THEATER
OPENING THIS WEEK
52 PICK UP · theater simple
A MOST NOTORIOUS WOMAN · Green Wood Studio
CAMPFIRE · Unexpected Productions
GOOSED · Planet Earth Seattle
I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE · Broadway Performance Hall
SPIDER’S WEB · The Edmond Driftwood Players
ONE WEEK ONLY
IMAGINATION THEATRE · Kirkland Performance Center
SPIN THE BOTTLE · Annex Theatre
TANGO CABARET · China Harbor Restaurant
CLOSING THIS WEEK
MACBETH · GreenStage
OPENING AND CURRENT RUNS
52 PICK UP
See Stranger Suggests. Fifty-two scenes in the rise and fall of a relationship, the order of presentation determined by the fall of a deck of cards. theater simple at the Union Garage, 1418 10th Ave, 784-8647. $10-$12 (pay what you can on Thurs, Sept 13 & 20). Thur-Sat at 8, Sun at 2 on Sept 9 & 23, Sun at 7 on Sept 16. Through Sept 23.
A MOST NOTORIOUS WOMAN
The tale of a 16th Century Irish rebel and sea captain. Soon to be touring in Ireland itself. See Bio:Theater. Green Wood Studio at Theatre Puget Sound’s Theatre 4, 4th flr, Seattle Center House, 783-9156. $10 suggested donation. Fri-Sat at 7:30, Sat at 2, this weekend only.
GOOSED
Sort of a fairy tale about an irresistibly attractive guy. “Contains adult content,” we are promised, which could mean the characters will be filling out their tax forms and fixing the garage door opener. Planet Earth Multi-Cultural Theatre Seattle at the Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, 243-6773. $8. Thurs-Sat at 8 (Sun at 8 on Sept 16). Through Sept 21.
HERBERT MATTHEWS GOES TO THE SIERRA
A damn charming new rock musical from Herbert Bergel. Printer’s Devil Theatre at various venues: Paradox Theater (w/ the Prom) on Thurs, Sept 6; Victrola Coffee House on Sun, Sept 9; go to www.printersdevil.org or call 860-7163 for complete information.
I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
A musical revue described by some reviewer as “Seinfeld set to music.” He said it, I didn’t. Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, 325-6500. $23-$25. Fri-Sat at 8. Through Oct 6.
THE LADY FROM THE SEA
Reviewed this issue. Middle-class wife gets ants in pants for hunky sailor. Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St, 269-1900. $10-$42 (pay-what-you-can on Thurs, Aug 30). Tue-Wed-Thurs & Sun at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8, Sat-Sun at 2 (Wed matinee on Sept 19; Sept 15 matinee is audio-described). Through Sept 22.
MACBETH
A dark, moody tragedy, being produced in our sunny parks. GreenStage at various parks; call 748-1551 or go to www.greenstage.org for info. Free. Mostly Fri-Sat at 8; call or go to the website for exceptions. Through Sept 9.
* THE VELVET RUT
“The Velvet Rut presents a cavalcade of caricatures–ironicized indie rockers, a honky homeboy, a doe-eyed hippie folksinger naif, a cornpone punk poseur, a renegade ethnomusicologist, and a host of others–not so much interacting, but colliding like particles in a theatrical cylinder. Due in large part to the work of the ensemble cast, these collisions are often very funny, novel, and interesting. Just as often they’re protracted and overstated… All that said, this Rut is worth getting into, if for no other reason than to see the performance of Jonah Von Spreecken.” (Sean Nelson) Annex Theatre at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 728-0933. $12 general, $7 students. Thurs-Sat at 8. Through Sept 15.
WAITING TO BE INVITED
Four black friends decide to test the Supreme Court’s desegregation rulings by having lunch at a “whites only” restaurant. “The play doesn’t show us this act of political protest or its consequence. It lets us leave, instead, with a warm feeling about the power of women’s friendships. The almost entirely white audience at the performance I saw gave this show a standing ovation. I felt uncomfortable, though, as if I’d just seen a pilot for a new, Bush-era docu-drama: Civil Rights Movement Lite.” (Rebecca Brown) A Contemporary Theatre, 700 Union, 292-7676. $30-$42 ($10 for anyone 25 or under). Tues-Wed-Thurs & Sun at 7:30, Fri-Sat at 8; 2 pm matinees on Sept 8, 9, 15, 16. Through Sept 16.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS…
Tom Noonan’s play about a date gone horribly awry. The performance includes a three-course meal. Liberty Deli, 2722 Alki Ave SW, 935-8420. $29. Fri-Sat, dinner starts at 6:30, show follows. Through Oct 6.
DANCE
TANGO CABARET
The steamy tango, performed by the stars of “Forever Tango” and “Tango Magic.” China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave N, 325-6500. $25 general, $20 students/seniors. Thurs-Fri at 9 pm (though there is dancing, drinking, and food starting at 7). This weekend only.
FESTIVALS, CABARET, & COMEDY
7 BLONDES
A tribute to blond icons, ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Britney Spears, all performed by singer, actress, and female impersonator Sunny. “It was tragically apparent that this entire show and perhaps poor Sunny herself are merely three-dimensional advertisements for the vacuous schlock that Greg Thompson parades upon the slick stages of casinos and cruise ships.” (Tamara Paris) Greg Thompson Productions at the Crepe de Paris, Rainier Square, 1531 Fifth Ave, 623-4111. $20 for the show alone, $49 with dinner. Thurs-Sun at 9. Through Sept 30.
CAMPFIRE
Long form improvisation, based on audience experiences with unexplained–i.e. spooooooky!–phenomena. Unexpected Productions at the Market Theatre, Post Alley below the Pike St. Market, 781-9273. $10. Fri-Sat at 8. Through Oct 27.
COMEDY COURT
Improv comedy. University Heights Center, 5031 University Way NE, 442-2044. $7 general, $5 students. First and third Friday of each month at 7:30. Through Nov 16.
LATE NIGHT
SPIN THE BOTTLE
Annex’s monthly panoply of acts, including the triumphant return of Sgt. Rigsby & His Amazing Silhouettes! Annex Theatre at Velocity MainSpace, 915 E. Pine, 2nd flr, 728-0933. $5. Fri at 11 pm, this weekend only.