Arts & Events

“The Vibrator Play” and “Love Letters” are the September entertainment at Piedmont Oakland Repertory Theatre starting September 6^th. 

“We are just tickled that Capoiera Mandinga at 4137 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland is welcoming us to use their space. We are sorting things out so that we can hopefully perform there year-round on Saturdays and Sundays.” 

Sarah Ruhl’s “In the Next Room: The Vibrator Play” started at the Berkeley Rep and moved on the Broadway where it was a Tony nominee last year. It is set in the 1880’s when, with the advent of electricity, doctor used vibrators to treat women’s “hysteria” by giving them “paroxysms” with a vibrator. PORT is doing a “concert version” with the actors reading and acting in place in costume. 

“It’s all the fun and laughter and tears without any of the potential embarrassment—we decided to do the “concert version” staged reading since the audience is only feet away from the stage,” producer/director John A. McMullen II explained. “They will be in 1880’s costumes.” 

“The Vibrator Play” plays September 6 through 21^st, followed by “Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney on September 21, 27, and 28. 

“Love Letters” is about a life-long correspondence between a man and a woman born to wealth and privilege from the time they are children through college, war, marriage (to others), a brief affair, careers, rises and declines—two people who mean a lot to each other over a whole lifetime.  

“At thirteen dollar tickets, they are both great ‘date nights,’” McMullen proposed. “We did ‘The Dining Room’ by Gurney last year at the Piedmont Center for the Arts, and everyone seems to love his plays. John Hale, who got rave reviews role as the fat cat financier in “Other People’s Money” last spring, will be featured in both productions.” 

“We sold out both performances of our staged readings of “Speed-the-Plow” in late June. We thought that these two great plays which particularly lend themselves to a staged reading production format would be a good way to draw an audience at an unusually low price to see the talented actors we have in advance of our planned season. If all goes well, in mid-September we will be announcing a fuller season of fully staged and produced plays,” McMullen said. 

“In the Next Room: THE VIBRATOR PLAY” by Sarah Ruhl 

(“Concert version”: all the story, laughter, and heartbreak without the potential embarrassment) 

8 Performances only 

8 pm Sat Sep 6^th / 13^th / 20^th 

2:30pm Sun Mat Sep 7^th / 21^st 

7 pm Sun Sep 7^th / 14^th 

“Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney 

4 performances only 

8 pm Sat Sep 27^th 

2:30 Sun Mat 28^th 

7 pm Sun Sep 28th  

Tickets & Info at www.PiedmontOaklandRep.org