THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT
A kind vegan suffering from a crippling speech impediment and an extraordinary case of acromegaly befriends an orphan, meets the Queen of England, and saves the continent. Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 443-0807. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Jan 19.
BRING IN DA NOISE, BRING IN DA FUNK
Final week. Immersing middle-aged white folks in that feeling of comfortable urbanity since 1996. Savion Glover at Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, 292-2787. $17-$53. Tues-Wed at 8 pm. Through Jan 12.
THE JOY LUCK CLUB
Opening. I can't think of anything to say that I don't personally find offensive, and I think that makes me a bad person. ReAct at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, 104 17th Ave S, 364-3283. $6-$12. Thurs-Sat at 8 pm, Sun at 2 pm. Through Feb 9.
*THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Final week. An old wardrobe becomes a portal and Christ becomes a lion in this ambitious staging of C. S. Lewis' Jesus-freak classic. "My son (who is six) and I enjoyed this adaptation of C. S. Lewis' most famous book for two reasons. One, the big set pieces. We are suckers for large backdrops that move mysteriously on and off the stage, and the winter world (the best part of the book) was superbly realized. Two, the play sticks very close to the original text. With the exception of one small disagreement--my son liked the songs and I didn't--we were equally pleased with the performance." (Charles Mudede) Seattle Children's Theatre, 201 Thomas St, 441-3322. $12-$26. Fri at 7 pm, Sat-Sun at 2 and 5:30 pm. Through Jan 11.
STRANGE ATTRACTORS
Opening. The 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. Empty Space Theater, 3509 Fremont Ave N, 547-7500. $25-$40. Tues-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.
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY
Final week. "Set in the suburban '70s, the story follows writer and performer Sandra Tsing Loh's battle with her skinnier and more talented older sister for the lead role in a ballet school production of The Nutcracker. The humor is bland, but as a performer, Tsing Loh has personality to spare, and the requisite parade of wacky characters twinkle with heartfelt zest. Unfortunately, no matter how nice the set or how slick the performance, the fact remains that it's very difficult to care about yet another holiday memoir, especially one about a teenager with unfulfilled dreams and parents who just don't understand." (Matt Fontaine) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $32-$40. Tues-Sun at 7:30 pm, matinees Sat-Sun at 2 pm. Through Jan 12.
THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE
Opening. It's all class wars and crossdressing in Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux's 18th-century romantic comedy, directed by Stephen Wadsworth. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $15-$40. Tues-Fri at 7:30 pm. Sat-Sun at 2 and 7:30 pm. Through Feb 15.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
IT'S ALL RELATIVE
One night only. Improvised comedy based on suggested familial disasters. Playback Theater Northwest at Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave N, room 5, second floor, 726-1415. $10. Fri Jan 10 at 8 pm.
EVENTS
14/48x2
Final week. The One World Theatre tempts fate once again with the latest installment of 14/48. Same basic premise: 48 hours + a whole mess of talented theater folks = 14 plays completed from conception to performance. One World Theatre at Consolidated Works, 1100 Republican St, 381-3218. $14.48. Fri-Sat Jan 10-11 at 8 and 10:30 pm.
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.
