Opening and Current Runs

7 STRANGERS: SEASON 3, EPISODE 2
The reality-theater satire of MTV's The Real World. Someone's House, 1812 12th Ave, 550-1268. $10. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 28.

BEDROOM FARCE
Previewing. Alan Ayckbourn's play about the volcanic relationship of a married couple and how it keeps everyone—parents, friends—awake into the small hours of the night. Stone Soup Theatre, 4035 Stone Way N, 633-1883. $10-$22. Wed, 3:30 pm. Through Nov 25.

BETRAYAL
Harold Pinter's 1978 play that sometimes goes backward. $14-$24. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 29.

CARLOTTA AND THE CURSE OF WOLF MANOR: A WING DING MUSICAL
Opening. See Theater News. Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 340-1049. $7.50 - $15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 4.

COMPANY
Stephen Sondheim's 1971 concept musical about five married couples as seen through the eyes of a longtime bachelor. 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave, 292-2787. $20-$73. Thurs—Fri at 8 pm, Sat at 2 and 8 pm, Sun at 2 and 7 pm, Tues—Wed at 7:30 pm.

COWBOY VERSUS SAMURAI
Opening. A romantic comedy about a Korean American woman and her dating life. SiS Productions at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $8-$12. Fri, 8 pm and Sat, 3 & 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

DARK EARTH
An experimental puppet show—using digital technology and audience participation, including the wearing of headlamps—concerning "the Kabbalistic idea of failed worlds." NAKeD PUPPeTS at Theater4, Seattle Center House, 4th floor, 800-838-3006. $12-$16. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 28.

DINNER & DREAMS
Ongoing. The European-style dinner theater with cirque performers as garnish. Teatro ZinZanni, 2301 Sixth Ave, 802-0015. $99-$125. Thurs-Sat, 6:30 pm, Sun, 5:30 pm and Wed, 6:30 pm.

DOUBT
"The problem with Doubt as a production at the Seattle Rep is that there's too little of it. Shanley's Pulitzer-winning script is about a battle of wills between a sister and a priest, set in 1964 at St. Nicholas, a Bronx parochial school. Old-guard Sister Aloysius suspects the young and liberal Father Flynn of 'interfering' with a 12-year-old student. The script is tight and clean but the direction (by the usually impeccable Warner Shook) and the muddled acting telegraph the conclusion from the first scene." (Brendan Kiley) Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$48. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm and Sat, Sun, 2 pm. Through Oct 21.

recommended H.P. LOVECRAFT: THE COLOUR OUT OF SPACE
"If you've never enjoyed Lovecraft's pulp-horror pleasures, Colour is not for you. But if, as a pissy teenager, you browsed a copy of the Necronomicon for the playing-with-imaginary-fire fun of it, it's essential viewing." (Paul Constant) Open Circle Theater, 429 Boren Ave N, 382-4250. $13. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 11.

THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS
See review this issue. McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St, 684-7200. $49-$127. Sat, 7:30 pm, Sun, 2 pm and Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 28.

recommended LINE ONE
"In Line One, seven actors with cell phones receive calls from nonactors and repeat whatever they hear for the audience. Some calls were just rambling, and then another person would call and another and it built into a verbal symphony. This show is as amorphous as human relationships." (Corianton Hale) Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $7-$25. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 21.

MARK TWAIN TONIGHT!
One night only. Hal Holbrook's one-man portrayal of America's greatest living writer. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-2787. $28-$53. Thurs, Oct 19, 8 pm.

SLOW CHILDREN
"There are funny rock jokes, but the volume gets stuck at 11. Slow Children forgets that the cheesy greatness of hair metal also lies in the melodrama of the power ballad. It's like listening to 'Welcome to the Jungle' on repeat, when a little 'Patience' would've helped." (Paul Constant) Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. $12-$15. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

recommended SOUL OF A WHORE: PART III OF THE CASSANDRA CYCLE
"Denis Johnson's play is a down-and-dirty baroque, a work of excess, and a stoned phantasmagoria in cursing verse, where strippers, criminals, and executioners stumble through a seedy, apocalyptic vision of Texas." (Brendan Kiley) Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave, 325-6500. $18. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

THOM PAIN (BASED ON NOTHING)
See Theater News. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St, 443-2222. $10-$48. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm, Sat, Sun, 2 pm and Tues, Wed, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 5.

TICK, TICK...BOOM!
A musical by Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent, about a young man trying to write the Great American Musical before his 30th birthday. (Larson himself died suddenly, 10 days before his 36th birthday and mere hours before Rent opened off Broadway.) ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0339. $29. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Nov 4.

recommended THE TRANSYLVANIAN CLOCKWORKS
"Initially, all signs indicate a standard Dracula rehash. Then Clockworks expands into some interesting, if not altogether unexpected, regions. Playwright Don Nigro is concerned with preconceptions of the peculiar, with how moralizing begets monstrosity (and not so much vice versa)." (Lindy West) Balagan Theater at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $9-$15. Thurs-Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 21.

THE UNDERPANTS
A comedy by Steve Martin (adapted from a 1910 farce by Carl Sternheim) about a housewife who becomes an instant celebrity by accidentally losing her underpants in public. ACT Theatre, 700 Union St, 292-7676. $10-$54. Thurs, 7:30 pm, Fri, Sat, 8 pm, Sun, 7:30 pm and Tues, Wed 7:30 pm. Through Nov 12.

W(H)ACKED: AN IMMORALITY PLAY
Opening. A comedy by Stephanie Timm about the "Underground Very Secret Hush Hush Ladies' Serial Killer Club." Live Girls!, 2220 Market St., 800-838-3006. $10-$15. Thurs, Fri, 8 pm and Sat, 4 & 8 pm. Through Nov 18.

Dance

ALAN SUTHERLAND
One weekend only. Film and dance with Alan, a butoh cowboy from way back. Odd Fellows Hall, 915 E Pine St. $15. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

recommended LOCU ST: MOCKUMENTARY
One weekend only. See Stranger Suggests, page 47. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. $18. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

recommended OPUS CACTUS
One weekend only. A suite of 19 dances, set to music from Bach to Brian Eno, about the American Southwest. Choreographed by Moses Pendleton, cofounder of Pilobolus. MOMIX at Meany Hall, UW Campus, 543-4882. $42. Thurs-Sat, 8 pm. Through Oct 21.

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, 443-3241. $10. Sat, 10:30 pm.

COLUMBIA CITY CABARET
Ongoing. A "saucy cabaret," hosted by Tamara the Trapeze Lady. Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 605-9920. $15. Fri, 9 pm.

THE GHOST GAME
One weekend only. Friday is a dinner performance by members of UMO and Circus Contraption. Saturday is a costume ball with trapeze and music by the Bad Things. Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, 686-3729. $10—$40. Fri, Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 21.

ONE NIGHT ONLY
One night only. A cabaret fundraiser and dinner theater event with Arnaldo!, Marcus Wolland, and others. Thumper's, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $50. Fri, Oct 20, 7 pm.

THE WITCHING HOUR RETURNS
With Arnaldo!, the drag chanteuse. Thumper's, 1500 E Madison St, 328-3800. $15. Fri, Sat, 7:30 pm. Through Oct 28.

Improv & Comedy

THE COMEDY SHOP Columbia City Theatre, 4916 Rainier Ave S, 723-0088. $12 adv/$15 DOS. Sat, 8:30 & 10:30 pm.

COMEDY UNDERGROUND 222 S Main St, 800-325-7328. $6-$15. Fri, Sat, 8:30 & 10:30 pm.

GIGGLES COMEDY CLUB 5220 Roosevelt Way NE, 526-5653. $12. Fri, Sat, 8:30 & 10:30 pm.

BRENT WEINBACH AND MOSHE KASHER
One night only. Experimental comedy and general jackassery from two Bay Area boys. Plus local Hari Kondabolu. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 441-5823. $7. Tues, Oct 24, 8 pm.

CAMPFIRE
Scary campfire stories about ghosts, UFOs, monsters, and strange dreams, generated by ideas from the audience. Unexpected Productions at Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $10. Fri, Sat, 8 pm. Through Nov 4.

CLUES
An improvised murder mystery. Wing-It Productions at Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $10. Thurs, Fri, 8 pm. Through Nov 17.

JET CITY IMPROV
Ongoing. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8-$10. Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm and Sat, 8 pm.

LISA LAMPANELLI
Lisa will be taping for a Comedy Central special. Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 292-2787. $24.50. Sat, Oct 21, 8 pm.

REAL MEN OF COMEDY
Featuring Joe Rogan (Fear Factor), Charlie Murphy (Chappelle 's Show), and other guys who haven't figured out that comedy is faggotry. Paramount Theatre, 911 E Pine St, 292-2787. $34-$50. Sun, Oct 22, 7 pm.

THEATRESPORTS
Ongoing. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 587-2414. $8-$12. Fri, Sat, 10:30 pm and Sat, 8 pm.

Late Night

CAPITOL HILL HIGH, EPISODE THREE: SHANIQUALA SLEEPS TONIGHT
"Enthusiastic crap, marked by aggressively terrible acting and shamelessly lame theatrics." (David Schmader) Bad Actor Productions at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 388-0569. $10. Fri, Sat, 10 pm. Through Oct 21.

CUPCAKE
"Cupcake, featuring Ethan Newberry and Justin Sund, isn't adult-naughty; it's kid-naughty. The introductory film sequence gets a lot of excited laughs because one guy wears a black dildo hanging out of his fly, which the other smashes with his face. Newberry and Sund seem smart, with the capacity for comedy somewhere deep inside, but it's so easy to make this late-night, college-kid crowd laugh with dick jokes, they don't have to work very hard." (Brendan Kiley) Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Sat, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.

SUAVE
A new show by Douglas S. Willott and Ian Schempp that "will educate audiences on the sextracurricular arts." No one under 17 admitted. Historic University Theater, 5510 University Way NE, 352-8291. $8. Sun, 12:30 am. Through Nov 17.

Special Events

AWAKE AND SING!
One night only. A reading of the Clifford Odets play. Our American Theater Company at Theater Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave S, 340-1049. By donation. Mon, Oct 23, 7 pm.

GARRISON KEILLOR: LAKE WOBEGON DAYS
Paramount Theatre, 911 E Pine St, 292-2787. $41. Thurs, Oct 19, 7:30 pm.

THREE SCREAMS
One night only. A reading of Vincent Delaney's play about the theft of a Munch painting. Stellner Studio at Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave, 720-0083. $2. Mon, Oct 23, 7 pm.