Berkeley storyteller Tim Ereneta returns to the Rogue with a new show that gives him a framework to "count down" the top 10 stories of the year. The idea is that he's at a big convention at which the top folks in the field from all over Europe have gathered to swap stories. (Except the ones who had to call in sick because of the plague.)

It's an OK concept that started out a little wobbly Saturday afternoon. For one thing, Ereneta's characterization as the emcee storyteller wasn't strong enough. It took a while for him to connect with the audience; either he wasn't warmed up at the Saturday show or was just off in his transitions. He looked the part in his medieval-checked vest, but the character seemed flat.

It didn't help, especially early on, that Ereneta has an unfortunate tendency to swallow words and phrases. The first part of the show in particular was clunky. (He also used some of his more underwhelming stories, including one about how the devil created the goat, up front.)

When he got warmed up, though, and when he was telling a great tale, you can see how good a storyteller Ereneta can be. A story from Russia titled "The Woman Who Married a Snake" is gripping and powerful, and a clever one about a woman named "Aunt Misery" really nicely done. When Ereneta is on a roll, the timbre of his voice and the rhythm of his lines almost seem like music. The best part of the show is the glimpse it gives you of an earlier time. It's obvious that the absurdist streak in human nature is not merely a modern concept. People without electricity liked to shock, jolt and surprise each other as well.

What it comes down to is that the show seems disjointed. The stories don't flow. When only three of the ten are gripping enough to truly suck the audience in, it's not a very good percentage. I'd only recommend this show weakly, and that's if you're a 14th Century buff.