Farewell… for now!

September 7, 2017September 7, 2017directorebeccer Leave a comment

What a great 2017 tour! The Peripatetic Players took Shakespeare or Space Wars to Alameda, Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Port Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and hither and yon and back again for 12 performances this July and August.

Shakespeare or Space Wars at Franklin Park, Alameda, on July 23, 2017.

We performed for more than 1300 people, some of whom may have been actual Jedi knights, and about 20 dogs! For a while, a spaceman and a lion who had been separated from their families joined our merry band.

Cantina / Capulet Ball creatures

Buzz and Lion pose with some light reading

We were a Staff Pick in the East Bay Express, were featured on ABC-7 News’s Hoodline segment, and chronicled in the Santa Clara Weekly.

A pick of the week from East Bay Express

And now the Peripatetic Players have packed up our trunks for the summer and hunkered down for their autumnal naps, all cozy inside FluxWagon, our folding mobile stage…

Here’s FluxWagon arriving at Precita Park in San Francisco!

(who is writing this in their sleep, one wonders?)

This monster never sleeps, but can give you a monster’s-eye view of the monster lair under the stage.

…but we’ll have to wake up and move out soon, because FluxWagon will be hitting the road this October and November with a new play, Elixir of Life, produced by our very good friends at the theatre company Idiot String. You may even recognize some of the actors as the Peripatetic Players’ friends and fans!

Adventures!

July 23, 2017July 23, 2017directorebeccer Leave a comment

SHAKESPEARE OR SPACE WARS comes to Franklin Park, Alameda today at 1pm! Here are some behind-the-scenes shots from our tour thus far!

Follow our adventures on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtags #SPPPSSW17 #fluxwagon #peripateticlife

And be sure to catch a show! Here’s the full schedule.

FluxWagon in Santa Clara

Percival Perkins rescues a rebel fighter

Buzz Lightyear makes a cameo appearance! Is he yours? He was left behind after a recent show…

FluxWagon Unfolds!

July 18, 2017directorebeccer 2 Comments

At each performance site, the Peripatetic Players set up FluxWagon, their folding mobile stage. Here’s a video of the Players in action this weekend in Port Costa!

There’s 7 more chances to see the Player’s summer tour of SHAKESPEARE OR SPACE WARS!

Our next two shows are July 22 in Santa Clara and July 23 in Alameda. Check out the full schedule here!

Join the Peripatetic Players for FluxFest ’16!

September 22, 2016directorebeccer Leave a comment

The Peripatetic Players present a Port Costa FluxFest!
Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25

The Peripatetic Players’ final stop on their 2016 tour will be Port Costa, where the Players are traveling-troupe-in-residence (though they’re rarely spotted in town).

The Players’ performance of Shakespeare or Space Wars at 2pm on Saturday, at Port Costa School House will feature delicious picnic fare available for sale from the Bull Valley Roadhouse — so save some room in your picnic bellies! And that’s not all… the performance kicks off a weekend-long festivity of music, comedy and clowning. The festivities continue thusly:

7-10pm Saturday 9/24:
Fluxxie Cabaret – music next to the Bull Valley RoadhouseCome and go as you wish and your dinner reservations allow!

10am-noon Sunday 9/25:
Flux Brunch – chill morning music and performance next to the Bull Valley Roadhouse
Come and go as you wish and your needs for caffeine and brunch dictate!

2pm Sunday 9/25:
FluxWagon Variety Show – comedy, clowning and music for all ages, in a variety-show format aboard FluxWagon at the Port Costa School House.
Bring a chair or blanket – this is the highlight of the weekend! Clowning from Slater Penny and Danielle Gray, music from Carl & Beatrice and The Port Costa Darlings, and more — hosted by your favorite Peripatetic Players, with eats available from the Bull Valley Roadhouse.

Have you not yet visited Port Costa? Now is your chance!

Be sure to refresh yourself at the Bull Valley Roadhouse or The Warehouse, delight your whimsy at Wendy Addison’s Theatre of Dreams, or stay all night at the Burlington Hotel — and soak up some casual summertime performance in picturesque Port Costa.

No reservations required; donations for performers accepted — that’s how they get paid!

Click here for the full lineup of FluxFest festivities.

The Peripatetic Players first presented Romeo & Juliet in Port Costa in November, 2015

Shakespeare or Space Wars is open! Just three performances left…

VideoSeptember 14, 2016September 14, 2016directorebeccer Leave a comment

Opening day of Shakespeare or Space Wars happened this past Saturday at the Berkeley Marina on a glorious sunny day; and Sunday we visited our friend The Yak (a bronze sculpture by Joseph Anthony McDonnell) at Centennial Park, Pleasanton.

Here’s a trailer made by Dave Coyne, an audience member at the Berkeley show. We think he captured the zeitgeist of the show very well. Thanks, Dave!

You’ve got three more chances to see it:

Saturday 9/17 @ 2pm, in Santa Clara
Sunday 9/18 @ 2pm, at Dimond Park in Oakland
Saturday 9/24 @ 2pm, in Port Costa

Here’s a link to the full schedule.

And don’t forget — in Port Costa not only will there be yummy picnic fare available for sale from the Bull Valley Roadhouse, but we’re also kicking off FluxFest 2016, with music and special clown guests performing all weekend. We’ll have music outdoors near the Bull Valley Roadhouse so you can drop by before or after delicious dinner on Saturday or their phenomenal brunch on Sunday; and comedy, music and clown performances Sunday at 2pm on FluxWagon at the Port Costa School House, hosted by the Port Costa Conservation Society. Here’s a link to the FluxFest lineup.

And that’s not all! We’re pretty chuffed because Sam Hurwitt of the East Bay Times says: “Whether your destination is fair Verona or the fearsome Death Moon, you couldn’t ask for a more diverting rest stop than the Peripatetic Players’ folding FluxWagon stage in a park not far away.”

We hope to see you at the show!

Hark! SPPP and FluxWagon ride again!

July 7, 2016directorebeccer Leave a comment

Friends, it is that time of year when the Peripatetic Players dust off their ragamuffins and saddle up their slipperywidgets…

IT’S TIME TO PUT ON A SHOW!

This summer, the Players put their inimitable spin on two star-crossed tales of daring and destiny. Although Thumper and Samuel are still in heated negotiations over what constitutes canonical entertainment, be assured that SOMETHING will happen… but even we are not entirely sure how it will all turn out.

Will Samuel achieve his dream of becoming a renowned and respected tragedian?

Will Guy Hank be able to power this hunk of junk to hyperspace?

Will Princess Gwen be able to climb down from that balcony?

Will Meekins stare down the hilt of a rapier with both eyes open and a minimum of whimpering?

What is Thumper doing with that bucket?

We will endeavor to answer these enduring questions and more… BUT THAT’S NOT ALL…

For the first time ever, the Players invite YOU — yes, you! The one in front of the screen! — to partake in a Particularly Obstinate Obstacle Course! Run, hop, skip, jump, saunter, sashay, stroll or simply stumble your way through 20 outrageous obstacles delightfully designed to test your physical, mental and theatrical vim and vigor. This Thon to out-thon all Thons is like no Thon you’ve ever Thonned. Thonestly. Don your most eccentric costumes, pull out all your stops, and join us as we face our least known fears over and through obstacles both literal and metaphorical!

You can sign up to pledge a player or play the course here!

If you’d rather spectate, cheer on, and/or picnic — be sure to come out to Lake Merritt on July 24 for an afternoon of comradely challenge and comic competition. No reservations required!

Dimond Park in photos

LinkAugust 31, 2015March 23, 2020directorebeccer 2 Comments

dimondstory — Click the photo to see an album of our Dimond Park performance of *Aesop Amuck*!

On Adaptations of Children’s Literature…

LinkAugust 16, 2015March 23, 2020directorebeccer Leave a comment

An interview with Rebecca & Joan

Rebecca and Joan — who when not embodying Mdme. Directrix and Thumper, respectively, are the SPPP’s producing organization, Idiot String — sat down after one of the final Aesop Amuck rehearsals with none other than Sam Bertken (a.k.a. Meekins) to talk about their inspirations for both Aesop Amuck and the Peripatetic Players’ debut adventure, O Best Beloved.* Sam writes for S.F. Theater Pub,** a great blog about theatre and the independent theatre scene in the Bay Area that is run by producer, playwright & director Stuart Bousel.

We talked about influences like Mercer Mayer & Maurice Sendak, the Muppets, and Medieval & Renaissance theatre, as well as why performing on FluxWagon and breaking the fourth wall are so important to us. Read the interview here!

*Please note there are a couple words bleeped out with asterisks in this article that, if unbleeped, would be inappropriate for young audiences!

**Please also note that the content of S.F. Theatre Pub in general is aimed at adult audiences, and some topics elsewhere on the site may not be appropriate for kiddos.

Guess what else?

We have three more shows — including today’s 5pm performance in Pleasanton

There’s still time to donate to our Kickstarter Campaign — until late Monday night!

Just a few days left to Kickstart Aesop Amuck!

ImageAugust 10, 2015August 13, 2015directorebeccer Leave a comment

We have shows through August 23 — four more performances — but just a few days left to pledge your support for Aesop Amuck via Kickstarter.

As of this moment, we need just $555 to reach our goal, and we have until Monday night, August 17, to do it. Can you help?

Your support helps keep FluxWagon in her finery, transports her to each performance venue, ensures we’re insured at each location, provides pay for the Peripatetic Players — and keeps our performances *free* to the public.

We’re so grateful for your help and have some sweet surprises for our supporters. Please give if you can, and come on out to see a show!

Thank You, Kickstarters!

August 8, 2015August 8, 2015directorebeccer Leave a comment

Thank you to everyone who has donated to Flux Fest ’15 and to our Kickstarter campaign!

We’re now just over halfway to our Kickstarter goal of $2500, with 10 days to go. If you’ve been meaning to throw in your support, now’s the time! Click here to go to Kickstarter — if only to watch the video. If you’ve already given, THANK YOU! Here’s a list of our wonderful supporters!

Because of your generous support, we’ve been able to add some bells and whistles to FluxWagon, like her new trapdoor and Aesop-appropriate paint job.

Joan, designer of the FluxWagon, in her new trap door.

FluxWagon at our opening performance at DeFremery Park, Oakland

New this week: animal portraits by the excellent Megan Hillard! (Stay tuned for photos of those after this weekend’s shows in Hayward and San Francisco.)

Your support is also invaluable to less photogenic but essential endeavors, like making insurance payments, buying gas, and renting trucks to tow Fluxie.

You also help ensure the Peripatetic Players can get paid! They’re super photogenic, actually.