FRIDAY, OCT. 27 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing on Fridays until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Dr. Lisa Feuchtbaum on “Newborn Screening” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

“Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties” A documentary by Robert Greenwald at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., between Broadway and Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 

An Evening of Claire Burch Films, in appreciation and memory of Allen Cohen at 6 p.m. at Unitarian Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St. 547-7602. 

FCC Hearing on Media Ownership starting at 5 p.m. at the Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway at 10th St. The public is encouraged to attend. Sponsored by the NAACP, Media Alliance, the Youth Media Council, and Free Press. For more information see www.media-alliance.org 

Haunted House at an historic English Tudor-style house, 2647 Durant Aven. Free to Berkeley and Oakland students from 4 to 6 p.m. 562-2506. 

UC Berkeley Asian Business Association’s Charity Fashion Show at 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave: Cost is $10. jchea@berkeley.edu  

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. 548-6310. 

SATURDAY, OCT. 28 

Parade of People for Impeachment and the Restoration of Our Rights from Oakland to Berkeley. Begins at 9:30 a.m. at Grand Lake, 11 a.m. at Piedmont clock tower, 12:30 p.m. at College & Ashby, 1:30 p.m. at the Berkeley BART. oakland@bluebottle.com 

Native Plant Fair with Berkeley native plants, bulbs, seeds, books, art, and crafts for sale, talks by experts and fun activities for children, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sun. from noon to 3 p.m. at Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Dr., Tilden Park. 496-6016. www.ebcnps.org  

Codornices Creek Watershed Tour Meet at 9 a.m. near the mouth of Codornices Creek at Albany Waterfront Trail, where Buchanan St. dead ends north of Golden Gate Fields, west of I-580. The tour will begin at the upstream end of the watershed and will consist of stops with different speakers along various points of the creek, ending at the mouth of the creek near the meeting point. 452-0901. 

Ohlone Dog Park Cleanup Day at 10 a.m. at Ohlone Dog Park, on Hearst between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Grant St. Sponsored by Ohlone Dog Park Association. ohlonedogpark.org 

The New School Halloween Bazaar, with face painting, children's games, rummage and book sales, haunted house, food and entertainment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 606 Bonita Street, at Cedar. 548-9165. 

“Breaking the Silence” with former Israeli military commander Yehuda Shaul, founder of a group of ex-combatants who reveal how Israeli soldiers regularly violate the human rights of Palestinians while serving in the Occupied Territories, at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Church Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St., at Bonita. Sliding scale donation $5-$20. 465-1777. 

Breast Cancer in Our Community with Lisa Bailey, MD, Medical Director of the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at 11 a.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. Registration is required. 549-9200. 

Teens Touch the Earth learn how to protect the bay, wildlife and native plants, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Miller Knox. Community service credit available. Registration required. 636-1684. 

“Fall Blooming Perennials & Shrubs” at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. 

Harvest Festival, with activities for children and entertainment for adults from noon to 4 p.m. at Bay Street, Emeryville. 655-4002. 

Neighborhood Anti-War Rally at 1:30 p.m. at the corner Acton and University. Sponsored by the Tenants Association of Strawberry Creek Lodge. 841-4143. 

How Berkeley Came To Be Bring photocopies of photos, postcards and other memorabilia of your family’s arrival in Berkeley to create a community scrapbook at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, South Branch. For information call 981-6147. 

“Dias de los Muertos” Feast of the Angelitos at 2 p.m. and Procession of the Day of the Dead at 6 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. 228-3207. arodman@lifemarkgroup.com 

Haunted Caves A spooky adventure for ages 3 and up from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Tilden Nature Center. Cost is $3-$5. 525-2233. 

Talking Pumpkins, Birds and Trees with storytellers and an enchanted walk at 10 a.m. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Come in costume. Cost is $8-$10, $3 for each additional child. Registration required. 643-2755. 

O’Hallow’s Eve Fright Night from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Ashby Flea Market with music, games, dance contest, pie-eating contest, face painting and more.  

Halloween Face Painting for children Sat. and Sun. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Dog Training: Slow Down! Teach your dog to walk without pulling at 9:30 a.m. and “Come Spot Come” at 10:30 a.m. at Grace North Church, 2128 Cedar St. Cost is $35-$40. Registration required. 849-9323. www.companyofdogs.com 

Animal Communication, for healing, at RabbitEars, 303 Arlington Ave. Cost is $25, for an appointment call 525-6155. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around Preservation Park to see Victorian architecture. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Preservation Park at 13th St. and MLK, Jr. Way. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Berkeley Haunted House for all ages from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Free, donations accepted. 845-6830, ext. 13. 

Monster Bash aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Museum from 7:30 p.m. to midnight at 707 W Hornet Ave, Pier 3 in Alameda. Tickets are $10-$20. Proceeds will benefit the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Museum. 521-8448, ext. 282. www.hornetevents.com 

Bilingual Storytime Stories in English and Spanish for toddlers and preschoolers at 10:30 a.m. in the Edith Stone Room at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732.  

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755.  

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, OCT. 29 

Remember to Set Your Clocks Back One Hour at 2 a.m. 

UCC-Toberfest with wine and beer tasting, silent auction, live music and food, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Piedmont Veterans Community Hall, 401 Highland Ave. Piedmont. Cost is $25. Benefits the Urban Creeks Council. 540-6669. 

Street Scare Halloween Block Party with pumpkin carving, bean-bag-toss, fun photos, crafts and more, from noon to 5 p.m. at 23rd St. and Telegraph. Sponsored by Rock, Paper, Scissors Gallery. 278-9171.  

Open House and Costume Party from 1 to 6 p.m. at Expressions Art Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. 644-4930. 

Alameda Fall Festival with live music, cookout, children’s activities and more, from noon to 5 p.m. at Alameda Marketplace, Park St. parking lot, 1650 Park St. www.alamedamarketplace.com 

Haunted House at an historic English Tudor-style house at 2647 Durant Ave. Open to the public from 6 to 9 pm. Cost is $3, and benefits The Green Stampede Homework Club. 562-2506. 

“Celebrating Decca” readings from the newly published letters of Jessica Mitford by friends, family and distinguished authors in a benefit for KPFA at 8 p.m. at King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Tickets are $15-$20. 848-6767, ext. 609. 

El Cerrito Historical Society meets to discuss Historic Preservation at 2 p.m. at the El Cerrito Senior Center, located behind the El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7507.  

Beauty of Briones A moderate 5 mile hike through a spectaular park, led by naturalist Tara Reinertson. Meet at 10 a.m. at Bear Creek Staging Area. Bring lunch, sunscreen, and water. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Cybersalon with Steven Levy on “The Perfect Thing: How the iPod Shuffles Commerce, Culture and Coolness” at 5 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10. whoisylvia@aol.com 

Home Greywater Workshop Learn about and help create the first permitted residential greywater system from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Berkeley Ecohouse, 1305 Hopkins St. Cost is $15 sliding scale. 547-8715. 

IRV Peace Meet-up and Rally at 1:30 p.m. at Splashpad Park, LakeShore and Grand Ave., Oakland. 644-1303. 

Get Your Freak On at the Kensington Farmers’ Market, tatoo booth, fortune telling, and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 303 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 

“Voodoo: The Authentic Legacy of Marie Laveau in New Orleans” with Carol Carlisle at 9:30 a.m at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

“Healing with Mindfulmees Meditation” Four week workshop, Sun. at noon at 5272 Foothill Blvd. Cost is $10 each Sun. 533-5306.  

Tibetan Buddhism with Mark Henderson on “The Hidden Power of the Tibetan Prayer Wheel” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, OCT. 30 

Batopia Learn the truth about bats with Maggie Hooper and her flying friends at 7 p.m. at the Piedmont Ave. Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 160 41st St. 597-5011. 

“Race and Immigration: Dividing Asians, Blacks, and Latinos” with Bill Ong Hing, professor of law and Asian American studies, UC Davis, at 7 p.m. at Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave. 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people aged 60 and over meets at 9:45 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Donation $3. 524-9122. 

TUESDAY, OCT. 31 

Tuesday is for the Birds An early morning walk for birders through Bay Area parklands. Bring water, sunscreen, binoculars and a snack. This week we will visit Keller Beach at Miller Knox. For meeting location or to borrow binoculars, call 525-2233.  

“Combatants for Peace” Bassam Aramin and Yonatan Shapira speak on stooping the cycle of violence in Israel-Palestine at 5 p.m. at 145 Dwinelle, UC Campus. aafek@berkeley.edu 

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1 

“Democracy on Deadline” the Global Struggle for an Independent Press, a documentary, at 6:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. Panel discussion following the film. 238-3514. www.itvs.org 

Debate on Proposition 89: Public Financing of Campaigns with Yes on 89 spokesperson Jan S. Rodolfo and No on 89 spokesperson Sandy Harrison, at 7 p.m. in Room 2050, Valley Life Sciences Bldg., UC Campus. The public is encouraged to participate. Submit questions to caldebateseries@gmail.com 

“Exploring Patagonia” A slide show and talk by Wayne Bernhardson, author of “Moon Handbooks: Patagonia” at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping the public schools, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

Healthy Eating Habits Seminar at 6:30 p.m. at New Moon Opportunities, 378 Jayne Ave. 465-2524. 

Breema Open House at 6 p.m. at 6201 Floria St., Oakland. 428-1234.  

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

American Red Cross Blood Services is holding a volunteer orientation from 10 a.m. to noon in Oakland. Registration required. 594-5165.  

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/ 

vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, NOV. 2 

“History of Western Ornithology” with Harry Fuller at 6:30 p.m. at Live Oak Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Ave. Sponsored by the Golden Gate Audubon Society. Cost is $15-$20. 843-2222. 

Mario Savio Memorial Lecture & Young Activist Award Ceremony with hip-hop journalist Jeff Chang, former State Senator and 60’s activist Tom Hayden, and spoken word artist Aya de Leon at 7:30 p.m. at Pauley Ballroom, Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union, UC Campus. Free. 415-559-9500. www.savio.org/the_lectures.html 

“The Long Walk to Freedom and Justice in South Africa” with Francis Wilson, Univ. of Cape Town at noon at 223 Moses Hall, UC Campus. 642-8338. 

Drivewell: Promoting Older Driver Safety, with Colleen Campbell, from Alameda County’s Public Health Department’s Senior Injury Prevention Project at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720. 

“Day of the Dead Benefit for the Zapatistas” at 7 p.m. at 2232 MLK Way, near 19th Street BART, Oakland. Cost is $8-$20 sliding scale. 923-0676. www.chiapas-support.org 

“When God’s Friend Became God’s Problem The Punitive Elijah and the Loving God,” Distinguished Faculty Lecture by Dr. L. William Countryman at 7:30 p.m. at Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave. 649-2440. www.gtu.edu 

“Lives per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction” with Terry Tamminen at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books, 1730 Fourth St. 415-559-9500. 

Day of the Dead at Habitot Children’s Museum with activities from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111. www.habitot.org 

“Toxics and Children Don’t Mix” A workshop for parents and child care providers at 7 p.m. at Bananas, 5232 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Registration required. 658-7353. www.bananasinc.org 

“The Interplay of Buddhism and Law in the Pre-communist Mongolia” with Vesna Wallace, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, UC Santa Barbara, at 5 p.m. at the IEAS Conference Room, 2223 Fulton St. 643-6536. http://buddhiststudies.berkeley.edu/events 

“What is Your Story?” an exploration of myth, storytelling and dream work connected to community building at 7:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

“Forward Forever, Environmental Justice & Hip Hop” film and community discussion at 5 p.m. in the Laney College Theater. Fundraiser for the Ghana Study Abroad Program. www.peralta.edu/sustainable 

“Nutrition Bandits” Learn how to eat for health with Edward Bauman, at 5:30 p.m. at Pharmaca Interative Pharmacy, 1744 Solano Ave. 527-8929. 

AnewAmerica Annual Gala “Weaving Our Common Threads” at 6 p.m. at the Holy Redeemer Conference Center, 8945 Golf Links Rd., Oakland. Tickets are $75. RSVP to 540-7785, ext. 314. www.anewamerica.org 

World of Plants Tours Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club meets at 6:45 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline at Alcatraz. namaste@avatar.freetoasthost.info  

ONGOING 

Albany-Berkeley Girls Softball League Free Clinics Oct. 29- Nov. 6 in Berkeley, for girls in grades 1-9. For details see www.abgsl.org or call 869-4277. 

Volunteer at Emerson Elementary School Come anytime Mon.-Thurs. from 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. For details call 883-5247. 

Each One Teach One Mentoring Program of the Oakland Unified School District is curbing student absenteeism, decreasing suspensions and increasing student participation with the help of volunteer mentors like you. For more information call 495-4010, 495-4011.  

CITY MEETINGS 

Commission on the Status of Women meets Wed., Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Tasha Tervelon, 981-5190.  

Downtown Area Plan Advisory Commission meets Wed. Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7487. 

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400.  

Landmarks Preservation Commission meets Thurs. Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Gisele Sorensen, 981-7419.  

Public Works Commission meets Thurs., Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jeff Egeberg, 981-6406.  

FRIDAY, OCT. 27 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Hedda Gabler” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Nov. 18 at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman. Tickets are $12. 525-1620.  

Altarena Playhouse “Merrily We Roll Along” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St, Alameda, through Nov. 12. Cost is $15-$18. 523-1553.  

Antenna Theater, “High School” An interactive theatrical walking tour of Berkeley High, 1980 Allston Way. Walk lasts about 45 minutes. Tickets are $20 adults, $8 students. Reservations required. Runs through Oct. 29. 415-332-9454. www.antenna-theater.org/highschool.htm 

Berkeley Rep “Passing Strange” at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. through Dec. 3. Tickets are $45-$61. 645-2949.  

Central Works “Andromache” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. through Nov. 19. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. 

Fusion Theater “Beauty and the Beast” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. Tickets are $3-$10. 464-3544. 

Impact Theatre “Colorado” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. Tickets are $10-$15. Runs through Oct. 28. 464-4468.  

Shotgun Players “Love is a Dream House in Lorin” by Marcus Gardley, inspired by true stories of Berkeley’s historic Lorin District, Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through Nov. 12. Sliding scale $15-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

TheatreFirst “Criminal Genius” Thurs.-Fri. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Old Oakland Theatre, 481 Ninth St., at Broadway, Oakland, through Nov. 19. Tickets are $19-$25. 436-5085.  

UC Dept. of Theater “Suburban Motel” six plays by George Walker at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus, through Nov. 19. Tickets are $8-$14. For schedule see  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Body Language” Paintings and sculpture. Sidewalk reception at 6 p.m. at Addison Street Windows. 981-7533. 

“Fiber 2006” Featuring eight Bay Area artists at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. to Nov. 4. 843-2527. 

“United States of Decay” Recent photographs by Peter Grant Honig. Reception at 6 p.m. at the ASUC Art Studio Gallery, UC Campus. Exhibition runs to Nov. 16. 642-3065.  

FILM 

Claire Burch Film Festival with the filmmaker at 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. 528-5403. 

A Theater Near You “The Case of the Grinning Cat” at 7 p.m. and “Yang Ban Xi: The Eight Model Works” at 8:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Isabel Stirling, biographer and Gary Snyder, poet, introduce “Zen Pioneer: The Life and Works of Ruth Fuller Sasaki” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Hiroko Shimbo demonstrates “The Sushi Experience” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Pianist Sarah Cahill Concert for Berkeley Arts Festival: 8 pm Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. Cost is $10-$20. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com 

Country Joe McDonald, with Pat Nevins and friends in a 1960s-style show at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $10. 644-6893.  

Matt Renzi Trio, saxophone jazz at 8 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Berkeley. Cost is $15. www.hillsideclub.org  

Bay Area Classical Harmonies “Sounds from the Underworld” in celebration of Halloween at 7:30 p.m. at Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15. 868-0695. www.bayareabach.org 

Lyon Opera Ballet at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$58. 642-9988.  

Gypsy Flamenco Stars at 5 and 9 p.m. at Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $65-$95, includes dinner. 287-8700. 

The Jazz Express at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Moodswing Orchestra at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054.  

The Mixers at 9 p.m. at The Pub at Baltic Square, aka The Baltic, at 135 Park Place, Pt. Richmond. Cost is $5. 237-4782.  

Reverend Billy C. Wirtz at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Gerald Beckett Trio with Eric Swinderman at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

The Ravines at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Meliaquis, Diegos Umbrella at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082.  

Trainwreck Riders, Genghis Khan, Rum & Rebellion at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Aqualibrre, Los Pingous at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $10. 548-1159.  

Brazuca Brown at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

The Yellowjackets at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $22. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, OCT. 28 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Betsy Rose, Halloween songs and activities, at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

A Harvest of Peace An alternative Halloween Concert for children and families at 10:30 a.m. at La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Please bring a fruit or vegetable of the season for the harvest altar. Also bring pictures or remembrances of grandparents, favorite pets or those you consider ancestors. Cost is $3-$4. 849-2568. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“California as Muse” The Art of Arthur and Lucia Mathews opens at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

“Nine at Gaia: A Group Show” Works by Carol Brighton, Helen Chellin, Debra Jewell, Tessa Merrie, Hearne Pardee, Sylvia Sussman, Sandy Walker, Christine Walter, Gina Werfel. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at Gaia Arts Center, 2120 Allston Way. 653-3433. 

Randy & Jan McKeachie Johnston “New Work” Reception at 5 p.m. at Trax Gallery, 1815 Fifth St. Exhibition runs to Nov. 22. 540-8729. 

“Wheels” Works by Christopher Peterson, Harrod Blank, Philip Hall and Troy Paiva. Paintings and photographs of cars. Opening reception at 3 p.m. at Montclair Gallery, 1986 Mountain Blvd. 339-4286.  

FILM 

A Theater Near You “The Case of the Grinning Cat” at 7 p.m. and “The World” at 8 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Watershed Envoronmental Poetry Festival from noon to 6 p.m. at Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St. Opening Creek Walk, with poetry writing and reading led by Chris Olander, Meet at 10 a.m. on the UC Berkeley Campus, Oxford and Center Sts. 526-9105. www.poetryflash.org 

“At Thadeus Lake” Conversation with the artist Sherri Martin, winner of the 2006 Kala Board Prize at 2 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. Exhibition runs to Nov. 25. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

“Healing with Music” a lecture by Therese West at Berkeley Piano Club, sponsored by Four Seasons Concerts. Tickets are $25. 601-7919. 

“Positive Black Males in Literature” A six-hour reading presented by The Black Publishers Association in conjunction with the Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Library, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Library, 5366 College Ave. 

“Braided Lives: A Collboration Between Artists and Poets” at 7:30 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Donation $5-$15. 843-2787. www.studiorasa.org 

Andrea Nguyen descrbes “The Vietnamese Kitchen: Ancient Foodways, Modern Flavors” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Douglas Kent discusses “Firescaping” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Harvest of Song with new compositions by Allen Shearer, Peter Joseff, Don Walker and others at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park. Cost is $10. 644-6893. www.berkeleysrtcenter.org 

Young People’s Symphony Orchestra Fall Concert at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, Tickets are $12-$15. 849-9776. www.ypsomusic.net 

Kensington Symphony with Thomas Shoebotham, cello, performs Shostakovich, Lalo, Beethoven at 8 p.m. at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 545 Ashbury Ave., El Cerrito. Donation $10-$15, children free. 524-9912. 

Lyon Opera Ballet at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$58. 642-9988.  

Flamenco Halloween at 8:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15. 849-2568.  

Hindustani Ragas by Teed Rockwell at 7:30 p.m. a Fourth Street Yoga, 1809 Fourth St., #C. Cost is $10. For reservations call 548-8779.  

Ellen Robinson & Her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ.  

Lost Coast and Dark Hollow, bluegrass, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$12. 525-5054. 

Inspector Double Negative and the Equal Positives at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $10. 451-8100.  

David Gans at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. 

Wake the Dead at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761.  

Radio Suicide, CD release, at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $10. 848-0886.  

Wil Blades and Brian Pardo at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373.  

Rhonda Benin & Soulful Strut at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Carl Nagin, flamenco, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7-$10. 558-0881. 

Murder Ballads Bash at 9 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082.  

Guru Garage at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Halloween Weekend Show with Minor Threat, Youth of Today, Negative Approach and others at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, OCT. 29 

CHILDREN 

Reading and Learning about Gardens for children at 1 and 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

Muriel Johnson Storytelling at 2 p.m. at Bananas, 5232 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Registration required. 658-7353. 

FILM 

A Theater Near You “Neighborhood Watch” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

“Desperate Hours” at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC, 1414 Walnut St. Donation $5. 848-0237. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Celebrating Decca” readings from the newly published letters of Jessica Mitford by friends, family and distinguished authors in a benefit for KPFA at 8 p.m. at King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Tickets are $15-$20. 848-6767, ext. 609. 

“The Furniture Shop and Its Legacy” The design and decoration of the furnishings of Arthur and Lucia Mathews at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200.  

Ghost Walk and Graveyard Tales with Bay Area mystery and crime writers Simon Wood, Hailey Lind, Camille Minichino at 7 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Oakland. 228-3207. 

Poetry Flash with Norman Fischer and Paul Naylor at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Representa! bilingual hip-hop and spoken word at 6 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5-$10. 849-2568. 

“Laughing Bones/Weeping Hearts” Gallery talk with artists Joe Bastida Rodriguez and Deborah Rumer at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak, Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200.  

“Aili” by Matti Kurikka, dramatized reading in English of the 1887 Finnish feminist play at 2 p.m. at Kaleva Hall, 1970 Chestnut St. Donation $5. 849-0125.  

Kevin Coval reads from “Slingshots (A Hip-Hop Poetica)” at 5 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Harvest of Song with new compositions by Allen Shearer, Peter Joseff, Don Walker and others at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park. Cost is $10. 644-6893.  

Susan Werner at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

The English Concert at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $30-$42. 642-9988.  

University Wind Ensemble at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $4-$12. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Janet Oliphant Rossman and Carol Dechaine, showtime favorites at 7 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda. Benefits the Let The Music Play Fund. 

Brazilian Soul at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ.  

Evelie Posch at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. 

Americana Unplugged: The Saddle Cats, western swing, at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 655-5715. 

Clockwork, a cappella jazz, at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Susan Muscarello Trio, Halloween jazz, at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Susan Werner at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

The Yellowjackets at 7 and 9 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $22. 238-9200.  

MONDAY, OCT. 30 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Wangari Maathai, founder of the Greenbelt Movement at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way at Dana. Suggested donation $10. 559-9500. 

Art, Technology and Culture Colloquium at 7:30 p.m. at the Center for New Media, 160 Kroeber Hall, UC Campus. www. ieor.berkeley.edu/~goldberg/lecs 

Poetry Express open mic theme night on “night poems” at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Khalil Shaheed, all ages jam, at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

“An Evening of Improvised Music” at 8 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. 

Denny Zeitlin Trio at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, OCT. 31 

FILM 

Alternative Visions “Experiments in Terror” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Tell It On Tuesday Storytelling by Julia Jackson, Sandra Niman, Kikelomo Adedeji and Steve Budd at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Cost is $8-$12. www.juliamorgan.org 

Freight and Salvage Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $4.50-$5.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Balkan Halloween Masquerade, songs from the Greek underworld and beyond at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10, $8 with costume. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Dia De Los Muertos Celebration with Anthony Blea y su Charanga at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Come in costume. Cost is $10. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1 

THEATER 

Gate Theatre of Dublin “Waiting for Godot” Wed.-Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sun. at 3 p.m. at the Roda Theater, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $65. 642-9121. 

FILM 

“Morality, Politics and War” selected and introduced by film historian James Forsher at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Anthony Shadid, Washington Post correspondent, talks about his new book, “Night Draws Near: Iraq’s People in the Shadow of America’s War” at 8 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Alexei Yurchak introduces “Everything Was Forever, Until It Was No More: The Last Soviet Generation” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. 

Hecho in Calfias Festival Madrinas and Padrinos of Hecho, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568.  

Eastern European Artists-in-Residence Artists Talk with Kalin Serapionov and Aleksandra Janik at 7 p.m. in the Kala Gallery, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977. 

Peter Stone discusses “Heist: Superlobbyist Jack Abramoff...” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 415-559-9500.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with performances from the Graduate Composition Seminar at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Yefim Bronfman, piano, Gil Shaham, violin and Lynn Harrell, cello at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $30-$52. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Calvin Keys Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Whiskey Brothers Old Time and Bluegrass at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Afrissippi, world boogie, African blues at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Humbria, at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Casey Neill & Jim Page at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Kenny Rankin, in a solo show at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, NOV. 2 

THEATER 

Albany High School Theater Ensemble “Pretend-O-Cide” Thurs. at 7 p.m., Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Albany High School Little Theater, 603 Key Route Blvd, Albany, through Nov. 11. Tickets are $5-$10. www.myspace.com/ahsuburoi 

Azeem’s “Rude Boy” opens and runs Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at The Marsh, 2120 Allston Way, through Nov. 25. Tickets are $15-$22. 415-826-5750.  

EXHIBITIONS 

Semina Culture: Wallace Berman and His Circle Guided tour at 12:15 p.m. in Gallery 2, Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. 

FILM 

“Jean Renoir, The Boss” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Free first Thursday. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“The Architecture of Ratcliff” with Woodruff Minor, author, and Kiran SIngh, photographer, at 5 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 238-2200. 

Murray Silverstein, poet, at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720 ext 17. 

Chana Bloch and Chana Kronfeld talk about translating from ancient and contemporary Hebrew, at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“The Unreleased Beatles: Music and Film” A multimedia presentation by music historian Richie Unterberger at 7 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

St. Mark’s Choir Association performs Requiem by Jacob Clemens non Papa at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. 845-0888. 

University Chamber Chorus Music for All Soul’s Day at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. Free.  

Dia de los Muertos Benefit Concert for the Zapatistas, featuring Fuga, Los Nadies, La Plebe at 7 p.m. at 2232 MLK, Oakland. Cost is $8 - $20 sliding scale. www.2232mlk.com 

Fikir Amlak, Red Meditation, Binghi Ghost, Luv Fyah, reggae, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

John Schott’s Dream Kitchen + 3, the music of Jelly Roll Morton with Suzy Thompson, Bob Mielke and Richard Hadlock at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Hecho in Calfias Festival From Folclorico to fusion at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Max Perkoff Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

System 3, Burnt at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Jazz Mine at 6:30 p.m. at King Tsin Chinese Restaurant, 1699 Solano Ave. 525-9890. 

Kenny Rankin, in a solo show at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Showtime @ 11 Hip Hop at 10 p.m. at the Golden Bull, 412 14th St. at Broadway, Oakland. 893-0803. 

“All you need to make a movie,” Godard once pronounced, “Is a girl and a gun.” 

In the loaded high drama of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, staged by Actors Ensemble at Live Oak Theater, the heroine, caught in a web of her own and others’ pretensions, isn’t just a girl—and the guns are a matched set of dueling pistols, which belonged to her late father, the general. 

The guns have become her playthings, and, as Chekhov said, “If you see a gun on the wall when the curtain goes up, you should expect it to be discharged by the end of the play.” 

Moving with a scathing yet tragic economy, Ibsen renders the scene: a bored young gentlewoman, with beauty and high spirits, just married to an academic completely preoccupied with his research; redoing the old villa they’ve moved into, but bridling at any suggestion of starting a family. Her ambition has been to inspire a man to greatness, and she learns that her original subject, her husband’s old academic rival, has returned, redeemed by the attentions of one of her old classmates who married an older businessman. Meanwhile, an old family friend looks on, using his influence to make arrangements for everyone, as well as himself. 

It’s the tale of three interpenetrating triangles, digging into the soil of the playwright’s native Scandinavia, and the European middle class in general, disclosing with irony the claustrophobic resentment and hypocrisy that made up the daily bread of society, which gathered up every romantic gesture of those wishing an escape, smothering it in sordid banality. 

The plot seems to turn on each phrase, each impulse carefully stifled or redirected: explosive—or implosive; spring-loaded, or boomeranging. 

Hedda Gabler, both the character and the play, were Ibsen’s answer to his fellow Scandinavian Strindberg’s aggressive charges that he coddled the overweening ambitions of his bluestocking heroines. Ibsen paid back in kind, appropriating something of the Swede’s dramatic manner, but in an objective mode, where the characters’ excesses are clearly shown in the context of a repressive situation. They seem to share something of that paradoxical fear of, yet impersonal hope for the future that marks Chekhov’s characters a generation later. There’s none of Strindberg’s “proto-Expressionism,” though there is a harsh poetry of the clear light of day shining on absurd, willful actions, dreamt up in some dark night of the soul. 

Wendy Welch’s Hedda is young, high-strung and florid; after the brittle exposition of the first act, the play gets going (literally with a bang) at the start of the second, when she “playfully” blasts away at unctious Judge Brack (Louis Schilling) as if an intruder in her garden. Their conversation is like the dialogue of two ham actors, each overly aware of their own comportment—and the other’s. 

The tense situation is volitilized by the return of wayward scholar Eilert Lovborg (Eric Carlson) with his new manuscript, who says he’s come just to ask how Hedda Gabler could’ve married Jurgen Tesman (Aaron Murphy), so much a straightman as to be a buffoon. Thea Elvsted (Thais Harris), unhappily married but serene in her role as Eilert’s muse, appears and reappears, confiding in her old schoolmate who used to twist her hair ... the clock is wound and will strike ... 

Stanley Spenger, who founded Subterranean Shakespeare and is now president of Actors Ensemble’s board (a good augury for their 50th season), has adapted the text well (Michael Meyer’s script for BBC and John Osbourne’s remarkable version are well worth reading) and, as director, gotten the most out of his actors (Marian Simpson plays maid and family retainer Berta and Maureen Coyne is Tesman’s self-sacrificing Aunt Juliana). 

The show moves swiftly, missing none of the complications or ironic exchanges, and will grow stronger in delivery and dynamics as it runs. Rose Anne Raphael’s fine set and Helen Slomowitz’s costume design do everything to place the action, abetted by Christine Dickson’s lighting. 

It’s a tough play in every sense, but this production has the right attitude, reflected in the director’s notes, which contemplate doing a masterpiece for its intrinsic value as well as for the sake of a spectator who, “like all of us at one time,” hasn’t seen the play--one that seems predicated on Judge Brack’s words at the end, though they seem to bookend the action: “People don’t do such things, even if they say them!” 

Hedda Gabler 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley 

Through Nov. 18 

Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m. 

Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 

Tickets $12 

525-1620, www.aeofberkeley.org 

San Francisco’s Shelton Theater, near Union Square, is a busy place. With at least six theater companies sharing four stages, the house’s logistics alone are almost a bedroom farce. So with farce in mind, I caught two of the resident comedy troupes last week. 

In comedy as in bedroom intrigues, timing can be everything. Not just for performers, but for audience members. The Un-Scripted Theater Company’s improvised Supertrain show is at its peak, but you have only until tomorrow to catch its last two performances (Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.).  

Meanwhile, Richter Scale’s new Declaration of Codependence is an evening of comedy sketches still finding its stride as a unified show. But it’s promising, and will evolve as it runs for another month (Saturdays at 10 p.m. and Sundays at 8 p.m., through Nov. 26). 

Un-Scripted’s Supertrain is an evening-long improvisation built around audience suggestions, using one consistent frame: All the action takes place on a train. In the performance that I saw, the comedy never derailed and was often hilarious. 

The action rapidly took off on two surreal tracks—both “theme” cars randomly inspired by audience suggestions. In the “Fertility Car,” a gaggle of professionals tried to help a couple (Darlene Sorensen and Kurt Bodden) achieve parenthood and prepare for it—not necessarily in the expected order. 

In the “Screwball Gothic” car, a young man expecting a relaxing vacation (Alan Goy) was instead recruited to slay the train’s murderous stowaway, a werewolf-like “Beast.” 

If those premises don’t sound wacky enough, the results soon got even more unlikely. In the Fertility Car, a lounge singer (Derek Cochran) improvised flawlessly rhyming songs about various challenges of parenthood, as called out by audience members. 

Later, Sorensen and Bodden consulted an onboard counselor (Dave Dyson, an El Cerrito resident who’s also the show’s director—yes, improvisers have directors). At which point two “Inner Wrestlers” (Cochran again, and Mandy Khoshnevisan) suddenly emerged to fight out the couple’s unspoken hostilities. 

Amid a consistently strong cast, Bodden and Cochran—both credited as guest performers for the troupe’s 2006 season—were the two stand-outs. Bodden, a lanky comic who looks and moves uncannily like Jim Carrey, grabs you with affable understatement. 

Cochran, who’s NBA tall, effortlessly inhabited “big” roles like the wrestler and an evangelical preacher. But in a flash, he would shrink down to the wispy old oracle who tutored Goy about werewolf-slaying, using a vaguely British accent like James Mason’s. 

Un-Scripted spun off in 2002 from the region’s most established improv group, BATS. After Saturday, they’ll be on hiatus until mounting a Valentine’s Day fund-raiser. 

Richter Scale, an even newer sketch-comedy troupe, was the freshest act I saw at last July’s San Francisco Theater Festival. Their forte is material that’s simultaneously very political and very funny. Their new show reprises some of the best sketches that brought down the house in July. 

“Earth Elementary” brings the U.N. down to the scale of a classroom. There, an idealistic teacher (Berkeley native Tenaya Hurst) tries to keep an unruly kid named America from throwing lethal paper airplanes. You’ll have to see the show to find out how America manipulates classmates India, China, and England. 

“Dot-Com High” similarly portrays a virtual world, using kids who’ve graduated to socially competitive teenagers. In the inner circle, YouTube is on the phone to MySpace. But awkward Friendster is SO last year—she can’t find a friend. Other Internet icons also appear, in ways I won’t reveal. Digital humor can be a deadly oxymoron, and Richter Scale shows unusual skill in making this sketch genuinely funny. 

Also great is a post-global-warming tour of the former San Francisco. And there are well executed musical spoofs of everything from Handel’s Messiah to country music (the latter fronted by Brett Duggan). 

The new show is strung around a theme of dependency. As of opening weekend, some of the new material didn’t obviously fit. And some bits didn’t entirely take off—for example, a running gag in which a patient keeps ambushing his doctor in unlikely places to demand advertised prescription drugs. 

But others worked great. In one new sketch, a father can help his young son understand American history only by invoking brand names. In another, Paris Hilton (Holly Nugent) offers cave redecorating tips to Osama bin Laden. 

There are also revealing peeks “inside the Democratic Party think tank,” and some dueling political ads that get very personal—between the voiceover announcers. One of the longest and edgiest sketches, a “Fifth Annual September 11th Awards Show,” came off very  

strongly. 

By next weekend, Director Sammy Wegent told me, Declaration of Codependence will move to a different stage at the Shelton. And the sketches will be reshuffled into a very different order. 

This show should continue to firm up during its run. Richter Scale does risky stuff, and this is a chance to watch a talented sketch group shape something both trenchant and funny. 

SUPERTRAIN 

Presented by the Un-Scripted Theater Company at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28. $15 general, $10 students and seniors. (415) 869-5384. www.Un-Scripted.com. 

DECLARATION OF CODEPENDENCE 

Presented by Richter Scale at 10 p.m. Saturdays and 8 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 26. $20. (615) 268-7893. www.richterscalesf.com. 

Both shows at the Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter St., San Francisco (between Powell and Mason).

Terry Gilliam’s Tideland is a stream of surreal images and literary references. Based on Mitch Cullin’s 2000 novel, the film is, in the director’s own words, something akin to Alice in Wonderland meets Psycho. The parallels to both are clear: A young protagonist uses her (hyper)active imagination to escape the brutalities of the reality she inhabits, at one point even falling into a rabbit hole; and the American Gothic quality of the film, along with a few gender-bending details and the disturbing drama surrounding a depraved family, readily call to mind Hitchcock’s 1960 psychodrama. 

But Tideland owes just as much to William Faulkner, whose short story “A Rose for Emily” captured much of the same quality Gilliam is going for here. The movie borrows from Faulkner’s tale the very specific details of necrophilic fixation as well as the tragi-comic perspective that Faulkner often employed in his fictional explorations of rural Southern life. 

Other influences are more subtle but no less significant. The film’s visual scheme, with its restless crane shots and views of a dilapidated farmhouse as seen from across a golden field, recall “Christina’s World,” the 1948 Andrew Wyeth painting that conveys a host of conflicting tensions and emotions. Gilliam has used the visual aspect of the painting as well as its emotional tone, creating a movie that keeps the viewer slightly off balance, much as Wyeth did with his painting’s low vantage point. 

Tideland in many ways covers the same ground as Victor Erice’s 1973 film The Spirit of the Beehive (reviewed in the Daily Planet Sept. 29). Both movies examine imaginary worlds created by children in response to household turmoil, and both take place on desolate plains, the outside world gaining entry only via railroad tracks that cut through vast golden fields. But whereas Erice constructed a minimalist film that relied on mood and suggestion and for the most part only hinted at the dreams and associations in the mind of his lead character, Gilliam has uncorked a rush of visual techniques, from conspicuously canted camera angles to surreal special effects sequences, in an effort to bring the child’s fantasies directly to the viewer. 

Gilliam’s style is an acquired taste, and one that I confess I have yet to acquire. There is little in his work that I find entertaining, and even less that I find artistically satisfying. But there is no doubting his talent, skill, imagination and uncompromising vision. Once again, despite the odds, he has made exactly the film he wanted to make, another entry in his canon of signature off-kilter projects, and one that will certainly satisfy his fan base. 

Tideland opens today (Friday) at Shattuck Cinemas in downtown  

Berkeley. 

TIDELAND 

Directed by Terry Gilliam. Starring Jodelle Ferland, Janet McTeer, Brendan Fletcher, Jeff Bridges, Jennifer Tilly. Playing at Shattuck Cinemas.120 minutes. Rated R.  

Jodelle Ferland plays Jeliza-Rose, a girl who seeks respite from her troubled home life through an active and wild imagination. Photograph Courtesy of ThinkFilm