Weekend Theater – The Turkish Play

Turkey Float – photo by lily_bart

A sampling of Triangle theater performances
for the weekend of November 25-29, 2009, and beyond

OPENING:
A Christmas Carol – New adaptation of the Charles Dickens story, with traditional Christmas songs (including the non-period “Carol of the Bells” written in 1916). This weekend: Friday-Saturday 8:00, Sunday 2:00. Continues through December 20. Temple Theatre, Sanford.
www.templeshows.com

The Phantom of the Opera – It’s baaaack! And really, what other show would have the butterballs to open on Thanksgiving Day? This weekend: Thursday-Friday 8:00, Saturday 2:00 and 8:00, Sunday 1:00 and 6:30, Tuesday 7:00. Continues through December 20. Durham Performing Arts Center.
www.dpac.com

CONTINUING:
It’s a Wonderful Life – “Where’s that money, you silly stupid old fool?” The story of George Bailey of Bedford Falls, staged as a 1940’s live radio broadcast. No performances this week. Resumes next week through December 6. NCSU Campus: Titmus Theatre, Frank Thompson Hall, Raleigh.
www.ncsu.edu/theatre

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby – David Edgar’s massive two-part adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel presented in rotating rep. This weekend: Part 1 – Wednesday and Friday 7:30, Saturday 2:00 and 7:30. Part 2: Sunday 2:00, Tuesday 7:30. Part 1 continues through December 19, Part 2 through December 20. Paul Green Theater, UNC campus, Chapel Hill.
www.playmakersrep.org

For a more complete listing of area theater,
we recommend the arts calendar at Indyweek.com.

Third Friday + Art Walk

Hoop Dreams, 2002 © Jesse Andrews

Lots of events all over downtown at this month’s Third Friday: including the opening of photographer Jesse Andrews’ show Heroes and Hoodlums at Through This Lens on East Chapel Hill Street, an Art Mixer at Golden Belt on East Main, works by Paula Burke and Jamie Moore at Kung Fu Tattoo on West Chapel Hill Street, and “The dictionary within the dictionary” – a poet’s play by Durham writer and artist Chris Vitiello – at The Space at 715 Washington Street. Plus much, much more. Get the complete schedule and map at the Third Friday site.

And that segues right into this weekend’s Art Walk on Saturday and Sunday, featuring numerous artists, musical performances, and more. Get a list of artists and sites, a map, and shuttle bus info at the Durham Art Walk site.

Park Sign

The folks at Durham Parks and Rec have rolled out spiffy new park signage around town. The micro-perf material makes them seem translucent. Here’s one on Foster Street.

Weekend Theater – Witch boy from the mountain

Full Moon photo by David Haworth

A sampling of Triangle theater performances
for the weekend of November 18-22, 2009, and beyond

OPENING:
Dark of the Moon – A supernatural tale of doomed love in the Southern mountains, presented by Raleigh Ensemble Players. This weekend only: Thursday-Saturday 8:00, Sunday 3:00. Cary Academy.
www.realtheatre.org

Downriver – An 88-year old bluesman rides an inflatable mattress down the Mississippi and into his past. A staged presentation of a screenplay by Dana Coen. Presented by UNC’s Process Series. Free. This weekend only: Friday-Saturday 8:00. Gerrard Hall, UNC campus, Chapel Hill.
eda.unc.edu

It’s a Wonderful Life – “Where’s that money, you silly stupid old fool?” The story of George Bailey of Bedford Falls, staged as a 1940’s live radio broadcast. This weekend: Wednesday-Saturday 8:00, Sunday 3:00. Continues through December 22. NCSU Campus: Titmus Theatre, Frank Thompson Hall, Raleigh.
www.ncsu.edu/theatre

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 2 – David Edgar’s massive two-part adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel presented in rotating rep. (See “Continuing” for Part 1 schedule.) This weekend: Wednesday-Saturday 7:30. Continues through December 20. Paul Green Theater, UNC campus, Chapel Hill.
www.playmakersrep.org

My Patriot Act – An evening-length performance by Rachel Brooker, incorporating dance, text, and video. One weekend only: Friday-Saturday 8:00. Common Ground Theatre, Durham.
www.animadance.org

Scapin – Molière’s comedy about a crafty rascal, adapted by By Bill Irwin And Mark O’Donnell. This weekend only: Wednesday-Saturday 8:00. Leggett Theatre, Peace College, Raleigh.
theatre.peace.edu

CONTINUING:
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 1 – David Edgar’s massive two-part adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel presented in rotating rep. See “Opening” for Part 2 schedule. This weekend: Saturday-Sunday 2:00, Tuesday 7:30. Continues through December 19. Paul Green Theater, UNC campus, Chapel Hill.
www.playmakersrep.org

FINAL WEEKEND:
The Lower D’s – Jay O’Berski directs this adaptation of Maxim Gorky’s The Lower Depths. Presented by Duke’s Department of Theater Studies, the production is designed to be carbon-neutral, with no new materials purchased for the play and all play-related energy use off-set by sponsors. This weekend: Thursday-Saturday 8:00, Sunday 2:00. Closes November 21. Sheafer Theater, Bryan Center, Duke West Campus, Durham.
theaterstudies.duke.edu

Snoopy!!! – Musical based on the bipedal comic strip canine. This weekend: Friday 7:30, Saturday and Sunday 1:00, 5:00. Closes November 22. Raleigh Little Theatre.
raleighlittletheatre.org

AUDITIONS:
Should Brandon and Nicole Get Engaged? – Two actors needed for the title characters of an Alternate Reality Game at UNC. Auditions Monday-Tuesday, 209 Manning, UNC Chapel Hill campus. Auditions by appointment.
www.lib.unc.edu/instruct/ShBANGE/

For a more complete listing of area theater,
we recommend the arts calendar at Indyweek.com.

“Don’t let it bring you down, it’s only castles burning…”

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me.”

Emma Nadeau as Jane, in Little Green Pig’s production of Jane Eyre, opening in December.

More info.

More from Mrs. Rich Bitch: A Bare Cupboard and Time to Ponder It

It’s a rainy November night, and the knock-off Grandfather clock you broke down and bought drunk one night on Stoli from the Home Shopping Network has tolled 1 a.m. You, of course, have no such real heirlooms in your family, because you are an emotional orphan.

It’s late, it’s cold, you’re lonely, and you’re looking for a little love. And where do you go for that, dears? Why, you go to your pantry and find the one lone box of Annie’s All Natural Mac ‘n “Real Aged” Cheese and do what you can.

I call this meal Sex in a Box.

Behold: Another goddamn masterpiece.

Ingredients

a box of mac ‘n cheese
a pot to boil it in
butter and milk
water

Weekend Theater – One million fifty-one thousand two hundred minutes

The Lower D’s

A sampling of Triangle theater performances
for the weekend of November 11-15, 2009, and beyond

OPENING:
Alice! in Wonderland – A socio-political take on the Lewis Carroll story, presented by student-run One Song Productions. This weekend only: Saturday 3:00 and 7:00, Sunday 7:00. Common Ground Theatre, Durham.
www.onesongproductions.org

City of Medicine – Transactors Improv continues its third season of this completely improvised medical comedy serial, featuring a different mystery celebrity patient each episode. $12. Friday 8:00. Continues January 29, March 12, April 2, and June 11. Common Ground Theatre, Durham.
www.cgtheatre.com

intimacies – Michael Kearn’s one man show about a diverse cast of characters impacted by HIV/AIDS. One show: Saturday 8:00. The ArtsCenter, Carrboro.
www.artscenterlive.org

Laughter, Mystery and Grace – An evening of unscripted performance, presented by Off the Deep End Ensemble. One show: Saturday 7:30. Meymandi Theatre at the Murphey School, Raleigh.
www.interplaync.org

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 1 – David Edgar’s massive 8-hour adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel presented in two parts. Part 2 opens next week, then both continue in rotating repertory. This weekend: Wednesday-Friday 7:30. Continues through December 20. Paul Green Theater, UNC campus, Chapel Hill.
www.playmakersrep.org

The Lower D’s – Jay O’Berski directs this adaptation of Maxim Gorky’s The Lower Depths. Presented by Duke’s Department of Theater Studies, the production is designed to be carbon-neutral, with no new materials purchased for the play and all play-related energy use off-set by sponsors. This weekend: Thursday-Saturday 8:00, Sunday 2:00. Continues through November 21. Sheafer Theater, Bryan Center, Duke West Campus, Durham.
theaterstudies.duke.edu

Oy! – Staged reading of nine short comedies by Rich Orloff, each illustrating the meaning of a Yiddish word. Presented by Odyssey Stage. One show: Sunday 2:30. Judea Reform Congregation, Durham.
www.odysseystage.org

Rent (School Edition) – Yes, it’s those lovable, tragic New York bohemians again, presented this time by the East Chapel Hill High School Performing Arts Department. (Not to be confused with the ongoing Company Carolina production – see “Final Weekend”.) This weekend only: Thursday-Saturday 7:30. ECHHS, Chapel Hill.
919.969.2787 or eastreservations@gmail.com

When We Danced – Gregory Ramos’ one-man play in process about LGBT people. Presented as part of the Process Series at UNC. Free, with post-show discussion. One show: Tuesday November 17 7:30. Gerrard Hall, UNC campus, Chapel Hill. More info.
919.843.7067 or megel@email.unc.edu

CONTINUING:
Snoopy!!! – Musical based on the bipedal comic strip canine. This weekend: Thursday 1:00, Friday 7:30, Saturday and Sunday 1:00 & 5:00. (Most performances this weekend sold out.) Continues through November 22. Raleigh Little Theatre.
raleighlittletheatre.org

FINAL WEEKEND:
Caleb Calypso and the Midnight Marauders – Germany, 1989. As the Cold War staggers to its anticlimax, a US Army soldier struggles to choose his future. Premiere of a new comic drama by Durham playwright Howard Craft. This weekend: Wednesday-Saturday 8:15. Manbites Dog Theater, Durham. Closes November 14.
www.manbitesdogtheater.org

Glengarry Glen Ross – Director Paul Frellick has assembled a terrific cast for David Mamet’s scabrous comic tragedy, including Mamet veteran David Ring (seen last year in Ghost & Spice’s Duck Variations). This weekend: Wednesday-Thursday 7:30, Friday-Saturday 8:00. Closes November 14. Deep Dish Theater, University Mall, Chapel Hill.
www.deepdishtheater.org

Rent – Company Carolina presents the neo-bohemian musical at UNC’s Forest Theatre (yes, it’s outdoors). (Not to be confused with this weekend’s East Chapel Hill High School production – see “Opening”.) This weekend: Friday-Saturday 8:00. Closes November 14. Dress warmly and bring cushions. Forest Theatre, UNC campus, Chapel Hill.
More info: company@unc.edu

For a more complete listing of area theater,
we recommend the arts calendar at Indyweek.com.

Brighton Beyotching

Photo of Brooklyn Bridge by Berenice Abbott

The recent sudden closing of the Broadway revival of Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs (after just one week of performances) and the cancellation of its companion piece Broadway Bound (before it opened) caused a lot of consternation and debate in the press and the theater blogosphere. Some blamed the crash and burn on a lack of television stars, some on unappreciative audiences (though others disagree), and some on just plain old bad producing.

The Playgoer blog evaluates the arguments. Playgoer’s conclusion:

Memo to serious drama: Abandon Broadway before it abandons you.

Skateable Art Opening

Durham Central Park’s new skateboard park/interactive art installation finally opened on Saturday, and area ‘boarders were out in force, along with hundreds of onlookers.

The park includes “…a floating quarter pipe, launch boxes, step-up bank, 3-seven step stairs with handrails, a street clam, and an 8 inch trog bowl.” (Yeah, me either.)

Ujamaa boardhouse is a recently opened skateboard shop/art gallery at Little Five Points. Read an interview with owner Nik Spaulding for more about the park and Durham’s skateboard community.

Skaters were already trying out the park prior to the opening. Here’s some funny statistical analysis of early adopters from The Archer Pelican blog.

Here’s the unofficial skatepark myspace page.

Short iPhone video at the skatepark:

Hi There, Pork Chop!

Sometimes Mrs. Rich Bitch likes to slum it, baby. That’s when she loosens her tasteful beige cashmere cowl neck sweater, slides over to her freezer, and roots around with a well-manicured hand to find the bone-in pork chops she bought on special at the Kroger last summer, rather than Whole Paycheck.

(Ha, Ha: I said “bone-in.”)

Because You're Sad: Pork Chops.

Pork Chops don’t need to scream poverty; at least, not when you’ve got a brick of butter on stand-by. Finely chop a shallot or two, pour a glass of wine, and get ready to rock your lonely world, Mrs. RB.