July 20, 2006

Theater

Theater Listings

OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS

14/48: THE WORLD'S QUICKEST THEATER FESTIVAL

Final week. See review this issue. 3-Card Monty and One World Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $14.48. Fri and Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm. Through July 22.

BUST

"A solo comedy wherein Lauren Weedman—an actor and former correspondent for the Daily Show with Jon Stewart who lives in Los Angeles—signs up as an inmate advocate in a women's jail. Her primary task is to listen, but talking is what she does best, sometimes with (brilliantly) disastrous results. While searching through the byzantine hallways of a social-services building, looking for her prison orientation, she talks loudly on her cell phone about a recent incident involving 'really, just the tiniest amount of cocaine' and making out with a stranger in a bathroom. Turns out she's blaring her sordid story into the open doorway of her volunteer orientation. Later, Weedman jokes that she signed up 'because a women's jail is the only place where I have a shot at being the prettiest girl in the room.' Comedy is clearly one of Weedman's gifts—the other is specificity. Sometimes it's easy to forget that Weedman is a solo performer, evoking the conflicting moods of a roomful of people all by her lonesome." (Brendan Kiley) Empty Space Theatre, 901 12th Ave, 547-7500. $25–$30. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Aug 5.

CHILD OF HUNGRY TIMES

Opening. A solo show about the "long-censored writings of Russia's Lyudmila Petrushkaya." Washington Ensemble Theater, 608 19th Ave E, 800-838-3006, $10–$15. Previewing Wed July 19 at 8 pm, by donation. Opening Thurs July 20 at 8 pm. Fri–Sun at 8 pm. Through July 30.

THE COMPLEAT WORKS OF WLLM SHKSPR (ABRIDGED)

"2b? Nt2b? = ?" SecondStory Repertory, 16587 NE 74th St, Redmond, 425-881-6777. $18–$24. Fri–Sat at 8:15 pm, Sun at 2:15 pm. Through July 29.

CIRCUS CONTRAPTION'S GRAND AMERICAN TRAVELING DIME MUSEUM

Final week. See review this issue. Magnuson Community Center Auditorium, Magnuson Park, Building 47, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, 800-838-3006. $20–$23. Thurs–Sun at 8 pm. Through July 23.

DINNER & DREAMS

Ongoing. The dinner-theater extravaganza, with European-style cirque performances as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99–$125. Wed–Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm.

AN EVENING WITH THE DUWAMISH

One night only. The "dramatic saga" of the Duwamish (which literally translates as: "People of the Inside"), told in song, story, and dance. Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave E, www.brownpapertickets.com. $5–$15. Sat July 22 at 7 pm.

KALEIDOSCOPE EYES: SONGS FOR BUSBY BERKELEY.

Opening. See Stranger Suggests, page 29. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $12–$15, Opening Thurs July 20 at 8 pm. Fri–Sun at 8 pm. Through July 30.

KUWAIT

Final week. "This facile play by Vincent Delaney is about the distortions perpetrated by embedded reporters and their military keepers during times of war (Gulf War I, to be precise). Thank god it's a one-act." (Annie Wagner) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $18, Thurs by donation. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through July 22.

LATE NITE CATECHISM

Ongoing. "The real point is not the adult-catechism monologue, but the script's gaps, in which Sister Aubrey Manning dispenses tissues to cover salacious displays of flesh and kitschy prizes to reward the dumbstruck targets of her improvisations." (Annie Wagner) Cloud 9 Productions at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50–$29.50. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Tickets available through Aug 27.

MITZI'S ABORTION

Opening. See Stranger Suggests, page 29. ACT Theatre, 700 Union Ave, 292-7676. $10–$54. Previewing Fri–Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm (by donation), and Tues–Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Aug 20.

QUICKIES VOLUME 7

Final week. "It's a noble thing for Live Girls! to give women playwrights an annual revue where they can showcase their latest dramatic brainchildren. It's just unfortunate that they can't scare up enough quality scripts to justify said revue. At each Quickies, I'm inevitably more charmed by host Kate Jaeger—this time, with her a capella power-ballad interpretation of "Let's Hear It for the Boy"—and the entr'acte entertainment by individual actors, who are less vibrant in the plays than they are when buying time for set changes by peeling bananas with their feet or posing as Russian scientists surveying the audience." (Brendan Kiley) Live Girls! Theater, 2220 NW Market St, 800-838-3006. $10–$15. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm. Sat at 4 pm. Through July 22.

REWIND 1987

See Theater News. The Last Supper Club, 124 S Washington St, 748-9975. $49–$69. Fri July 21 at 7:30 pm. Through Aug 12.

THE ROETHKE

See review this issue. Unexpected Productions at the Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Fri–Sat at 8 pm. Through July 29.

THE SECRET RUTHS OF ISLAND HOUSE

"Ruth, Ruth, and Ruth are old. They inhabit the quiet, in-between spaces of the Island House retirement home." Nebunele Theatre at Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, www.nebunele.com. $8–$10. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 6.

SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

"In this baffling production, the liberal power couple has outfitted its Central Park apartment with worse-than-'70s wood paneling and frosted-glass decanters. Into the dubiously haute milieu comes Paul (Joseph Mascorella)—black, chatty, bleeding from a hole in his side. He claims to be the son of Sidney Poitier and insinuates himself into the couple's life. He wants their status, their money, their frosted-glass decanters, and their obviously fake double-sided Kandinsky. Mascorella is all right as the con-man cipher—he can juggle his standard English and his black vernacular, slump and strut with the best of them—but the couple is all wrong. There's nothing glib or fluent about Flan, none of the philanthropic condescension we know has to glaze Ouisa's outward show of concern. And without convincing elegance for Paul to disturb, we never get to take our wicked pleasure in seeing the rich humiliated." (Annie Wagner) ReAct Theatre at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 325-6500. $9–$15. Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm. Through July 30.

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN

A musical comedy about a bluegrass "Saturday Night Sing" in Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, circa 1938. Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $15–$30. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Tues at 6 pm, and Wed at 7:30 pm. Through Aug 12.

STONES IN HIS POCKETS

Extended. "This two-man show about Irish extras in a Hollywood movie is like a well-made sandwich—warm, charming, and full of cheese." (Brendan Kiley) Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. $18–$20. Thurs–Sat at 7:30 pm. Through July 29.

THE TEMPEST AT NEWHOLLY

One weekend only. Written by Andrea Allen, based on Shakespeare's Tempest and interviews with residents of the NewHolly "neighborhood cluster," whatever that is. Deus X Machina at the NewHolly Library courtyard, 7050 32nd Ave S. Opening Thurs July 20 at 7 pm. Fri–Sat at 7 pm. Through July 22.

DANCE

IN MY LANGUAGE

Opening. Modern dance by Maki Morinoue, a member of Esse Aficionado. MiKiJo Arts, 114 1/2 First Ave S, 624-2588. $12–$15. Opening July 20 at 8 pm. Thurs–Sat at 8 pm. Through July 29.

CABARET

BURLESQUE BEHIND THE PINK DOOR

Ongoing. Novelty acts, puppets, crooners, and old-fashioned burlesque. With Paula the Swedish Housewife. Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley. No reservations required. $10. (21+ w/ID.) Sat at 10:30 pm.

COLUMBIA CITY CABARET

Ongoing. A "saucy cabaret," hosted by Tamara the Trapeze lady. Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, no reservations required. $15 (21+ w/ID). Fri at 9 pm.

DITA VON TEESE AND THE ATOMIC BOMBSHELLS

One night only. Featuring the desiccated corpse of John Philip Sousa! Triple Door, 216 Union St. 838-4333. $25–$30. Sat July 22 at 7 pm (all ages) and 10 pm (21+ w/ID).

LIVE BURLESQUE

Ongoing. Tassels, teats, and a dirty blues band. SeaMonster Lounge, 2202 N 45th St, 633-1824. Free, no reservations required. Tues at 11 pm.

IMPROV & COMEDY

Bengt Washburn at Comedy Underground, 222 Main St, 800-325-7328. $6–$15 (21+ w/ID required). Thurs at 8:30 pm, Fri–Sat at 8:30 and 10:30 pm. Jet City Improv at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 325–6500. $8–$10. Fri at 10:30 pm. Sat at 8 and 10:30 pm. Theatresports at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $8–$12. Fri–Sat at 10:30 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Comedy Night at Mirabeau Room, 529 Queen Anne Ave N, www.prokomedy.com. $5. Wed at 8 pm.

JEFF DUNHAM

One night only. A ventriloquist. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 628-0888. $28.50. Sat July 22 at 8 pm.

REALITY WORLD: SEASON 2

A reality show that's actually improvised. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.wingitpresents.com. $10. Thurs–Fri at 8 pm. Through July 28.

SUZANNE WESTENHOEFER

One night only. A comedian. Triple Door, 216 Union St. 838-4333. $28–$30. Fri July 21 at 7 pm and 9:30 pm.

LATE NIGHT

CRESCENDO FALLS

Final week. "Crescendo Falls proudly wears the stripes of late-night theater: gleeful sloppiness, confusing and mostly irrelevant plots, over-over-over-over-the-top performances, filthy jokes, and a bar." (Brendan Kiley) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12. Fri–Sat at 11 pm. Through July 22.

LATE NIGHT WITH SATAN

"Talk shows are so familiar that any 3-year-old with a desk and two plush chairs could duplicate the format. This show suffered from too many dropped jokes and uncomfortable silences, mostly because Ryan Miller, as the titular Prince of Darkness, didn't stay in character. Instead, we got a couple thematic one-liners—did you know that the devil directed Gigli? Ka-zing! Right now, the whole experience should be titled Late Night with a Guy Who's Funnier Than Jay Leno, and that's just not enough." (Paul Constant) Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, www.wingitpresents.com. $5. Sat at midnight. Through Aug 28.

LET THEM EAT PORK: LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, MOCHA LATTÉ

Late-night sketch comedy, including something called "Gridlocked! The Gary Locke Story." Pork Filled Players at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 325-6500. $6–$9. Fri–Sat at 10 pm. Through July 29.

SPECIAL EVENTS

OPEN BOX

Readings! Of plays! Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave, 720-0083. $3. Sat July 22 at 4:30 pm.

POSSUM CARCASS

One night only. A reading of David Bucci's new play, a contemporary adaptation of The Seagull, by Anton Chekhov (AKA the 19th-century Aaron Spelling). Annex Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 800-838-3006. Tues July 25 at 7:30 pm.

SEATTLE OPERA BRAVO! CLUB

One night only. It's their tenth anniversary. Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave, 676-5553. $10. Wed July 26 at 6:30 pm.