Wintertime

by CHARLES L. MEE
Directed by LES WATERS
Roda Theatre

NOV 12–DEC 19, 2021

Running time: 2 hrs 10 min, plus one 15-min intermission

Berkeley Rep welcomes back Charles L. Mee and Les Waters, who have brought so much delight to our audiences with Fêtes de la Nuit and Big Love. Members of a gloriously eccentric family arrive at their summer house in the winter woods for supposedly secret rendezvous—and soon bodies collide, doors slam, dishes fly, and everyone’s perfect plans go fantastically awry. With a wink to Magritte, a nod to Shakespeare, and a toast to the Greeks, this poetic and hyper-kinetic voyage through the human heart never lets us forget that love, like life, is eternal, messy…and wondrous.

Reviews

"THEATER’S BACK! Wintertime is an imaginative romp that could happen only in person! IMMEDIATE FLIGHTS INTO THE WONDROUS! Waters’ adroit cast feast upon the script with well-honed tools. Welcome back to the realm of imagination! YOU CAN’T GET THIS ON ZOOM!"
– Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle

“A JOYOUS HOMECOMING! Wintertime is first rate. The whole cast is outstanding!”
– Emily S. Mendel, Berkeleyside

"Wintertime reminds us of the VITALITY AND IMPORTANCE OF LIVE THEATRE!"
– Jay Barmann, SFist

"SIZZLING, BEAUTIFUL PLAY! Waters’ astute, no-nonsense direction, brings out the raw humanity and sheer beauty! MARVELOUS CAST, Bay Area faces you would most wish to see — James Carpenter, Sharon Lockwood, Lorri Holt, Jomar Tagatac! MEE’S DIALOGUE CAN DAZZLE! Fascinating collage of a script. GLORIOUS THEATRICALITY, jagged, sharp-edged and emotionally authentic — more bitter than sweet, more vodka rocks than hot cocoa!"
– Chad Jones, Theater Dogs

“WINTERTIME TRULY SPARKS! A STUNNER! SHEER COMIC GENIUS! Charles L. Mee is a master of absurd juxtapositions, A ZANY THEATRICAL COLLAGE that spins wildly from farce to tragedy! Waters’ staging SHIMMERS WITH DELICATE EXISTENTIALISM! THE SUBLIME AND THE OUTRAGEOUS BRISTLE TO LIFE!”
– Karen D’Souza, Bay Area News Group