe - 700 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
      Phone: (650) 325-2323 (restaurant) / (650) 325-4339 (private dining and catering)
      Email: paloaltoevents@californiacafe.com