2X4XDEATH

Closing. Fish + chips = murder. Northwest Murder Mysteries at Ivar's Salmon House, 401 NE Northlake Way, 491-6446. $50. Sat at 8 pm (includes dinner and gratuity). Through Aug 24.

AMERICAN VOICES: BUKOWSKI, MICHELINE & THE FIRST AMENDMENT

Closing. Dramatic portrayal of a real-life 1968 obscenity controversy involving Charles Bukowski, Jack Micheline, and lefty magazine Open City. "It is an unsettling show, a rough-hewn work about gritty writers whose subject matter is equally raw. Drunkenness, loneliness, and disgust are their refrains. Balestri manages the transition between the erratic Micheline and the shuffling Bukowski well, and he puts an earnest punch into the peculiar genre of 1960s poetry and prose." (Brendan Kiley) Theatre Under the Influence at Union Garage Performance Space, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $12. Fri at 9 pm. Through Aug 23.

THE BALTIMORE WALTZ

Closing. In this Paula Vogel chestnut, an unmarried schoolteacher gets a mysterious, fatal illness from a toilet seat, then tours Europe with her gay brother. Once upon a time, this was a vague play about AIDS (specifically, the way the disease robbed so many sensitive straight folk of their entertaining gay friends/relatives). God knows what it's about now. Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 324-6328. $10-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 24.

CLOSER

See review this issue. ReAct Theatre at Bathhouse Theatre, 7912 W Green Lake Drive N, 364-3283. $6-$12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm and 7 pm. Through Sept 1.

DRALION

Since when did foreigners in funny clothes hell-bent on "death-defying" nosedives cease to be called "threats to national security"? I'm ASKING?!?! Cirque du Soleil at Grand Chapiteau, 900 Garden Ave N, 800-450-1480, next to Renton Boeing Plant. $31.50-$65. Tues-Wed at 8 pm, Thurs-Fri at 5 and 9 pm, Sat at 4 and 8 pm, Sun at 1 and 5 pm. No performance Tues Aug 27. Through Sept 8.

FULLY COMMITTED

Solo show about an unemployed actor taking reservations for an ultra-chic restaurant. Now with Daniel J. Chercover. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $24.50-$29.50. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Open run.

HOLES

This week only. As the finale to their summer season, the Seattle Children's Theatre present Louis Sachar's adaptation of his own children's novel--a puzzling story concerning the residents of a juvenile detention facility in Texas. Seattle Children's Theatre at Eve Alvord Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $7. Thurs-Sat at 7 pm.

* MONEY & RUN EPISODE 6

Closing. Wayne S. Rawley's serial returns, with original cast in tow, for its newest debacle: The Eyepatch of the Tiger. "The formula that makes Money & Run a minor local phenomenon is delicate, and Episode 6 boasts plenty of the things that make the series worth seeing." (Adrian Ryan) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 324-5801. $12-$15, under 18 free. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 24.

NICKEL AND DIMED: ON (NOT) GETTING BY IN AMERICA

Closing. Adapting Barbara Ehrenreich's best-selling account of the same name, Joan Holden's new play focuses on minimum-wage labor and its soul-draining effects. "As a play, Nickel and Dimed is not without power, but it feels thin, less substantial than its literary counterpart." (Emily Hall) Intiman Theater, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $27-$42. Tues-Thurs & Sun at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, matinee Sat at 2 pm. Through Aug 25.

OUR TOWN

Closing. Thornton Wilder's classic play as performed by local deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing youth. Yep, you read that right. Seattle Children's Theatre's Deaf Youth Drama Program at Charlotte Martin Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 443-0807. $7-$11. Fri at 7 pm, Sat at 2 and 5:30 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Aug 25.

A ROSE FOR DANNY

Closing. Playwright Kevin Moriarty's intimate portrait of his Irish immigrant grandfather's experiences on 1950s Queen Anne Hill. Mainstage Theater, Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, 546-4606. $8-$10. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Aug 24.

SPEECHLESS

Closing. Sketch comedy on mute, by local heroes Bald Faced Lie. "While the lofty idea is an interesting one, unfortunately its execution isn't particularly funny. Although the acting was solid, the punch lines were so simple that watching the play was like watching children's theater (albeit with a little T&A)." (Jennifer Maerz) Bald Faced Lie at Empty Space Theatre, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 325-6500. $15-$19. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 24.

* STARBALL

Closing. Solo performer John Kaufmann takes a stab at combining Jungian theory, astronomy, and dramatic performance in this act of planetary spectacle. "Starball is a quirky and pointy-headed adventure, sexy in an odd and indescribable way, and would probably require psilocybin to get any more surreal. I loved it." (Adrian Ryan) John Kaufmann at Pacific Science Center's Smith Planetarium, Seattle Center, 634-9018. $12. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm, seating between 7 and 7:55 pm. Through Aug 25.

TAMING OF THE SHREW

"Bitchy girl submits to backhanding smart-ass. Misogynist parable? Feminist subversion? Decide for yourself." (Bret Fetzer) GreenStage Theater Company. Call for locations, dates, and times, 748-1551, www.greenstage.org. Free. Through Sept 2.

TEATRO ZINZANNI: DINNER & DREAMS

The most expensive dinner theater of all time--three hours of gluttony, lust, and eye candy. Featuring the effervescent yet earthy Kevin Kent. "Dinner & Dreams isn't a disaster. The food is great, and a handful of the performers are dazzling. But for every bit that dazzles, a half-dozen fall flat." (David Schmader) Teatro ZinZanni, Sixth & Battery, 805-0015. $89 Wed-Fri & Sun, $99 Sat (includes dinner, but not beverages or gratuity). Wed-Sat at 6:30 pm, Sun at 5:30 pm. Open run.

THREE-TENN-ONE

Three early one-acts by Tennessee Williams: 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, Lord Byron's Love Letter, and Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen.... Dancing at Francesca's at Northwest Actors Studio, 1100 E Pine St, 324-6328. $10. Thurs-Sat at 10 pm. Through Aug 31.

TOMATO PLANT GIRL

The tumultuous relationship between Bossy Best Friend and Little Girl comes to a dramatic head when the former is accused of vegetable abuse. Theatre Babylon at Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 720-1942. $6-$10. Sat-Sun at 2 pm, with evening performances Mon Aug 26 and Fri-Sat Sept 6-7 at 7 pm. Special Bumbershoot performance Sun Sept 1 at 1:30 at Bagley Wright Theater, Seattle Center. Through Sept 8.

TWELFTH NIGHT

"An ensemble of teenagers from all over the region set Shakespeare's greatest comedy of love and madness to the tunes of Elvis and among the Preps, Jocks, Brains, and Geeks of contemporary high school--without changing the gorgeous poetry of Shakespeare's original text." Seattle Public Theater's Summer Youth Drama Program at Bathhouse Theater, 7321 W Green Lake Drive N, 325-6500. Free. Thurs at 7 pm, Fri-Sat at 3 pm. Through Aug 31.

* VAYA CON LOLA

See Stranger Suggests. Closing. Baba Yaga Productions at Ned Skinner Theater, 1501 10th Ave E, 325-6500. $10. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 24.

WINTERTIME

Written by Charles L. Mee, Wintertime tracks a weekend of comic disaster in the lives of two ill-fated lovers unsuspectingly confronted with a familial web of romantic entanglement. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$44. Sun, Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Matinee performances Aug 25 and 29, Sept 1, 7, 8, 14, and 15 at 2 pm. Through Sept 15.

FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY

ANTIQUES IMPROV SHOW

Bring your own objects; these jokers will tell you what you've got. The problem with the premise is... don't you think those real appraisers are pretty much winging it too? Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Aug 31.

COMEDY COURT BENEFIT

One night only. In a performance on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation, this evening the Comedy Court uproots itself for a special evening of well-meaning hysterics at the Jewel Box Theater. Comedy Court at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 442-2044. $10. Tues Aug 27 at 8 pm.

HOKUM'S MIDSUMMER VAUDEVILLE FESTIVAL!

Closing. A variety show of explosive proportions. Caution: mimes. Hokum Hall, 7904 35th Ave SW, 937-3613. $12-$14. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 3 pm. Through Aug 25.

KAFTAN!

A charmingly ramshackle kitsch cabaret with It's Mark Mitchell, Kurt B. Reighley, Paula!, and guests. "A nice-enough dose of free entertainment." (Josh Feit) Swedish Housewife at ING, 1530 Bellevue Ave, 329-5388. Free. Sun at 9 pm. Ongoing.

LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR & GRILL

See review this issue. Crêpe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, second floor, 623-4111. $45 for dinner and show, $18 show only. Thurs-Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 8:30 pm. Through Aug 31.

LA MOME PIAF: THE LIFE AND SONGS OF A FRENCH LEGEND

The life and work of Edith Piaf, with dinner, unless you say, "Je ne mange rien." Cabaret at Crêpe de Paris, 1333 Fifth Ave, second floor, 623-4111. $20. Wed at 8 pm. Through Aug 28.

MEOW, A HOEDOWN CABARET

One week only. Polish up your spittoons, it's time for Macha Monkey's glorious Western cabaret. Be prepared for a night of leather-laden lechery with Western-themed film, music, theater, and, uh, belly-dancing. The Chamber Theatre, 915 E Pine, fourth floor, 617-8014. $10. Sat-Sun at 8 pm.

LATE NIGHT

COMEDY COURT

Improv comedy... in a courtroom setting! HA! Comedy Court at Odd Duck Studios, 1214 10th Ave, 442-2044. $10. Sat at 10:30 pm, with additional performances on Sept 7 and 14 at 8 pm. Through Sept 14.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE

Closing. The cash cow returns... and it's thirsty for blood! Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 324-5801. $10. Fri-Sat at 11 pm. Through Aug 24.

LONG RUNS

CABARET: THE ResERECTION at Coffee Messiah, 861-8233.

JET CITY IMPROV at ArtsWest, 938-0339; at the Ethnic Cultural Theater, 781-3879.

LATE NIGHT CATECHISM from Seattle Theatre Project at ACT Theatre, 292-7676.

QUEER AS A THREE-DOLLAR BILL at the Comedy Underground, 800-992-8499.

THEATRESPORTS at the Market Theater, 781-9273.