ALL MY SONS
Power, corruption, and lies: the weight of Arthur Miller's 1947 breakthrough. "Director Karen Lund has a firm grasp on the timeliness of the piece and, for the first two acts, manages to keep the melodrama under control. The cramped playing space bubbles with Miller's secrets and lies, and though the staging can get a bit busy, Lund's pacing is masterful. It's only at the end of the second act and into the third that the production boils over. If not for actor Robert Gallaher's controlled performance, they might have lost the theatrical soup." (Jeff Meyers) Taproot Theatre, 204 N 85th St, 781-9707. $18-$26. Wed-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sat matinees at 2 pm. Through March 1.
ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (abridged)
The "Bad Boys of Abridgment," the Reduced Shakespeare Company, take a red pen to 68 works of literary greatness in under two hours. Reduced Shakespeare Company at ACT Theatre, 700 Union Street, 292-7676. Tues-Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through March 2.
* BALLYHOO
"A little bit Brazil, a little bit Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and a little bit King Crimson, Ballyhoo is the brainchild of music/theater duo Player King, also known as Michael McQuilken and John Osebold (who is also a member of sketch comedy troupe the Habit). The impossible-to-summarize story describes a far-distant future in which Earth has been transplanted to a new solar system, all culture is advertising, and government agents called Friendly Joes duke it out with renegade terrorists called Bellboys." (Bret Fetzer) Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 323-0388. $12. Feb 14, 16, 21, and 23 at 8 pm. 21 and over. Through Feb 23.
BOY GETS GIRL
Opening. The work of smarty-pants playwright Rebecca Gilman (Spinning into Butter) returns to Seattle, in the form of a play Time called "One of the finest, most disturbing American plays in years." Let's just hope that the Rep can hold it together this time. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$46. Tues-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 2, 7:30 pm. Through March 23.
THE CHANGELING
Opening. A Bret Fetzer amendment to Thomas Middleton's 1622 fiasco of murder, extortion, and sins of the flesh. Directed by Carys Kresny. Annex Theatre at Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 728-0933. $12. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 22.
A CHORUS LINE
Final week. Hopes and dreams, triumphs and failures, tits and ass. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 625-1418. $15-$58. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun matinees at 2 pm. Through Feb 16.
COMEDY OF EROS II
Final week. A fresh installment of A Theater Near You's Comedy of Eros, a sampler of one-acts devoted to the hilarity of sex. A Theater Near You at Northwest Actors Studio Cabaret, 1100 E Pike St, 726-9814. $12-$20. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 15.
DRIVING MISS DAISY
Yes'm. Village Theater at Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front St N, Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $26-$42. Wed-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 23.
FAR EAST
See review this issue. The Northwest premiere of A. R. Gurney's semi-autobiographical account of his bout with yellow fever on a U.S. Naval base in Japan. Mirror Stage Company at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, TK. Through Feb 23.
GO, DOG. GO!
Opening. ... and that pretty much says it all. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. Through May 4.
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS
Book-It brings Maya Angelou's impregnable memoir to the stage. "Though all of the actors make their mark, the powerful presence of the principal actresses--Demene E. Hall (old Maya and Maya's grandmother), Lanise Antoine Shelley (young Maya), and Felicia V. Loud (Maya's mother)--make the play. Even Felicia V. Loud's broken leg did not hamper or burden her performance. Indeed, nothing except closing down the whole damn theater could stop I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings from being what it is: thoroughly engaging." (Charles Mudede) Book-It Repertory at Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 364-3282. $15-$22. Thurs-Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 4 pm. Through Feb 16.
JACK & JILL
Final week. "The dearth of major plot choices makes the 'boy meets girl' narrative attractive to writers who want to experiment with humor, language, social commentary, and style. The dialogue, severely stylized and clipped, sometimes succeeds in being humorous or urgent, and sometimes degenerates into hopelessly dull relationship-babble." (Brendan Kiley) Steeplechase Productions at Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $29 with dinner, $15 for show only. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Feb 15.
JEKYLL AND HYDE
Opening. A musical rendition of the Robert Lewis Stevenson classic--astonishing audiences with its 13 different rhymes for "dichotomy." Civic Light Opera at Jane Addams Summit School Auditorium, 11051 34th Ave NE, 363-2809. $20-$30. Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2:30 pm. Through March 8.
A LIE OF THE MIND
See review this issue. Wives beaten, brains damaged, guns fired, doors slammed: surprise! It's Sam Shepard! Rebound One Productions at ACT, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$25. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 23.
LOVE LETTERS
Final week. The torture of a love affair by post, just in time for that wicked celebration of Saint Valentine's. Seattle Public Theater at Bathhouse Theater, 7312 Green Lake Dr N, 325-6500. $10-$18. Fri-Sat at 7:30 pm. Through Feb 15.
MONSTER
"Brandon Whitehead gives Dr. Frankenstein the perfect degree of measured Victorian self-involvement. And MJ Sieber, as the Creature, with his massive, sweaty (and most of the time, nude) body, is exceptionally intimidating, but never quite captures the refined sensitivity that the monster experiences later in the story. Together, they do well to keep this confounding play from popping its stitches." (Gregory Zura) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through Feb 22.
MURDER AT CRAGGY ROCK
Opening. A Wild West musical-mystery-comedy set to steak, featuring characters with names like Slappy, Hap Hazard, El Gatito, and Fifi. Northwest Murder Mysteries at Rock Salt Steak House, 1232 Westlake Ave N, 706-7575. $50, includes meal. Sat at 8 pm. Through March 29.
THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA
Southern drawl, questions of faith, and perhaps even some funny hats in Tennessee Williams' award-winning masterpiece. GreenStage at Sand Point Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way, Building 406, 748-1551. Free. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 1.
THE OUTSIDERS
Final week. "Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold." Set to the quintessential teenage riot of... the Red Hot Chili Peppers?!?!? Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Feb 15.
PRESENT TENSE, SEX LIVES OF THE SUPERHEROES
Final week. Two brief contemporary works designed to cater to the "mature audiences" multitude of Edmonds. Driftwood Players at Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St, Edmonds, 425-774-9600. $10. Sun at 7 pm, Mon at 8 pm. Through Feb 17.
THE PRODUCERS
Final week. Here's that show you've heard all about, starring people you've never heard of. Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $26-$67. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7:30 pm, matinees Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 16.
SEATTLE FESTIVAL OF IMPROV THEATER
This week only. A three day celebration of artful impulse--improvised theater minus the laugh track. Wing-It Productions at Northwest Actor's Studio, 1100 E Pike St, 325-6500. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm. $10-$30.
* STRANGE ATTRACTORS
Final week. Empty Space hosts the world premiere of David Adjmi's totally twisted new play, directed by the ever-reliable Chay Yew and starring the ever-brilliant Heidi Schreck and Ian Bell. "Playwright David Adjmi hasn't written some kind of postmodern deconstruction of Henrik Ibsen's classic play A Doll's House, he's completely stolen the whole damn play, torn down the walls, and rebuilt it with hip new plastic façades. And in his remodeling he has created a wonderfully strange, dark look into the life of a woman attempting to maintain her 'magnificent obsessions.'" (Gregory Zura) Empty Space Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $25-$40. Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Feb 16.
THE SUICIDE: A RUSSIAN COMEDY
Final week. Alternate title: Nyet, Mother. Meany Studio Theatre, UW campus in lower Meany Hall, 543-4880. $7-$12. Thurs at 7 pm, Fri-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 16.
THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE
Final week. It's all class wars and cross-dressing in Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux's 18th-century romantic comedy, directed by Stephen Wadsworth. "Please don't let me be misunderstood--I love classical fogies. But if you're looking for a heroine-featuring witfest, go straight to the horse's mouth and read a three-dollar used copy of Much Ado About Nothing from your local used bookstore, and skip the $40 ticket." (Brendan Kiley) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $15-$40. Thurs-Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Feb 15.
VAGINA MONOLOGUES
This week only. No, no, no... it doesn't make me uncomfortable at all. No, seriously--I'm fine with it. No, really! As part of the national V-Day campaign. Little Theater off Broadway, 1524 Harvard Ave, 587-6949. $10-$15. Fri-Sat at 7 pm.
VIC: SPIRIT MADE FLESH
See review this issue. Winner of the 2002 Hugo House New Play Competition, Maria Glanz's play about 19th-century suffragette Victoria Woodhull. Open Circle Theatre, 429 Boren Ave N, 325-6500. $15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through March 1.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
ANANSI THE SPIDER
Pupaphobia: the irrational fear of puppets. Arachnophobia: an abnormally strong fear of spiders. I'm getting an ulcer just thinking about it. Carter Family Puppet Theater at Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave NE, 523-2579. $7.50-$9.50. Fri at 7:30 pm, Sat-Sun at 1, 3 pm. Through Feb 23.
CITY LIFE
Improvised theater about the Jet City. Unexpected Productions at Market Theatre, Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8 pm. Through March 15.
* FRANKENOCCHIO
See review this issue. Monkey Wrench Puppet Lab, the masterminds behind Suzy & Nice-Nice and the ever-popular Drunk Puppet Nite, present their latest abomination of puppet theater, whose title pretty much speaks for itself. Monkey Wrench Puppet Lab at Nippon Kan Theatre, 628 S Washington St, 340-1445. $13-$15. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 7 pm. Through Feb 21.
LOUNGE LIZARDS
If life is a cabaret, please kill me. The Velveteens, a lounge trio and their pianist, gut the standards for your entertainment. Straight-Edge Theatrics at Thumpers Restaurant, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $15. Fri-Sat at 8:30 pm. Through March 1.
DWIGHT SLADE, TODD SAWYER, GABRIEL RUTLEDGE
One night only. The most outrageous comedians from here to Spanaway celebrate the lonely heart of the jester. Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Ave, Bremerton, 360-373-6743. $15. Fri Feb 14 at 8 pm.
DANCE
LOST SOLES
See Stranger Suggests. Final week. Thaddeus Phillips plays stage manager, dancer, and bilingual actor in the West Coast premiere of Lost Soles, his new work about the life of a Midwestern tap dancer trapped in Cuba. Thaddeus Phillips at On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $15-$18. Thurs-Sun at 8 pm. Through Feb 16.
LATE NIGHT
THE TWILIGHT ZONE
The cash cow returns... and it's thirsty for blood! Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 324-5801. $10. Fri-Sat at 11 pm. Through Feb 22.
LONG RUNS
BROADVILLE CARNIVAL at Cafe Venus, 624-4516.
CABARET: THE ResERECTION at Coffee Messiah, 861-8233.
* THE HOKUM SHOW at Hokum Hall, 937-3613.
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.
