The Stranger

This is Herb Gardner's 1962 comedy about Murray Burns—a cranky womanizer, comedian, and anti-nebbish—and his nephew, whose loose talk about life with his uncle has attracted the interest of the child-welfare service. Murray has to decide which he prefers: his eccentric independence or keeping his nephew out of the foster-care system. Murray (based on Jean Shepherd, who wrote and narrated A Christmas Story) may be stubbornly anticonformist, but the comedy—full of vintage zingers that still land—is deeply ambivalent about growing up. (Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. 2 and 8 pm, $10–$52. Through June 17.) by Brendan Kiley

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