Scenes from an Interrogation

Images from Little Green Pig‘s new production Donald,
opening this week at Manbites Dog Theater.
Photos by Alex Maness. (Click to embiggen.)

• • • • •

Donald (Jay O’Berski) and his interrogators
(Lucius Robinson, Jeffrey Detwiler) take a torture break.

• • • • •

Theater Week – Enhanced Dramatization

A listing of Triangle theater performances
through January 30, 2012

For a listing of what else area theaters have in store this season,
click on the Triangle Season Schedules tab at the top of the page.

OPENING:
Broadway Melodies ’12 – UNC student theater group presents an evening of three musical parodies: Avatartanic, The Kardashians: The Musical, and Pokemon: The Musical. Friday-Tuesday 8:00, Sunday matinee 2:00. Hanes Arts Center, UNC Campus, Chapel Hill.
pauperplayers.blogspot.com

Donald – Little Green Pig’s political “what if” about a former Secretary of Defense caught up in the system of rendition and torture he helped create. Based on the novel by Eric Martin and Stephen Elliott. Adapted and directed by Tony Perucci. This week: Thursday-Saturday 8:15. Continues through February 11. Manbites Dog Theater, Durham.
manbitesdogtheater.org

The Making of a King: Henry IV/Henry V – Slacker Prince Hal becomes King, defeats the French, and wins a hot wife, in Playmakers’ rotating rep presentation of Henry IV (both parts) and Henry V. Co-directed by Joseph Haj and Mike Donahue. This week: Henry IV Saturday 7:30; Henry V Sunday 7:30. Continues through March 4. Paul Green Theatre, UNC Campus, Chapel Hill.
playmakersrep.org

Mama Juggs – Anita Shontel Woodley’s one-woman show about women’s breast health. One performance: Sunday 5:00. Nubian Natural Hair Gallery, Executive Park, Durham.
mamajuggs.com

Mark Twain Now – One-man show written and performed by Paul Newell. One night only: Saturday 8:00. The ArtsCenter, Carrboro.
artscenterlive.org

Memphis – R&B meets Rock and Roll in 1950′s Memphis. Touring version of Joe DiPietro and David Bryan’s Broadway musical. This week only: Tuesday-Thursday 7:30. Friday 8:00, Saturday 2:00 and 8:00, Sunday 1:00 and 6:30.
dpacnc.com

ONGOING:
Country Royalty – Jukebox musical featuring the songs of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. This week: Thursday 2:00 and 7:00, Friday and Saturday 8:00, Sunday 2:00. Closes Sunday. Temple Theatre, Sanford.
templeshows.com

Dead Man’s Cell Phone – The eponymous device sends a woman on an odd journey of discovery, in Raleigh Little Theatre’s production of the 2007 Sarah Ruhl comedy. Co-produced with Actors Comedy Lab; directed by Rod Rich. This week: Thursday-Saturday 8:00, Sunday 3:00. Continues through February 5. RLT, Raleigh.
raleighlittletheatre.org

AUDITIONS:
NC Theatre Conservatory auditions students age 13-20 for its summer youth production of The Who’s Tommy. Saturday 3:00. NC Theatre Conservatory, Barrow Drive, Raleigh. More info.

Please contact us with any corrections or omissions.
For a more complete listing of area events,
we recommend the arts calendar at Indyweek.com.

Gray Day

.
Durham NC, January 23, 2012. iPhone photo.

“Didn’t Read Her Miranda Right!” – S. Pepys

Miranda (1901) – Robert Anning Bell

Samuel Pepys, 17th Century Theater Critic
The Tempest – William Shakespeare – ★★☆☆☆

Thursday January 21, 1669:

“…Thence in my own coach home, where I find Madam Turner, Dyke, and The.; and had a good dinner for them, and merry; and so carried them to the Duke of York’s house, all but Dyke, who went away on other business; and there saw “The Tempest;” but it is but ill done by Gosnell, in lieu of Moll Davis”

via The Diary of Samuel Pepys

“Weak Night!” – S. Pepys

Malvolio and the Countess (1859) – Daniel Maclise, engr. R. Staines

Samuel Pepys, 17th Century Theater Critic
Twelfth Night, or What You Will – William Shakespeare – ★☆☆☆☆

Wednesday January 20, 1669:

“…and thence to the Duke of York’s house, and saw “Twelfth Night,” as it is now revived; but, I think, one of the weakest plays that ever I saw on the stage… So, the play done, we home, my wife letting fall some words of her observing my eyes to be mightily employed in the playhouse, meaning upon women, which did vex me; but, however, when we come home, we were good friends…”

via The Diary of Samuel Pepys

“In a Pig’s Ass!” – S. Pepys

Corneille, sculpture by Philippe Lemaire;
photo © Marie-Lan Nguyen/Wikimedia Commons

Samuel Pepys, 17th Century Theater Critic
Horace – Pierre Corneille – ★☆☆☆☆

Tuesday January 19, 1669:

“…and so to the King’s house, to see “Horace;” this the third day of its acting — a silly tragedy; but Lacy hath made a farce of several dances — between each act, one: but his words are but silly, and invention not extraordinary, as to the dances; only some Dutchmen come out of the mouth and tail of a Hamburgh sow. Thence, not much pleased with the play…”

via The Diary of Samuel Pepys

“Witless!” – S. Pepys

The Duke’s Theatre

Samuel Pepys, 17th Century Theater Critic
The Wits – Sir William Davenant – ★★☆☆☆

Monday January 18, 1669:

“…and thence we three and my wife to the Duke of York’s playhouse, and there saw “The Witts,” a medley of things, but some similes mighty good, though ill mixed…”

via The Diary of Samuel Pepys

Pigs in the Library

Want an intro preview to Little Green Pig’s upcoming show, Donald? Join them for a sure-to-be fascinaing discussion this Saturday January 21 at 3:00. Location: Durham County Library, 300 N. Roxboro Street. Free admission.

Donald runs January 26-February 11 at Manbites Dog Theater.

Download and post the flyer.

Theater Week – Henry the Horse

A listing of Triangle theater performances
through January 23, 2012

For a listing of what else area theaters have in store this season,
click on the Triangle Season Schedules tab at the top of the page.

OPENING:
Dead Man’s Cell Phone – The eponymous device sends a woman on an odd journey of discovery, in Raleigh Little Theatre’s production of the 2007 Sarah Ruhl comedy. Co-produced with Actors Comedy Lab; directed by Rod Rich. This week: Friday and Saturday 8:00, Sunday 3:00. Continues through February 5. RLT, Raleigh.
raleighlittletheatre.org

Duped – John Paul Middlesworth in a one-man show about a stay-at-home father raising his son. Written and directed by Mark Cornell. This week only: Friday and Saturday 8:00, Sunday 3:00. FATE, Harrison Pointe Shopping Center, Cary.
fate4.us

Painting the Town – Django Haskins, lead singer of The Old Ceremony, performs a one-man show based on his book about touring. Free. Presented by The Process Series. This week only: Friday and Saturday 8:00. Gerrard Hall, UNC Campus. Chapel Hill.
carolinaperformingarts.org

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles – Juke box musical featuring an uncanny valley faux Fab Four performing all the hits. This week only: Tuesday and Wednesday 7:30. DPAC, Durham.
dpacnc.com

The Taming of the Shrew – Student production of the Shakespeare comedy, presented by Popover Productions, directed by Sadie Zimet. This week only: Friday and Saturday 7:00, Sunday 2:00. Common Ground Theatre, Durham.
cgtheatre.com

ONGOING:
Country Royalty – Jukebox musical featuring the songs of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline. This week: Thursday 2:00 and 7:00, Friday and Saturday 8:00, Sunday 2:00. Continues through January 29. Temple Theatre, Sanford.
templeshows.com

Mary’s Wedding – Stephen Massicotte’s 2002 play about a Canadian couple whose romance is interrupted by World War I. Directed by Josh Benjamin. Presented by Burning Coal’s Second Stage Series. This week: Thursday-Saturday 7:30, Sunday 2:00. Closes Sunday. The Murphey School, Raleigh.
burningcoal.org

AUDITIONS:
Applause! Cary Youth Theatre auditions teen actors for its March production of Argonuts: Jason & the Quest for the Golden Fleece, Thursday 5:00-9:00. More info.

Please contact us with any corrections or omissions.
For a more complete listing of area events,
we recommend the arts calendar at Indyweek.com.

“Forgettable!” – S. Pepys

.

Samuel Pepys, 17th Century Theater Critic
Secret Love, or The Maiden Queen – John Dryden – ★☆☆☆☆

Wednesday January 13, 1669:

“I and my wife and Talbot towards the Temple, and there to the King’s playhouse, and there saw, I think, “The Maiden Queene,” and so home and to supper and read, and to bed. “

via The Diary of Samuel Pepys