In the honorable, albeit rarely honored, tradition of jesters, the San Francisco Mime Troupe has once again identified an issue that threatens the well-being of plebs (that's us), framing it with satire and driving the message home with laughs, gasps, and song. This season's Freedomland opens in the home of Malcolm Haywood, an elderly former Black Panther, whose front door gets blasted by cops armed with M-16s. It's a mistake, but the damage is done. When Haywood's grandson returns from serving in Afghanistan, he finds broken windows and bullet-riddled walls in a neighborhood that seems under siege. Profiting from the public's latest newsfeed fear, the mayor rakes in re-election votes, the police chief rakes in capital for the district's new tank, and everyone else just tries to stay alive. For over 50 years, the troupe has been offering shows like this for free in public spaces. This year's first S.F. shows also serve as opening events for the 12th annual LaborFest (laborfest.net) which is supported by all mimes worth their weight in pique and fury.
Freedomland starts at 1:30 p.m. through Sunday, July 5, at Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores streets, S.F., and continues at various locations through Sept. 7. Free; 415-285-1717 or sfmt.org.
415-554-9529
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