stage

Stage listings are compiled by Cheryl Eddy. Performance times may change; call venues to confirm. Reviewers are Robert Avila, Sima Belmar, Rita Felciano, and Brad Rosenstein. See 8 Days a Week for information on how to submit items to the listings.

theater

Opening

Are We Almost There? Shelton Theatre, 533 Sutter; 345-7575. $19-23. Opens Fri/15, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through March 30. The musical comedy revue about traveling returns to the Shelton Theatre.

Frank Olivier's Twisted Cabaret and Pandemonium Vaudeville Show Mason Street Theatre, 340 Mason; 982-5463. $30-42. Opens Thurs/14, 8pm. Runs Thurs, 8pm; Fri, 8:30pm; Sat, 5:30 and 9pm; Sun, 3:30pm. Open-ended. Performer Frank Olivier presents 15 vignettes of knife throwing, fire eating, and other sideshow-style acts, with live music.

Mission Indians Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia; 626-3311. $9-15. Opens Thurs/14, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm (special actor's benefit March 11, 8pm). Through March 11. Campo Santo + Intersection present the world premiere of Greg Sarris's play about three generations of mixed-race California Indians.

Serial Murderess: A Play in Three Axe Venue 9, 252 Ninth St; 289-2000. $12-15. Opens Thurs/14, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also March 4, 8pm; March 10, 3pm). Through March 30. Amanda Moody's popular show about three bloodthirsty women returns for its third run at Venue 9. Opening night features a postshow "Be My Bloody Valentine" party.

The Yoga of Moby-Dick The Marsh, 1062 Valencia; 826-5750 or www.ticketweb.com. $9-18. Opens Thurs/14, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. Through March 16. Mark Kenward's solo play pursues the connections between Melville's novel and Hatha Yoga. Sundays, an optional yoga class (included in $18 admission) precedes the performance at 1:30pm.

Bay Area

The Memory of Water Oakland YWCA, 1515 Webster, Oakl; (510) 436-5085. $5-19. Previews Thurs/14, 7pm. Opens Fri/15, 8pm. Runs Thurs, 7pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through March 10. TheatreFIRST performs Shelagh Stephenson's comedy about three grown-up sisters who are reunited at their mother's funeral.

Run Perfectly Still Mills College, Lisser Hall, 5000 MacArthur, Oakl; (510) 534-9529. $12-15. Opens Thurs/14, 8pm. Runs Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through March 3. In honor of Black History Month, Oakland Public Theater presents the world premiere of Wendy Belden's Civil War-era play about the strange relationship between a plantation mistress and her slave.

Ongoing

The All Night Strut New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972. $15-35. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm. Through March 3. The New Conservatory Theatre Center continues its "In Concert" series with this musical celebration of the 1930s and '40s.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Golden Gate Theater, 1 Taylor; 512-7770. $34-77. Opens Wed/13, 8pm. Runs Tues-Sat, 8pm (also Wed and Sat-Sun, 2pm). Through March 10. Ann-Margret stars in this musical comedy.

Defending the Caveman Curran Theatre, 445 Geary; 512-7770. $32.50-52.50. Wed/13-Sat/16, 8pm (also Sat/16, 5pm); Sun/17, 3pm (also Sun/17, 7pm). Rob Becker stars in his solo show, a comedy that offers insight into the battle of the sexes.

Design for Living Theatre Rhinoceros, 2926 16th St; 861-5079. $15-25. Wed/13-Sat/16, 8pm. Design for Living remains one of Noel Coward's thorniest comedies, a seeming confection that hides razor blades in its froth. Director John Fisher updates the play from 1932 to the present, introduces Coward songs as Greek choruses between scenes, and renders the main characters' bisexual ménage à trois in no uncertain terms. Ironically, this most "shocking" of Coward's comedies winds up seeming tame; all the ass-slapping and nipple-grabbing here seems like a facile reassurance, sexual slapstick that diverts attention from the complicated, difficult relationships at the play's core. (Rosenstein)

*Don't Make Me Look Too Psychotic Bannam Place Theater, 50 Bannam Place; 986-4607. $15. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through March 23. Violently unhealthy relationships are the driving force behind Bruce Pachtman's hilarious solo show. Pachtman developed this autobiographical piece after dating a particularly incendiary woman. Psychotic is gut-bustingly funny, which is no small feat considering the seriousness of the material. (Joshua Medsker)

Down the Road Noh Space, 2840 Mariposa; 820-1460. Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun/17, 2pm. Through Sat/23. Second Wind Productions presents Lee Blessing's play about a pair of married journalists hired to write a sensationalizing book about a serial killer.

Euphor!um Bldg 920, Mason St, Presidio (enter from Marina Blvd through Crissy Field gate); 332-9454. $15. Thurs, 6-10pm; Fri-Sat, 7-11:30pm; Sun, 3-7pm. Extended through Sun/24. Antenna presents its interactive journey through Samuel Taylor Coleridge's opium-inspired poem "Kubla Khan."

The Eviction Magic Theater, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 441-8822. $10-37. Previews Thurs/14, 8:30pm. Opens Fri/15, 8:30pm. Runs Wed-Sat, 8:30pm; Sun, 2:30pm (also Sun/24, March 3, 7:30pm). Through March 3. The Magic Theater presents the world premiere of Victor Lodato's drama about a man whose impending homelessness causes him to confuse the line between fantasy and reality.

*Five Flights Thick House, 1695 18th St; 401-8081. $15-20. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 5pm. Through Sun/24. Five Flights is a fable of faiths in collision, each of its characters desperately looking for something or someone to believe in. Kent Nicholson crafts a gem of presentational staging in perfect sync with playwright Adam Bock's self-conscious structure. Unfortunately, the play loses steam as it strains toward a conclusion of difficult grace. Still, Bock remains a tremendously exciting talent, and you couldn't ask for a better production than this one by the Encore Theatre Company. (Rosenstein)

In Love and Sex Next Stage, 1620 Gough; 673-0304, ext 3. $15-20. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through Sat/23. Combined Art Form Entertainment's latest production is a trio of literary adaptations exploring erotic themes. The program include A Defense of the Social Contracts, Dan Wilson's adaptation of Martha Soukup's chilly tale of passion in an antiseptic future; Our Secret, adapted from an Isabel Allende story, which eloquently ruminates on the memories and vulnerabilities of bodies; and the final piece, adapted by the company from The Erotica Project, by Lillian Ann Slugocki and Erin Cressida Wilson, which unleashes a flood of raunchy, bittersweet female fantasies. It's an uneven evening, but it's a pleasure to see sex addressed maturely, with both steamy honesty and nonexploitative visual flair. (Rosenstein)

Kiss of the Spider Woman Phoenix Theater, 653 Geary; 642-1257. $10-15. Thurs-Sat, 8pm. Through Sat/23. Bare Bones Theatre Company kicks off its 2002 season with Manuel Puig's play.

Kiss Me Kate Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market; 512-7770. $34-76. Tues-Sat, 8pm (also Wed and Sat-Sun, 2pm). Through March 3. See "CC Rider," page 40.

Legion New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972. $18-35. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun/24, March 10, 24, 31, 2pm. Through April 6. In Hal Corley's play, premiering at New Conservatory Theatre Center, the seemingly happily married Jonah (Randel Hart) and his married-with-children acquaintance Sylvester (Jeff Castle) are soon all over each other at a rainy Super Bowl barbecue. As they secretively pursue an affair, Jonah fiercely rejects the truth of his own nature, while Sylvester slowly grows to accept his. Over the course of the play's 13-year span, we meet a number of other men who are similarly tormented by their double lives. The play begins well, immersing us in Sylvester and Jonah's awkward negotiations and vulnerabilities, but soon their relationship is over, and the focus shifts to other "members of the club," like the wildly promiscuous Burton (Markham Miller), who is out to everyone but his wife. Corley is a talented writer who knows how to get dramatic sparks flying, but the evening is dominated by the flamboyantly funny Burton, who rushes into the vacuum of the Sylvester-Jonah relationship and takes over the play. (Rosenstein)

The Marriage of Bette and Boo Exit on Taylor, 277 Taylor; 648-3091. $12-15. Fri/15-Sat/16, 8pm. Density over Duration Productions presents Christopher Durang's comedy about marriage and family.

Megan's Skin Shotwell Studios, Studio A, 3252A 19th St; 467-6782. Call for price. Fri-Sun, 8pm. Through Sat/23. RubberMatchSeriez#4 and Footloose at Shotwell Studios present Rey Carolino's backstage play about a Northern Ireland community-theater group's production of Othello.

The Mystery of Irma Vep, a Penny Dreadful New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness; 861-8972. $18-35. Wed-Sat, 8pm; Sun/17, 2pm. Through Sat/23. Charles Ludlam's comic, gothic farce, presented by the New Conservatory Theatre Center, is a two-actor play filled with multiple characters, zany gags, costumes, and fast-paced action.

On the Verge El Teatro de la Esperanza, 2940 16th St; 385-5826. $10-12. Fri/15-Sat/16, 8pm; Sun/17, 7pm. Wits End Theatre Company performs Wric Overmyer's drama about three Victorian women who trek through time.

Patience Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Howard; 978-2787. $20-38. Wed/13-Sat/16, 8pm (also Sat/16, 2pm); Sun/17, 2pm. The Lamplighters perform the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera.

Smoker, a Play in 15 Rounds Exit Theater, 156 Eddy; 885-6460. $12-18. Fri/15-Sat/16, 8pm. From Pass the Hat Presents comes a new play by San Francisco's Michael Mace. The title refers to an unauthorized boxing match fought for small change, but Mace's combatants vie for the love and care of a woman and her unborn child (whose father either of them could be). The exploration of male identity in a literal and metaphorical boxing ring may seem a familiar conceit, but Mace (whose Triptych ran at the Exit last year) displays his usual flair for dialogue and crafting a good story. (Avila)

Ten Day Soup The Marsh, 1062 Valencia, 826-5750. $10-15 sliding scale. Wed and Sun, 8pm. Through Wed/20. A performance experiment written by Charles Varon and David Ford, performed by Varon.

This Is Our Youth Actors Theatre of San Francisco, 533 Sutter; 296-9179. $18-25. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm. Through Sat/23. Actors Theatre of San Francisco presents Kenneth Lonergan's play about three young people caught between adolescence and adulthood in 1982 Manhattan.

Bay Area

Culture Clash in AmeriCCa Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Roda Theatre,2015 Addison, Berk; (510) 647-2949. $10-54. Tues and Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm); Wed and Sun, 7pm (also Sun, 2pm). Through March 3. See "CC Rider," page 40.

The Mandrake Root San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose; (408) 367-7255. $20-44. Tues-Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 3pm); Sun, 2 and 7pm. Through Sun/24. After the death of her father, Sally (Cynthia Mace) brings her mother, Rose (Lynn Redgrave, also the playwright), to southern California from England. Rose's shaky mental state begins to collapse, and she ranges freely across her past, revealing aspects of her life that Sally had only suspected. If Redgrave is still finding her way as a dramatist, she has a theater veteran's grasp of character and action, and although the play's literary allusions fail to resonate, the language is sharp and crisp. (Rosenstein)

'Night, Mother La Val's Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid, Berk; (510) 496-1269, ext 1950. $8-12. Fri-Sat, 8pm. Through Fri/22. Princess Productions presents Marsha Norman's drama.

Rhinoceros Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison, Berk; (510) 647-2949. $16-42. Thurs-Sat, 8pm (also Sat/23, Thurs/28, March 9, 2pm); Sun and Wed, 7pm (also Sun, 2pm). Through March 10. Eugène Ionesco's most famous play gets a major remounting at Berkeley Rep. You'd think this absurdist diatribe against conformity would be remarkably resonant in a time when the herd mentality seems to rule, but unfortunately this production, employing a bland translation-adaptation of the play by Allen Kuharski and Georges Moskos, never takes off. (Rosenstein)

Three Sisters Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 528-5620. $10. Fri/15-Sat/16, 8pm. Actors Ensemble of Berkeley performs David Mamet's adaptation of the Chekhov play.

dance

'Cavewomen 2002' Dance Mission Theatre, 3316 24th St; 273-4633. Extended run: Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 6pm. $17-20. In many ways Cavewomen is a throwback to the glory days of Dance Brigade's road-blasting '80s work, feminist multimedia theater propelled by three Ps: passion, performance, and politics. Krissy Keefer's new generation of dancers is as gutsy as her earlier cohorts, if not gutsier. These women put on a hell of a show. (Felciano)

Dallas Black Dance Theater City College of San Francisco, Diego Rivera Theater, 50 Phelan; 239-3580. Wed, 11am. Free. (Also Sat, 8pm. $14-18. Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Nellie W. Codding Theatre, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park; 1-707-588-3400.) See 8 Days a Week, page 48.

Jess Curtis/Gravity Physical Entertainment ODC Theater, 3153 17th St; 863-9834. Wed-Sat, 8pm. $15-17. See "Sublime," page 39.

*Robert Moses' Kin Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center, Marina at Laguna; 345-7575. Thurs-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2 and 7pm. $15-22.50. Robert Moses's signature classic, Never Solo, set to the Last Poets' rant about rage, power, and pain, seeded his mythic Word of Mouth, a vibrant evocation of a people's culture. Language and music create a richly textured environment that his dancers fill with dizzying excursions into space, punctuated by moments of iconic grandeur. This is Moses's most completely designed work yet, with stunning visuals by Austin Forebord and designer-quality costumes by Mario Alonzo. (Felciano)

*'San Francisco Ballet 2002 Repertory Season' War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness; 865-2000. Program One: Thurs and Sat, 8pm (also Sat, 2pm). Program Two: Wed, 7:30pm; Fri, 8; Sun, 2. $10-120. It's finally happened: San Francisco Ballet is offering a full evening of works ("Program One" on the repertory schedule) by the choreographer most people still identify with West Side Story. Fabulous as those drivingly boisterous dances were, there is much more to Jerome Robbins, and the three pieces in this program, Fanfare, Dances at a Gathering, and Glass Pieces prove that his mastery of balletic idiom remains unchallenged. He infused ballet (European and aristocratic in origin) with vernacular (and specifically American) accents. Balanchine's performers always look like dancers; Robbins's look like people. In Glass Pieces they are New Yorkers rushing about town; in Dances they are meandering around the country wondering, maybe, what all that rushing is about. Both pieces are beautifully performed; particularly poignant are Joanna Berman in Dances and Muriel Maffre and Cyril Pierre in Glass. (Felciano)

Yaelisa and Caminos Flamencos ODC Theater, 3153 17th St; 863-9834. Sun, 7pm. $10-17. Yaelisa and Caminos Flamencos Cafe Flamenco with Sara de Luis and other guest artists.

Bay Area

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk; (510) 642-9988. Program A: Tues/19 and Sat/23, 8pm; Sun/24, 3pm. Program B: Wed/20 and Fri/22, 8pm. Program C Thurs/21, 8pm; Sat/23, 2pm. $24-48. See 8 Days a Week, page 48.

Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk; (510) 642-9988. Program A: Fri, 8pm. Program B: Sat, 8pm. $24-46. Former Martha Graham Dance Company principal dancer Pascal Rioult presents two different programs of new and repertory works.

performance

'Andrognykka! The Hello Tour!' Jon Sims Center for the Arts, 1519 Mission; 554-0402. Fri, 8pm. $5-10 (no one turned away for lack of funds). Artist in residence Kevin Ottem-Fox presents a cabaret play that takes on "God, civil war, and bad musical comedies."

'Coleman Barks Interprets Rumi' Brava Theater Center, 2789 24th St; 392-4400. Fri-Sat, 8pm. $26-30. (Also Sat, 1pm, $8, reading and conversation with Coleman Barks). The leading interpreter of 13th-century Persian poet Rumi performs with music by Jai Uttal and dance by Jo Kreiter and Flyaway Productions.

'Comic Rhythm' Tongue and Groove, 2513 Van Ness; 565-5955. Tues, 8pm. $8. Jeff Kreisler hosts an evening of comedy with the Meehan Brothers, spoken word with Miguel Pereira, and music by the Beanweavils.

'DragPie' Marlena's, 488 Hayes; 864-6672. Fri, 10:30pm and midnight. Free. A cast of drag performers – including Cockatelia, Gypsy Calabrese, Sonfondaboyz, Manley Lennox, and Karen Kill – performs; this week's theme is "Around the World at 488 Hayes."

'Futch' Luna Sea Theater, 2940 16th St; 863-2989. Fri-Sat, 8pm. $10-15. Karen X., Suzanne Cimone, and Tijanna Eaton star in a performance about women whose identities extend beyond butch, femme, and other labels.

'Fifth Annual Activating the Medium Festival' San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St; (510) 601-TWEB. $10-12. Fri, 8pm. This event, highlighting the opening of George Legrady's installation Speaking/Sensing Space, includes a keynote address by Legrady, plus performances by interactive artists Sensorband, Paul DeMarinis, and Scott Arford.

'Mele Hula: A Celebration of Hawaiian Music and Dance' Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon; 392-4400. Sun, 7:30pm. $25. Barry Flanagan of the group Hapa performs with vocalist Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Hawaiian dancers, and more.

Hal Robins Spanganga, 3376 19th St; 821-1102. Sun, 7pm. $5-10. This month's Tentacle Sessions event features "the man who can answer any question anyone can ever ask."

'Teleopolis' Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon; EXP-LORE. Wed, 7pm. $6-10. The latest in the Exploratorium's "2nd Wednesday" installation series explores the relationship between cities and technology, with featured artists Dr. Sha Xin Wei, the Sponge art collective, Erik Adigard, and Adrian Van Allen.

'A Weekend Residency with Carmelita Tropicana' Jon Sims Center for the Arts, 1519 Mission; 554-0402. Sat, 8pm. $5-10. The writer and performance artist presents dramatic readings from Chicas 2000 and her latest work in progress, A Tail of Two Cities.

comedy

Bayfront Theater Fort Mason Center, Building B, Third fl, Marina at Laguna; 474-8935. Thurs, 8pm: "How We First Met," $15-20. Fri-Sat, 8pm: "Three for All," $12. Sun, 8pm: "Micetro," $6.

New Langton Arts 1246 Folsom; 789-8370. Mon, 8pm: The Original Action Pack perform improv comedy, $5.

Spanganga 3376 19th St; 821-1102. Thurs, 10pm: "Spiegelmania" stand-up comedy show, hosted by Mike Spiegelman, $5. Sat, 10pm: "Ha Bloody Ha" comedy and variety show, hosted by Harmon Leon, $7.

'They Call Me Shitshoes' Spanganga, 3376 19th St; 821-1102. Fri, 10pm. Through Fri/22. $10. Prankster and comedian Harmon Leon performs in a solo show inspired by his real-life experiences as a ventriloquist, birthday-party clown, and more.

Bay Area

Black Box 1928 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 595-5597. Thurs and Sat, 8pm: The Oakland Playhouse improv troupe performs improv comedy, $5-10. See 8 Days a Week, page 48.

spoken word

Open mics take place almost every night in cafés throughout the Bay Area. If you want to perform, show up about half an hour before start time to put your name on the list. A day-by-day guide to word events and featured readers:

Wednesday: Mama Bears Women's Bookstore 6536 Telegraph, Oakl; (510) 506-3717. "SheSpeaks," open mic night for women 18 and over, 7:30pm, $5. La Peña Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 849-2572. "Cafe Poetry," open mic with host Lea Arellano, 7:30pm, $2. Cody's Books 2454 Telegraph, Berk; (510) 845-7852. "Poetry Flash," with Murray Silverstein, Gillian Wegener, and Helen Wickes, 7:30pm, $2. BrainWash Cafe 1122 Folsom; 864-3842. "Spoken Word Salon," open mic with host Diamond Dave MC, 8pm, free.

Thursday: Dalva 3121 16th St; 647-6542. "Poetry Mission," with open mic hosted by Harvey and featured reader Dharm Saroop Kaur, 7-9pm, free. Unitarian Center 1187 Franklin; 338-2227. The Poetry Center and the American Poetry Archives present Susan Gevirtz and Jocelyn Saidenberg reading from their work, 7:30pm, $7.

Friday: Cafe International 508 Haight; 552-7390. "Open Myc Series," with featured reader Paul Burke, 7:30pm, free.

Saturday: Coffee with a Beat 458 Perkins, Oakl; (510) 526-5985. "Word Beat Reading Series," with featured readers Chris Olander, Jacquie Castileja, and Mary-Marcia Casoly, plus open mic, 7-9pm, free. Edinburgh Castle Pub 950 Geary, 884-4074. Reading with Anne Marino, Matthew Iribarne, and Scott Letten, 10pm, free.

Sunday: Cody's Books 2454 Telegraph, Berk; (510) 845-7852. "Poetry Flash," with Sharon Doubiago and Doren Robbins, 7:30pm, $2.

Monday: Notes from Underground Café 2399 Van Ness; 928-8904. "Celebration of the Word," with featured reader Thomas Avena and host Jeanne Powell, 7pm, free. Café de la Paz 1600 Shattuck, Berk; (510) 843-0662. "Poetry Nitro," performance showcase featuring Tom Odegard, plus open mic, 8pm, free. Rasselas 1534 Fillmore; 346-8696. Open mic for instrumentalists, singers, and poets, featuring the Dee Spencer Trio, 8pm, free.