Seattle Spotlight: February 2009
Open Circle Theater savagely attacks Blood Wedding (through February 28), Federico Garcia Lorca’s masterpiece, in which a young bride is taken by her former lover and Death and the Moon conspire to halt the runaway lovers. The production features original music by John McKenna.
The Seattle Repertory Theatre mounts recently deceased Harold Pinter’s classic Betrayal (February 19-March 22) where a woman’s illicit relationship with her husband’s best friend (played by Broadway alum David Christopher Wells) is played out in reverse from the end of the affair to their first encounter. Then, the Rep gives the Devil his due in The Seafarer by Conor McPherson (February 26-March 28), a funny and uplifting Irish tale of Christmas redemption. Ex-pat, respected director, and Seattle native, Wilson Milam, returns for the first time to Seattle to helm the production.
Always…Patsy Cline, a tribute to Patsy Cline and her biggest fan, Louise Seger, comes to ACT (February 12-March 8) from a successful run in Tacoma. For a decidedly different sort of evening of song, check out Dina Martina’s Cherished Chestnuts (Re-bar, February 20-March 28), as the two-time GLAAD Award-nominee presents a collection of many of her favorite songs, stories, and videos from her career to date.
Book-It Repertory recapitulates Moby Dick, or The Whale by Herman Melville (February 10-March 8), bringing the whale onstage in a whole new way. Jane Eyre (February 13-March 1), featuring a book by John Caird, with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, dances into Seattle Musical Theatre with Jane played by Danielle Barnum and Rochester by James Padilla.
Classic Lee Blessing is on tap at Stone Soup Theatre as they spell out Eleemosynary (February 19-March 15), the story about an eccentric Grandmother, a brilliant but alienated mother, and a precocious spelling bee champion granddaughter. Our American Theater Company reads Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams (February 16-17), exposing a family trying to stop a woman from revealing details of her cousin’s death.
Washington Ensemble Theatre presents the regional premiere of The Mistakes Madeline Made by Elizabeth Meriwether (February 13-March 16), a dark comedy about a woman serving as a personal assistant to a mega-rich family. Macha Monkey broadcasts Kid Simple: A Radio Play in the Flesh (February 5-28), in which a girl wins the science fair with a machine for hearing sounds that can’t be heard. The Theory of Everything is explained by SiS Productions (February 20-March 15), as seven Asian Americans gather atop a Las Vegas wedding chapel every week to watch for UFOs.
Balagan Theatre changes pace with Death, Sex (February 6-28), six one-acts written by playwrights ranging from local artists to modern masters. The Lady’s Not for Burning by Christopher Fry tickles funnybones at Burien Little Theatre (February 13-March 8) with a 14th century reluctant bride, a falsely accused witch, and a soldier determined to be hanged. Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers finds its way to Renton Civic Theater (February 20-March 7). For the seventh year, the Seattle Festival of Improvisational Theater (February 19-22) is mounted at the Historic University Theater, featuring improvisational theater performers from all over the globe. New company, Poor Choice Theatre, debuts a play by Gina Young (of local music duo, Team Gina), Salt Water (February 19-March 7 at Live Girls Theater) about friendship destructing on a dark New Jersey beach with the help of a pimply lifeguard, a giant frog, a stray asteroid, and a deliciously manipulative mermaid.
Children can visit Little Women at The Attic Theatre (February 13-15) for the touching story of a family. For one non-school performance only, Book-It Repertory is introducing Chicken Sunday (February 21), Patricia Polacco’s illuminating story about best friends who come from different religious backgrounds.
