IT TAKES DAN HOYLE TO
CREATE GREAT JOURNALISTIC THEATER
San Franciscans pride themselves on their open mindedness towards all walks of life and outlooks. But do we really listen objectively to other people’s opinions that may vastly differ from our own? We love living in our Blue bubble particularly now in our very divided political times with our whole political future seemingly at stake. The timing of playwright and performance artist Dan Hoyle’s Takes All Kinds at The Marsh San Francisco is perfectly timed with the Presidential Election less than a month away. [Editor’s Note: The show is being remounted January 11 – February 22, 2025, just in time for the inauguration of President Donald Trump.]
To research his latest solo show Dan has left the comfort of The Bay Area and traveled across the country to traditional “Red States”. He’s interviewed and spent time with working class people in Charleston, South Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia and Sarasota, Florida. By meeting a cross-section of people he’s come up with a wide array of material and opinions. Dan’s “Man on the Street” approach to interviewing his subjects allows him to personify these everyday Americans with astounding mimicry and startling accuracy without costumes.
Directed by Aldo Billingslea and Michael Moran, and developed with Charlie Varon, the show contains monologues of these various individuals — different sexes, race and ages — weighing in on our country. It’s not just about their lives. It also includes their thoughts on the coming election, and of course a wide range of opinions on Donald Trump. All these American citizens come from different backgrounds and are portrayed in a non-judgmental way. This talented and versatile actor reminds me of Lily Tomlin’s work in Jane Wagner’s Search For Signs of Intelligent Life… — the way he can instantly and easily change from one character to another with a quick gesture or vocal intonation is phenomenal. He’s not making fun of any of his people; he shows the humanity in all of them. It takes a skilled performer to do this without turning his subjects into caricatures.
The result is seeing a gifted artist providing interesting and thoughtful commentary from many points of view. The show is moving and heartfelt and comes along at just the right time in our conflicted and divided state of affairs. Dan Hoyle is a major talent and a gifted storyteller and performer. Don’t miss this show.
photos of Dan Hoyle by Peter Prato
Takes All Kinds
The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia St
75 minutes | no intermission | ages 15+
Fri at 7:30; Sat at 5 (dark Nov. 1, 2, 8, 29)
ends on December 13, 2024 Remounts January 11 – February 22, 2025
for tickets ($25-$35 sliding scale; $50-$100 reserved), visit The Marsh
