Ondine
February 5 – March 6, 2016
Gala Opening: February 12
by Katharine Sherman
directed by Rob Melrose
Whatever you do, don't close your eyes and don’t nod off.
About the Play
Ondine, a water sprite, finds love on land but when she fears that her knight has abandoned her, in a lonely fit of thoughtless and regrettable passion, she issues a curse: sleep will bring him death. When the lovers are reunited, Ondine is forced to face her grave mistake. How long can the two stave off the siren's song of slumber? Is their shared dream destined to turn nightmarish?
You may be familiar with the classic mermaid myth but this world premiere production of Ondine by Katharine Sherman, directed by Founding Artistic Director Rob Melrose, promises to slay your expectations as Cutting Ball invites you to come ashore and explore the elements.
"There's a fleeting quality about [Ondine], like something sweet that dissolves on your tongue as soon as you taste it…But while it does last, it's honest and worthwhile and sometimes beautiful."
– Adam Brinklow, SF Edge"Ondine" [is] one of the most memorable productions of the year"
– Adam Brinklow, SF EdgeSherman has written a gem of a show
– Ilana Walder-Biesan, Stark InsiderOndine is "a lyrical interplay of alchemical, emotional and culinary interactions with the rhythms of breath and the sea", "Luxuriantly staged by Rob Melrose, and performed with athletic grace and playfully sensual intensity", "densely poetic…an extended tone poem on love
– Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle
Radio Interview
Katharine Sherman discussing how she wrote Ondine with David Latulippe on KALW
Jessica Waldman (Ondine) is a recent graduate of Stanford University, where she received her B.A. in Theatre and French. Jessica has studied acting with the National Theatre Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center and with the British American Drama Academy. Recent roles include Agave in The Bacchae (Stanford Freeks), Ophelia in Hamlet (dir. Rob Melrose, Stanford TAPS), Catherine in Proof (Stanford Theatre Lab), Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest (dir. Lynne Soffer, Stanford Repertory Theatre), Mary Warren in The Crucible (dir. Amy Freed, Stanford TAPS), and Emma in The Curse of the Starving Class (dir. Rush Rehm, Stanford Repertory Theatre).
Kenny Toll (Hildebrand) is very excited to make his Cutting Ball debut with Ondine. Recent credits include Eurydice, Antigonick, The Coast of Utopia and Woyzeck with The Shotgun Players, Bad Jews at The Magic Theatre, Peter and the Starcatcher at TheatreWorks, Dracula Inquest(TBA Award nomination) at Central Works. Catch him up next in The Heir Apparent at Aurora Theater and Manifesting with Hope Mohr Dance.
Danielle O'Hare (Ice) is a Cutting Ball Associate Artist, having appeared in their productions of The Strindberg Cycle, Lady Grey (in ever lower light) and other plays (Lady Grey/Jill), No Exit (Estelle), Helen of Troy (Helen), Fighter Airplanes, The Sandalwood Box, the evolutionists club, Mr. Fujiyama’s Electric Beach and The Hidden Classics Reading Series. Other favorites include The Coast of Utopia: Voyage, Shipwreck, Salvage, The Book of Liz(Liz), Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight, and Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet. Danielle has appeared in numerous commercials, industrials, and independent films.
Molly Benson (Rain) is delighted to make her debut performance with Cutting Ball. She has appeared in Snow Falling on Cedars (Theatreworks), Food Stories (Word for Word), Alice in Wonderland and A Midsummer Night’s Dream(Atmostheatre), and Henry IV (Black River Theatre). Molly has also worked with Shotgun Players, CalShakes, PianoFight, Dark Porch, Killing My Lobster and Grove Theatre Center in Los Angeles. She is a PianoFight company member and a Word for Word Associate Artist. She received her BA in Theatre from Oberlin College in 2001 along with the Nash Drama Award. Molly also works as a professional voiceover artist.
Marilet Martinez (Mist) is a teaching artist, fight choreographer, improvisor, physical theatre divisor, and puppeteer. She is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts. She is a co-founder of the Bay Area Latino Theatre Artists Network and member of the 'Yeah I said Feminist' Theatre Salon. Marilet has worked with ACT, Calshakes, the SF Mime Troupe, Berkeley Rep's Groundfloor, Word for Word, PCPA Theatrefest, Shotgun Players, Crowded Fire, African American Shakes, Woman's Will, Teatrovision and more. She is a company member at Impact Theatre (Berkeley). Marilet is also an associate artist at Cutting Ball, where some of her favorite roles include Mae in Mud and Lona in Tontlawald.
Associate Producers
Marsha Cohen and Bob Feyer
Tom and Stephanie Lima
Laura and Meg Mason
Kate Robards
Actor Sponsor
Guy Tiphane
Thank You to Our Gala Sponsors
Rainbow Grocery
Dandelion Chocolate
Bi-Rite Market