San Francisco's alternative to Hollywood theater: Charlie Varon

San Francisco's Charlie Varon is a playwright, actor and educator who presents you with something you need even before you realize you have a craving. He satisfies our hunger for alternatives to Hollywood storytelling and feeds our souls matzo ball soup – warm, nutritious, delicious.

Many remember his earlier works "Rush Limbaugh in night school"; "Soup of the Day" and "People's violin."

February 19 thru April 5, 2009, Charlie Varon presents "Rabbi Sam," a solo play in which he plays 12 characters. Tickets for The Marsh theater performances sell for $14 -$100 with unassigned seating.

Rabbi Sam was born three years ago from a sermon Varon was asked to give at Yom Kippur. Like the original character, the play was developed with his collaborator and director, David Ford. They drew from themes about Jewish identity begun in the earlier piece "Ten Day Soup."

Former high school classmate, now jazz pianist, Bruce Barth has improvised Jewish melodies into the show.Locals will enjoy that Varon uses names of San Francisco rabbis: Lew, Baugh, Richman, Goldblatt. "A token of my esteem," he says.

Whether your Jewish, Catholic, Protestant or atheist, the play is bound to make you laugh, sigh, nod in agreement, shake your head and squirm.

Next week I'll talk with Varon and bring you highlights of our conversation in my column. On Thursday, February 26th, a friend and I will take in "Rabbi Sam." I'll let you know if the rabbi held any surprises I can reveal without giving away the prize.

Learn more about Varon's inspirations, process and intentions at CharlieVaron.com.

Take a taste of "Rabbi Sam" from the trailer for the play at TheMarsh.org.

Diana deRegnier's writings appear in Web sites and print publications around the world. Contact Diana at spiritlinks@comcast.net . ©2009 by Diana deRegnier