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    Donna’s Chronicles, Imagine Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein come to life..

    By Donna Sachet–

    Imagine Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein come to life on the grand stage of the War Memorial Opera House with evocative orchestral music, swirling colorful costumes, haunting Old-World sets, and vibrant emotional dance! Last Thursday’s San Francisco Ballet performance was all that and more. We can’t say enough about this beautiful production, offering so much more than we expected. The creation of the monster was visually enhanced with pyrotechnic effects, the masterful dancers gave their all, and, most importantly, the tragic story of painful separation and rejection was powerfully presented. With three acts and two intermissions, we had concerns about the length of the night, but time flew as the captivating story and extraordinary performances consumed us. Whether you are a fan of dark horror fiction or remarkable dance performance, don’t miss this marvelous production of the SF Ballet when it returns April 26 through May 4 at the Opera House on Van Ness!

    San Francisco offers such a wide variety of cultural experiences and too many people miss out, especially on the performing arts. From grand opera sung by internationally famous artists to experimental theatre in a tiny space with fewer than 50 seats, a wealth of live artistic performances happens every day and night of the week, and we encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities. As you’ll see in this column, we’ve certainly done so of late.

    A new friend, Rodney Jackson, recently invited us to the Bay Area Theatre Company’s production of Reed Flores’s Cuckoo Edible Magic at the Magic Theatre at Fort Mason. The cast was young, their energy was electric, and the play took us on a wild, nearly psychedelic trip, exploring family ties, queer kids’ struggles, and universal themes of friendship and affection. We may have missed some of the more specific Filipino inside jokes, but the fast-paced action and physical comedy were instantly appealing. The theatre and the audience were small, but the engagement was genuine and the experience delightful.

    A few nights later, we joined Rodney at ACT’s Toni Rembe Theater for Nobody Loves You, a lively spoof on today’s plethora of reality television dating shows. Splashy sets, carefully choreographed dance numbers, big Broadway show tunes, and an accomplished, captivating cast made for a wonderful theatrical experience. We even had a chance to peek behind the curtain at a pre-show reception with Director Pam MacKinnon. The storyline played with themes of manufactured emotional attachment, television’s nearly addictive allure, and true love’s illusive quality, making characters both appealing and repugnant and sometimes just confusing. Think of how much our lives and expectations have been influenced by so-called reality television! You have through March 30 to catch a performance.

    Donna Sachet in signature red enjoyed a moment before Rink’s camera with Salvador Tovar and Nguyen Pham during the Cheer SF Spring Fling fundraiser held at Lookout on Friday, March 21.
    Photo by Rink

    Then, we accepted the kind invitation of Billy Repp & Tom Taffel to SF Conservatory of Music Opera’s production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. We had forgotten so much of the music from this operetta, other than the frequently performed overture; but Glitter and Be Gay, We Are Women, and the glorious Make Our Garden Grow all came flooding back, performed richly and enthusiastically by the young student cast. The youth orchestra was fully up to the task and delightful to watch from our third-row seats. Not having been to the Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall of the Ann Getty Center for Education, we were thrilled to see such a perfect setting for this show, with simple multi-functional sets, lit dramatically, and excellent sight lines. Tying the whole performance together was our friend from Beach Blanket Babylon days, Curt Branom, as the Narrator/Voltaire, adding his own wonderful whimsy and humor. This was truly a special evening of live entertainment, worthy of its boisterous standing ovation.

    So, you see, in only two short weeks, it is possible in San Francisco to immerse oneself in beautiful live music, comedy, drama, and more. What a splendid alternative to the endless drone of televised entertainment and catastrophic news. Get out there and support the performing arts!


    Calendar a/la Sachet

    Friday, March 28
    Mr. SF Leather Meet & Greet
    Mr. S Leather, 385 8th Street
    6 pm Free!

    Saturday, March 29
    Mr. SF Leather 2025 Contest
    Emcees Lenny Broberg
    & Donna Sachet
    Produced by Ray Tilton
    Benefits Lyric
    SOMArts, 934 Brannan Street
    6 pm $40 & up

    Sunday, March 30
    Mr. SF Leather Victory Brunch

    The Willows, 1582 Folsom Street
    10 am $45

    Wednesday, April 2
    Castro Farmers’ Market
    Grand Re-Opening
    Fresh produce returns to
    the Castro
    Formal ribbon-cutting
    with Donna Sachet
    Elected officials in attendance
    Noe and 16th streets
    4 pm Free!

    Saturday, April 5
    SF Gay Men’s Chorus’ Crescendo
    Annual gala celebration

    with emcee Nina West
    Honors Sheryl Lee Ralph
    & Angelica Ross
    Dinner, awards, entertainment
    Westin St. Francis Hotel
    $450 & up
    www.sfgmc.org

    Donna Sachet is a celebrated performer, fundraiser, activist, and philanthropist who has dedicated over two decades to the LGBTQ Community in San Francisco. Contact her at empsachet@gmail.com

    Donna’s Chronicles
    Published on March 27, 2025