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The Reservoir

Fri, Sep 5 - Sun, Oct 12

By Jake Brasch
Directed by Mike Donahue
Peet’s Theatre

Josh is a hot mess of a queer twenty-something. He’s dropped out of school to get his life together — but can’t manage to stay sober. Struggling with fogginess and memory loss, he finds unlikely allies in his four hilarious grandparents. Desperate for a sense of purpose, Josh sets out to bring them along on his road to recovery. He drags them to Jazzercise at the JCC. He makes them play memory games. He insists they eat spinach by the handful. Eventually, he slams up against the limits of his quest. When he can no longer help his grandparents, they begin to help him. The Reservoir is Jake Brasch’s sharply funny and deeply heartfelt new comedy about family, memory, and the path toward healing.

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“‘The Reservoir’ finds a surprising amount of resilience in laughter…the performances are heartfelt, tender and funny…overflows with compassion.”
The Mercury News
“You know a play is working when you find yourself both laughing and crying, sometimes simultaneously. ‘The Reservoir’ is an unsparingly truthful play. Brasch has a truly theatrical insight into the humor and heartbreak of the human condition.”
Local News Matters
“Sparkles with moments of wisdom and flashes of revelation”
SFist
“Jake Brasch’s compelling dramedy…this dark but funny semi-autobiography holds attention throughout.”
Cordell Reports
“Startlingly effective…add this amazing bit of theatrical art to your cognitive resources while you can.”
Talkin’ Broadway
“‘The Reservoir’ finds a surprising amount of resilience in laughter…the performances are heartfelt, tender and funny…overflows with compassion.”
The Mercury News
“You know a play is working when you find yourself both laughing and crying, sometimes simultaneously. ‘The Reservoir’ is an unsparingly truthful play. Brasch has a truly theatrical insight into the humor and heartbreak of the human condition.”
Local News Matters
“Sparkles with moments of wisdom and flashes of revelation”
SFist
“Jake Brasch’s compelling dramedy…this dark but funny semi-autobiography holds attention throughout.”
Cordell Reports
“Startlingly effective…add this amazing bit of theatrical art to your cognitive resources while you can.”
Talkin’ Broadway
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Ben Hirschhorn in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Jeffrey Omura in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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(l to r) Barbara Kingsley, Pamela Reed, Peter Van Wagner, and Michael Cullen in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Peter Van Wagner, Ben Hirschhorn, and Barbara Kingsley in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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(clockwise from front) Ben Hirschhorn, Pamela Reed, Michael Cullen, Peter Van Wagner, and Barbara Kingsley in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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(front) Ben Hirschhorn; (back, l to r) Barbara Kingsley, Pamela Reed, Michael Cullen, and Peter Van Wagner in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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(l to r) Ben Hirschhorn, Barbara Kingsley, Michael Cullen, and Pamela Reed in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Brenda Withers and Ben Hirschhorn in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Barbara Kingsley and Ben Hirschhorn in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Pamela Reed and Ben Hirschhorn in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Jeffrey Omura and Ben Hirschhorn in The Reservoir. Photo: Kevin Berne
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Production information

  • Runtime: Two hours and 15 minutes including one 15-minute intermission
  • Age recommendation: Suitable for ages 12 and up
  • Stage effects advisory: Moments of strobe lights, loud sounds, and stage fog
  • Content advisory: Contains mature content, depictions of alcohol and drug use, and an exploration of aging, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and mental health

 

Important dates

  • Masks required: Sep 7, Sep 14 (matinee and evening), Sep 16, and Sep 21 (matinee)
  • Closed captioning: evenings Sep 11, 12, 14, 16, and 17; and every matinee through Oct 9
  • Audio description: Oct 11 matinee
  • Postshow discussions: Sep 19, Sep 25, and Sep 30 — guided by members of Berkeley Rep’s artistic team
  • Docent-led postshow discussions: after all matinees

Who’s who

Cast

Michael Cullen | Hank
Ben Hirschhorn | Josh
Barbara Kingsley | Irene
Pamela Reed | Bev
Jeffrey Omura | Hugo/Others
Peter Van Wagner | Shrimpy
Brenda Withers | Patricia/Others
Nancy Carlin | Understudy Bev/Irene
Jennifer McGeorge | Understudy Patricia/Others
Joel Ochoa | Understudy Josh/Hugo/Others
Victor Talmadge | Understudy Shrimpy/Hank

 

Creative team

Jake Brasch | Playwright
Mike Donahue | Director
Afsoon Pajoufar | Scenic Design
Carolyn Mazuca | Costume Design
Alexander V. Nichols | Lighting Design
Jake Rodriguez | Sound Design
Erika Chong Shuch | Movement
David Möschler | Music Director
Caparelliotis Casting / David Caparelliotis CSA and Joe Gery | Casting
Elisa Guthertz | Stage Manager
Emma Walz | Assistant Stage Manager (Sep 5–28, Oct 6–12)
Anthony Lopez | Assistant Stage Manager (Sep 29–Oct 5)

The actors and stage managers on this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

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Season presenting sponsor

Peet’s Coffee

Season sponsor

I Fly OAK

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