Stage Openings & Events •  All the Way SEE THE PICK LIST,

By By Gavin Borchert • November 4, 2014 1:46 pm

Stage

Openings & Events

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All the Way SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 21.

Dick Whittington and His Cat An orphan finds himself in London, where he meets a remarkable cat. Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Center, 441-3322. $20 and up. Preview Nov. 13, opens Nov. 14. Runs Thurs.–Sat.; see sct.org for exact schedule. Ends Dec. 21.

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Fail Better SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 19.

Fangs The premiere of Jim Moran’s dark comedy about an anti-abortion senator. Eclectic Theater, 1214 10th Ave., eclectictheatercompany.org. $20–$25. Opens Nov. 13. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Dec. 6.

Family Affair Jennifer Jasper’s “hilarious, twisted, and ultimately relatable” cabaret on the theme of family. JewelBox Theater at the Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., jenniferjasperperforms.com. $10. 7:30 p.m. Wed., Nov. 19.

Funny World The Northwest Playwrights Alliance reads Al Frank’s new comedy. Seattle Repertory 
Theatre, Seattle Center, northwestplaywrights.org. 
Free. 7 p.m. Tues., Nov. 11.

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The Habit 14 The sketch-comedy quintet’s new show. Bathhouse Theater on Greenlake, 7312 W. Green Lake Dr. N., 800-838-3006. $19. Opens Nov. 14. Runs Fri.–Sun.; see thehabitcomedy.com for exact schedule. Ends Nov. 30.

Mary Poppins The Disney classic comes to life. You won’t see better musical-comedy performers in Seattle than this production’s leads, Cayman Ilika and Greg McCormick Allen. Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N., Issaquah, 425-392-2202. $40–$72. Opens Nov. 13. Runs Tues.–Sun.; see villagetheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends Jan 4. (Runs at the Everett PAC Jan. 9–Feb. 8.)

Sweet Charity A taxi dancer finds and loses love in this 1966 musical. Meany Studio Theater, UW campus, 543-4880, drama.washington.edu. $10–$25. Opens Nov. 14. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Nov. 23.

CURRENT RUNS

Afterlife An improv look at The Big Question. Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, unexpectedproductions.org. $12–$15. 8:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends Nov. 22.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Judith Viorst herself wrote the book and lyrics for this musical adaptation of her popular kids’ book. SecondStory Repertory, 16587 N.E. 74th St., 425-881-6777, secondstoryrep.org. $10. 1 & 3 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Ends Nov. 23.

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Blood Countess Back at the turn of the 16th century, Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory allegedly took to drinking virgins’ blood. In Kelleen Conway Blanchard’s stage version of Bathory’s life, the countess first starts killing as a means to sexual arousal, then later to stay young and beautiful, like a Dorian Gray vampire. As the countess, Terri Weagant’s unconventional looks and excellent expressive range are riveting—until you realize that she’s just not that scary. Director Bret Fetzer has her focus more on the black comedy than on freezing your blood. Indeed, two other characters in her entourage are far more freaky: a deranged, id-like provocateur named Fitzco, played with nearly boundless perversity by Erin Stewart; and a priest, played with chilling, sexualized placidity (and heavy eye makeup) by Martyn G. Krouse. MARGARET FRIEDMAN Annex Theatre, 1110 Pike St., 728-0933, annextheatre.org. $5–$20. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Nov. 22.

Clues Jet City’s board-game-based improv murder mystery. Jet City Improv, 5510 University Way N.E., 352-8291, jetcity
improv.org. $12–$15. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Fri. Ends Nov. 21.

Disaster Movie An improv take on one of Hollywood’s most spoofable genres. Unexpected Productions’ Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, unexpected
productions.org. $7. 8:30 p.m. Sun. Ends Nov. 23.

Dogfight The title of this musical—based on the affecting 1991 movie—refers to a hideous sort of competition among a group of Vietnam-bound Marines the night before they ship out of San Francisco in 1963: Whoever brings the ugliest woman to a party wins. But Eddie (Kody Bringman) ends up falling for Rose (Devon Busswood), the shy aspiring singer/songwriter he’d intended to humiliate, and they spend an increasingly tender night together. The show sounds promising enough, but it’s doomed by the misogynist party scene, which is played for laughs, broad ones at the women’s expense, and it got them. I’ve never seen a more staggeringly misguided, profoundly offensive misreading of artistic intent. Dogfight’s overall problem is that it evokes next to nothing of the film’s peculiar bleak bittersweetness. Eddie, Rose, and Vietnam all deserve a deeper treatment than what is basically a Very Special Episode of Glee. GAVIN BORCHERT ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave. S.W., 938-0339, artswest.org. $5–$37. 7:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat., 3 p.m. Sun. Ends Nov. 22.

Endgame/NDGM Beckett’s theater-of-the-absurd classic is paired with Blood Ensemble’s reimagining of Beckett’s themes. Ballard Underground, 2220 N.W. Market St., ghostlighttheatricals.org. $18–$20. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. plus Thurs., Nov. 13 & 20. Ends Nov. 22.

Fast Company “Meet the Kwans: a Chinese-American family of expert con artists” in Carla Ching’s comic crime caper. Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., 800-838-3006, porkfilled.com. $12–$18. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., plus 2 p.m. Sun., Nov. 16. Ends Nov. 22.

Fiddler on the Roof The musical tale of Tevye, Golde, Tzeitel, Hodel, Chava, Bielke, Shprintze, Yenta, the tailor Motel Kamzoil, and many others. Seattle Musical Theatre at Magnuson Park, 7120 62nd Ave. N.E., Building 47, 800-838-3006, seattlemusicaltheatre.org. $20–$35. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Nov. 23.

The Fierce Urgency of Now Arouet premieres Doug DeVita’s play about the advertising world. Stone Soup Downstage Theatre, 4029 Stone Way N., 800-838-3006, arouet.us. $12–$40. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat., plus 2 p.m. Sun., Nov. 9 and 7:30 p.m. Mon., Nov. 17. Ends Nov. 22.

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Hamlet Mary Ewald stars as young Hamlet, shedding decades off her impressive odometer with astutely formulated adolescent smoldering. Under the unambiguous direction of John Kazanjian, the play’s twists and shadows have never been more comprehensible to me. There are also many gems among the supporting performances. A svelte Peter Crook scrumptiously deadpans Polonius’ insouciant hot air. Tim Gouran’s Laertes self-detonates as only Gouran can. And the various lesser characters played by Brandon Simmons and Scott Ward Abernethy manifest more secret personality than many a principal character in other productions. I found myself riveted by this tiny yet immersive production, where Nina Moser’s set evokes a compact, creepy Elsinore with candlelight and brick. MARGARET FRIEDMAN New City Theater, 1406 18th Ave., brownpapertickets.com. $15–$20. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Nov. 15.

Horse Girls Did you go through a horse phase growing up? The ladies in Jenny Rachel Weiner’s play did. Annex Theatre, 1100 E. Pike St., annextheatre.org. $5–$10. 
8 p.m. Tues.–Wed. Ends Nov. 19.

I Never Betrayed the Revolution SEE REVIEW, PAGE 22.

Or, the Whale A call-center employee shares Moby-Dick over the phone in this extrapolation of Melville. Stage One Theater, North Seattle College, 9600 College Way N., ponyworld.org. $16. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Nov. 15.

Saturday Morning Cartoons Fond recollections of our pajamas-and-cereal youth inspired these new plays. Pocket Theater, 8312 Greenwood Ave. N., the1448projects.org. $5–$14. 10:30 a.m. Sat. Ends Nov. 22.

Seattle International Comedy Competition 34 aspiring stand-ups go into a comedy club; one comes out. Various area venues through Nov. 30; see seattle
comedycompetition.org for full info.

Split Second Improv Second Story’s improv competition. SecondStory Repertory, 16587 N.E. 74th St., Redmond, 425-881-6777, secondstoryrep.org. $20. Two shows each Sat.: 7 p.m. for families, 8 p.m. could get naughtier. Ends Dec. 13.

Supraliminal Seattle Immersive Theatre’s interactive tale about the paranormal, both set in and staged at the Georgetown Steam Plant. Meet at South Seattle College, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., and you’ll be bused there. seattleimmersivetheatre.org. $50. 7:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat. Ends Nov. 15.

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Teatro ZinZanni: Hacienda Holiday TZZ’s new show keeps its dinner-cabaret formula fresh with acts that mash up entertainment skills in pairs: aerial plus dance en pointe by PNB alumna Ariana Lallone; trapeze plus contortion with Duo Rose; juggling plus the speed and aesthetic of thrash metal by Gamal David Garcia; and ballroom dance plus pole work by the astounding Vertical Tango. All this is organized by just the lightest spritz of storyline: Vivian Beaumount and Clifton Caswell (Christine Deaver and Kevin Kent) return to a swanky hotel to renew their vows. GAVIN BORCHERT Teatro ZinZanni, 222 Mercer St., 802-0015. $99 and up. Runs Thurs.–Sun. plus some Wed.; see zinzanni.com/seattle for exact schedule. Ends Jan. 31.

tick, tick . . . BOOM! Jonathan Larson’s semi-memoirish precursor to Rent tells of a young composer of musicals. SecondStory Repertory, 16587 N.E. 74th St., Redmond, 425-881-6777, secondstoryrep.org. $27. 8 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Ends Nov. 22.

Twelfth Night The surrealists’ fusion of dream and reality via startling, illogical juxtapositions, tinged with notions of Freud and the fractured self, is the milieu for Seattle Shakespeare Co.’s Twelfth Night, where twins Viola (Allie Pratt) and Sebastian (Christopher Morson) are separated by shipwreck and pine for reunion like cleaved halves of one being. The clowning of Sir Toby Belch (Mike Dooly) and his buddies—George Mount’s Sir Andrew is particularly good—relies on swami garb and prop gags, but gets stale rather quickly. In theory, this is an inspired setting for Shakespeare’s durable comedy, full of cross-dressing and mistaken identity, 
yet my watch ran slower than one of Dali’s dripping timepieces. MARGARET FRIEDMAN Center House Theatre (Seattle Center), 733-8222. $30–$39. See seattle
shakespeare.org for schedule. Ends Nov. 16.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Vanya (R. Hamilton Wright) and Sonia (Marianne Owen) are unmarried 50-something siblings who cared for their dying parents and still live in their childhood home. Their sister Masha (Pamela Reed), an aging starlet, funds their bleak lives; then she arrives for a visit, towing her boy-toy Spike (the excessively bare-chested William Poole) with the intent of selling the house, a misfortune foretold by Cassandra the housekeeper (the gregarious Cynthia Jones). The specter of Chekhov hangs over Christopher Durang’s Tony-winning comedy, though you sometimes feel you’re watching a clever yet contrived sitcom. His characters can seem flat, though his themes are resoundingly heartfelt. IRFAN SHARIFF ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., 292-7676. $55 and up. Runs Tues.–Sun; see acttheatre.org for exact schedule. Ends Nov. 16.

Wonderland The Can Can’s fantastical winter cabaret. The Can Can, 94 Pike St. $40–$100. Runs Wed.–Sun.; see thecancan.com for exact schedule. Ends Dec. 28.

Dance

People. Make. Awesome. SEE THE WEEK AHEAD, PAGE 37.

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Pacific Northwest Ballet: Director’s Choice SEE REVIEW, PAGE 22.

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Spectrum Dance Theater SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 21.

Classical, Etc.

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Anthony de Mare SEE THE PICK LIST, PAGE 19.

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DXARTS New work from UW’s Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, dxarts.washington.edu. $12–$20. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 13.

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Seattle Symphony A musical voice new to Seattle: Colors of the Southern Cross by Argentine composer Esteban Benzecry, plus favorites by Mendelsohn and Mussorgsky. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, seattlesymphony.org. $20–$120. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 13; 8 p.m. Sat., Nov. 15; 2 p.m. Sun., Nov. 16.

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The Symphony Guild Mateo Messina’s 17th annual benefit concert for Children’s Hospital. Benaroya Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., 215-4747, thesymphonyguild.org. $44–$202. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Nov. 14.

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Northwest Sinfonietta Julian Schwarz plays the cello concerto written for him by Seattle composer Samuel Jones. Benaroya Recital Hall, Third Ave. & Union St., nwsinfonietta.org. $20–$40. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Nov. 14.

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Jon Kimura Parker Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata, plus piano fantasies based on Hitchcock scores and The Wizard of Oz. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. $10–$45. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Nov. 14.

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Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra Bach, Elgar, Mozart, and a piece by Seattle composer Angelique Poteat. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 
Third Ave. W., 800-838-3006, seattlemetropolitanchamber
orchestra.com. $10–$15. 8 p.m. Fri., Nov. 14.

Seattle Wind Symphony Light classics for band. First Free Methodist Church, 3200 Third Ave. W., 800-838-3006, seattlewindsymphony.org. $5–$20. 7:30 p.m. Sat., Nov. 15.

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Seattle Modern Orchestra Music by UW faculty composer Huck Hodge, plus Boulez and Murail. Chapel Performance Space, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., seattle
modernorchestra.org. $10–$20. 8 p.m. Sat., Nov. 15.

Suzie LeBlanc From this soprano, with instrumental ensemble Constantinople, music by pioneering 17th-
century woman composer Barbara Strozzi. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 325-7066. earlymusicguild.org. $27–$45. 8 p.m. Sat., Nov. 15.

Cornish Early Music Faculty Baroque sonatas and opera arias. PONCHO Concert Hall, Cornish College, 710 E. Roy St., cornish.edu. $10–$32. 7 p.m. Sun., Nov. 16.

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Gordon Mumma A lecture/demo from this electronic-music pioneer and Merce Cunningham collaborator. PONCHO Concert Hall, Cornish College, 710 E. Roy St., cornish.edu. Free. 1 p.m. Tues., Nov. 18.

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Miro Quartet Haydn and Beethoven, plus a new piece by American composer Gunther Schuller. Meany Hall, UW campus, 543-4880, uwworldseries.org. $10–$43. 7:30 p.m. Tues., Nov. 18.