Barreling Past Mediocrity and Stagnation, Shoving Conformist Theater into Deathly Abyss

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Openings & Previews

365 Days/365 Plays Suzan-Lori Parks' yearlong theater project, a cycle of 365 short plays, offers one- to 10-minute performances from a great variety of performers in venues across the city. Week 1: The Mahogany Project at Joanna's Soul Cafe, 2514 E. Cherry St. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Nov. 15-Sat. Nov. 18, 3 p.m. Sun. Nov. 19. Week 2: Akropolis Performance Lab at Volunteer Park Water Tower, 8 p.m. Mon. Nov. 20-Tues. Nov. 21, and at N.W. 45th Street and University Way, 4 p.m. Wed. Nov. 22. www.365seattle.com.

The Book of Nathan In Joe Mitchell's play, winner of the 2005 Northwest Playwright Competition, an African-American Army chaplain in prison is offered a pardon at a high cost. Theater Schmeater, 1500 Summit Ave., 206-325-6500, www.ticketwindowonline.com, www.schmeater.org. $18 (18 and under free). Free preview Thurs. Nov. 16; opens Fri. Nov. 17. 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. Ends Sat. Dec. 18.

Children of Eden Stephen (Wicked) Schwartz's 1991 musical based on the book of Genesis. Civic Light Opera at Magnuson Community Center, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E., 206-363-2809, www.clo-musicaltheatre.org. $25-$35. Opens Fri. Nov. 17. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sun. Dec. 3.

A Dangerous Age A romance between a Marine and an actor—both played by Mark Pinkosh—in Godfrey Hamilton's one-man comedy/drama, receiving its U.S. premiere. Balagan Theatre at Capitol Hill Arts Center (CHAC), Lower Level, 1621 12th Ave., 800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com, www.capitolhillarts.com. $9-$15. Opens Thurs. Nov. 16. 7:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Sat. Dec. 2.

Drugs Short, sinister comedies about foot soldiers in the War on Drugs. Waffle Theater at Seattle Center House, fourth floor, 206-888-8791. $5. 8 p.m. Fri. Nov. 17-Sat. Nov. 18 only.

The Gingerbread BoyHijinks in a holiday cookie factory in this family puppet play. Thistle Theatre at Bellevue Youth Theatre, 16661 Northrup Way, Bellevue, 206-524-3388, www.thistletheatre.org. $7-$9. 2 & 4 p.m. Sat. Nov. 18-Sun. Nov. 19 only.

Love is Love Four actresses play 12 characters in musical vignettes inspired by essays in the New York Times' "Modern Love" column. Music and lyrics by Rich Gray and Martin Charnin. Village Theatre Village Originals at The Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., 425-392-2202, www.themoore.com. $20. 8 p.m. Tues. Nov. 21, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Wed. Nov. 22 only.

Memory House In Kathleen Tolan's play, a divorced woman confronts her departing daughter on New Year's Eve. Allison Narver directs. Seattle Repertory Theatre at the Leo K. Theatre, Seattle Center, Second Avenue and Mercer Street, 206-443-2222, www.seattlerep.org. $10-$40. Previews begin Thurs. Nov. 16; opens Tues. Nov. 21. 7:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Ends Sun. Dec. 17.

The Peer Gynt Project An adaptation of Ibsen's, um . . . what do you call a bildungsroman if it's a play? A bildungsspiel? Part I opens 8 p.m. Fri. Nov. 17; Part II opens 8 p.m. Sat. Nov. 18. Various times and dates through Dec. 3; www.cornish.edu for schedule. Free.

Revenge of Tokyo 2025A collaborative/interactive music/dance/performance art event/party, staged by Social Living Productions, taking as its theme past and future visions of Japan. Barca, 1510 11th Ave., www.tokyo2025.com. $15-$17. 9 p.m. Sat. Nov. 18 only.

The Secret Ruths of Island HouseA special fund-raising performance of this play (an original play built around real-life interviews with seven women named Ruth who live in a retirement home in Mercer Island) that won honors and accolades at fringe festivals in San Francisco, Boulder, and New York City. Nebunele Theatre at the Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., 800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com. $15-$18. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Nov. 15.

Last Chance

The Air is Peopled With Cruel and Fearsome Birds Implied Violence's stated mission is "to barrel past mediocrity and stagnation, and to shove conformist theatre into a deathly [sic] abyss." Their latest creation, The Air is Peopled with Cruel and Fearsome Birds, foregoes a linear structure, or anything resembling a plot, and orbits around a dejected woman named Hester played by actors Mandie O'Connell and drcm. It's the first and last piece to make an appearance at Vill-ville, a makeshift theatre space that combines dorm-room disorganization with bozo chic. Thrown into the mix are more props than you can shake a stick at, including frilly red panties, fruit, and cap guns. Channeling Artaud's Theater of Cruelty, Implied Violence uses choreography and strident, often repetitive sound to convey emotion, but cream pies tossed into pie-holes nip any sentimentality in the bud, ironically resulting in a fat-free pathos. Vill-ville, 1534 First Ave. S., 206-340-2703, www.impliedviolence.com. $5-$15. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Ends Sat. Nov. 18.SUZANNE BEAL

Best of Train of Thought The greatest hits from four years of shows by this comedy trio. Northwest Actor's Studio, Cabaret Theater, 1100 E. Pike St., 3rd floor, www.trainofthought.info. $8-$10. 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Ends Sat. Nov. 18.

Cowboy Versus Samurai Do catch this little-play-that-could—it's a hilarious commentary on racial stereotypes under the umbrella of a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac love story. Written by Michael Golamco and directed by Miko Premo, Samurai follows a Caucasian cowboy, Del (Travis Myers), and the only two Asian-Americans, Travis (Ray Tagavilla) and Chester (Jose Abaoag), in Breakneck, Wyo., as their lives become amusingly disrupted by the arrival of Veronica Lee (Khanh Doan), a Korean-American from New York City. Travis—the show's standout star—soon learns about Veronica's "preferences" for white men, so he decides to help Del win her love, through poignant letters. The combative-but-lovable Chester provides comic relief throughout. He worships Bruce Lee, protests a transcontinental railroad celebration, and dresses as a ninja, all while trying to figure out which Asian country he hails from (he doesn't know—the play explains why). Besides the conversation on prejudice and interracial dating you'll have afterward, the play's best contribution to your life will be the inside jokes you'll later throw around with your friends. Any other "stupid dumbs" out there? SIS Productions at Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 206-323-9443, www.sis-productions.org. $8-$12. 8 p.m. Fri., 3 & 8 p.m. Sat. Ends Sat. Nov. 18.MOLLY LORI