Theatre Theatre Openings
Blues for an Alabama Sky (Feb 19)
Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities (Feb 19)
Working (Feb 19), Cowgirls (Feb 24)
A Day in Hollywood ... A Night in the Ukraine (Feb 24)
Twelve Angry Jurors (Feb 25)
Matt Patterson as Sydney Carton
illustration by JDavid Sewell McCann
Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities Through Mar 21, Thu-Sun, 8pm
Planet Theatre
It has been almost 20 years since the Royal Shakespeare Company embarked on its incredible Dickensian epic, Nicholas Nickelby. The RSC may not have realized the extent to which this production and its approach would affect the future of ensemble theatre nor lead to the plethora of successful adaptations of classical works by Charles Dickens, and others, for stage and screen. But it should come as no surprise that the VORTEX Repertory Company, a company well-versed in the glories of working as an ensemble, should try its hand at another sweeping Dickensian epic, A Tale of Two Cities. A story of two men remarkably similar in visage, if not in fortune, Dicken's classic concerns an aristocratic Frenchman and a roguish Englishman and how their lives intersect and intertwine during the unruly and downright dangerous days of the French Revolution.
Perhaps a little surprising is that Kirk Smith, author of the rock & roll musical, Lucifa, should be the one to adapt this monster novel, but he proved quite successful in what might be considered the play's test run with the VORTEX'ssummer youth program participants a couple of summers ago. Now his Tale returns for a full production at the Planet. With Matt Patterson reprising his role as misunderstood English anti-hero Sydney Carton, expect a more detailed, richer set of performances from the VORTEX'stalented mob. Bonnie Cullum directs. 454-TIXS. -- Robi Polgar
BETRAYAL Moving backward in time, Harold Pinter's Betrayal follows a seven-year affair between Emma and her husband's best friend, Jerry, from an awkward reunion long after their breakup to their passion's first sparks 11 years earlier. It is a masterfully crafted piece of drama, littered with tiny hints and innuendoes, brimming with unanswered questions. You can feel the characters' dense misery in the hundreds of pauses which populate the play, each of which represents the thing not said but felt. And in this absence of emotional disclosure, it is these silences that sizzle. In the case of the Public Domain production, there may be too many sizzling silences; director Robi Polgar and company seem to be taking liberty with the spaces between words, so that a pause doesn't produce much effect by the play's end. Still, as the unhappily married Emma and Robert, Katherine Catmull and David Jones command our attention. Polgar's direction is sharp, in particular the way he glides the characters around each other during scene changes, using their interaction to add to the tension. The only times this Betrayal falters is when it wanders from this spartan emotional reserve. In particular, the set design is dominated by huge, disjointed pieces that seem to scream: This is about a breakup. But in the end, what stays with us are undercurrents of sadness, and the unreliable past of people who have been betrayed not only by each other but by memory and by language itself. (Sarah Hepola) FINAL WEEKEND! Through Feb 20, Thu-Sat, 8pm, at The Public Domain, 807 Congress. $12 ($10 students, seniors; $5, Thu). 474-6202.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST The Lockhart Community Theatre presents Oscar Wilde's sharp-witted classic of mistaken identity. J. Fredric Bell directs. FINAL WEEKEND!Through Feb 20, Fri-Sat, 8pm; Thu, Feb 18, 7pm, at the Baker Theatre in Lockhart. $8 ($5 students, seniors). 512/398-3812.
THE HOMECOMING Harold Pinter's The Homecoming is an ugly, obstinate vision of family bonding gone awry. When Teddy brings his wife Ruth to his childhood home in the bowels of lower-class England, it isn't long before she is cozying up to her brothers-in-law Lenny and Joe, and it's not much longer before they're all engaged in a menage a trois while her hubby loathsomely looks on. Amid all these bizarre happenings, what is certain is that The Homecoming is a play brimming with creepitude. If you can get past the English accents of this Austin cast (they're all over the map), director Peter Malof's production sinks you into the filth and makes you feel what's gooey in there. Amy McAndrew plays Ruth as a seemingly prim and proper lady seething with feral hunger. But the centerpiece of the play is Ev Lunning's scenery-chewing turn as Teddy's father Max. A butcher by trade, Max is a foul-mouthed geezer whose sport is spewing piss and vinegar, lashing out, cutting people down. And by the time the old man comes hobbling around with a cane, finally begging Ruth to kiss him on his grimy mouth, it's so unspeakably icky that I wanted to jump in the shower and wipe the slime from my toes. (Sarah Hepola) FINAL WEEKEND! Through Feb 21, Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm, at the John Henry Faulk Living Theatre, 204 E. Fourth. $8-12. 454-TIXS.
WORKING In this musical, improbably based on a book by historian Studs Terkel, we take a look at the everyday grind, daydreams, and resilience of a spectrum of working Americans, from migrant farm workers to the men who run the steel mills The musical gets a poppy lift by original music from James Taylor, Stephen Schwartz, and others. Directed by Michelle Ebert, with choreography by Andrea Ariel. ONE WEEKEND ONLY! Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat, 2pm; Sun, 4pm, at the Auditorium on Waller Creek, 710 E. 41st. $5. 452-5772 x236.
COWGIRLS The classically trained Coghill Trio find themselves in one helluva pickle when they're mistakenly booked as the "Cowgirl Trio" in a bar bound to go belly-up if their set doesn't succeed. This corny off-Broadway musical promises plenty of yuks as well as a good measure of hootin' and hollerin'. THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY! Feb 24-26, Wed-Fri, 8pm, in Hogg Auditorium, on the UT campus. $15-28. 477-6060.
THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS Flame Failure Productions presents Carlo Goldoni's commedia dell'arte classic, a broad 18th-century comedy of errors which follows downtrodden Truffaldino, the crafty but foolish servant who stirs up trouble attempting to serve two masters at once. Directed by Dan Bonfitto. Through Feb 27, Thu & Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 6pm, at the Electric Lounge, 302 Bowie. $7 ($6, ACoT). 454-TIXS.
ANYTHING GOES This Cole Porter musical is full of those singable, swingable favorites, including "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top," "It's Delovely," and the famous title song. Jim Fritzler directs this Southwestern University Production. Through Feb 28, Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm, in the Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Theatre on the Southwestern University campus in Georgetown. 512/863-1378.
THEDIARY OF ANNE FRANK Austin Theater for Youth presents the Pulitzer-Prize winning play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. It is the cherished story of the articulate 13-year-old, whose promising life would be snuffed out by the Nazis, and whose memory would become an enduring symbol of the innocence forever lost in the Holocaust. Rod Caspers directs this second collaboration between ATY and McCallum Fine Arts Academy; the first was last year's acclaimed Ordinary People. Through Feb 28, Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat-Sun, 2pm, at McCallum Fine Arts Academy Theatre, 5600 Sunshine. $10 ($7.50 under 18; $9, college students, seniors, ACoT). 459-7144.
AMBROSE BIERCE ON OUR -- THE CIVIL WAR TALES This one-man show takes a stroll through the life of journalist and author Ambrose Bierce, whose terrifying experiences on the front lines of the Civil War subsequently turned into the ghost stories and children's tales that are now modern classics. Timothy Patrick Miller stars in this production, directed by Gordon Kelso. Through Mar 7, Sun, 3pm, at the Scottish Rite Theatre, 207 W. 18th. $10 ($8 students, seniors, ACoT). 454-TIXS.
BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY In 1930s Harlem, five African Americans struggle to find love and hope in a world where the most deadly disease is poverty. Boyd Vance directs this play by Pearl Cleage. Feb 19-28, Fri-Sun, 8pm; Sat, 4pm, at the Santa Cruz Center for Culture, 1805 E. Seventh. $10 ($8 students, seniors, ACoT).
454-TIXS.
TWELVE ANGRY JURORS Karen Morris directs this stage version of Reginald Rose's television script, most memorably brought to life in Sidney Lumet's brilliant 1957 ensemble courtroom drama, Twelve Angry Men. When one man on a jury insists on scrutinizing an ostensibly open-and-shut case, tempers ignite and tension rules the day, but they discover a situation far more compelling and controversial than they ever imagined. Feb 25-28, Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm, at the Palace Theater, 814 S. Austin, Georgetown. $5. 512/863-2154.
PLAYFEST '99 Each week brings a new act in this festival of children's theatre. Bernadette Nason takes us on an adventure into Central America, as she tells the tales The Princess and the Music Maker and The 25 Mixtec Cats: Through Feb 21. ComedySportz bring their wacky shenanigans to this improv show for young audiences: Feb 24-28. Playfest lasts through Mar 14, Wed-Fri, 10am; Sat-Sun, 3pm, at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs. $4.50. 454-TIXS.
A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD... A NIGHT IN HE UKRAINE Michael Costello directs this musical double bill. In "A Day in Hollywood," sit back and enjoy Thirties sugary, singable classics "On the Goodship Lollipop," "Over the Rainbow," and "Hooray for Hollywood." In "A Night in the Ukraine," Kevin Archambault takes a turn as Groucho Marx, the bushybrowed comic master of innuendo and quippery. Kristen Ensrude and Sacha Bodner take the stage as Harpo and Chico, respectively. Feb 24-Mar 7, Wed-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm, at Mary Moody Northen Theatre on the St. Ed's campus, 3001 S. Congress. $6-12. 448-8484.
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' Ain't Misbehavin' is probably best remembered as the vehicle that launched Nell Carter's career and won the 1978 Tony for Best Musical, but this local production staged by Zach artistic director Dave Steakley boasts vocal talent just as sassy and strong. They're here to take you back to Harlem, to the Twenties and Thirties, when lovable characters like Fats Waller scorched clubs and music halls alike with his stride piano, rolling together the syncopated rhythms of ragtime and jazz into one rollicking sound. With their bowler hats askew and their double-breasted suits sagging just right, Marcus Maurice and Timothy Curry make the perfect pair of gentlemen, a couple of cats with voices as smooth as their moves -- Maurice the sly, lithe young'un and Curry the studied, sugarmouthed grandpop. A trio of lovely ladies are there for the ride, too, all dolled up in Thirties finery -- dripping with minks and silk scarves courtesy of Leslie Bonnell's costume design. There's the flirtatious breathiness of Janis Stinson, wriggling against the piano while she coos "Squeeze Me," and the starry-eyed, apple-cheeked Felicia Dinwiddie, whose nimble hoofing and melodious voice garner the spotlight probably more than anyone else. There's also Jacqui Cross, of Dreamgirls fame, whose pipes could make an organ jealous. And together, they're having a blast with these songs, which allow for as much showboating as sublime harmony work. And whether they're dancing, goofing, flirting, or wailin' the blues, their fun is infectious. Ain't Misbehavin' chugs along, with Steakley administering just the right doses of humor, pathos, and groove to make the evening feel whole. Again and again, these pieces move you -- whether to slap your knee, tap the arm of your chair, or wipe tears from your eyes. With big band fever probably about to swing its way out of popularity, this is a perfect time to move on over to Riverside and let this quintet spread some rhythm into your life. (Sarah Hepola) Through Mar 14, Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2:30pm, on Zachary Scott's Kleberg Stage, 1421 W. Riverside. $24-30.
476-0541.
DICKENS' A TALE OF TWO CITIES Kirk Smith received a Critics Table award for Best Adaptation for this thoughtful play, which premiered in the summer of 1997 with a cast of younger actors. VORTEX remounts this sweeping account of the French Revolution, with Matthew Patterson reprising his role as the ne'er-do-well lawyer Sydney Carton, who finds redemption amid the horrors of the chaotic streets when he saves doomed nobleman Charles Darnay from the guillotine. Directed by Bonnie Cullum. (See box for more info.) Feb 19-Mar 21, Thu-Sun, 8pm, at the Planet, 2307 Manor. $12 ($9, students, seniors, ACoT; Thu/Sun, $7). 454-TIXS.
DICK PRIVATE; PRIVATE DICK Murder by Design presents this interactive mystery with a comic twist. "An Angel in Danger" takes you down the mean streets of Chicago in the 1940s to find out why Angel's Uncle Juli came all the way from Sicily and why Dick keeps clucking like a chicken. Fri-Sat, 8pm, at the Driskill, 604 Brazos. Sun, 6pm, at Top of the Marc. Fri-Sat: $50 (includes dinner). Sun: $18 (order a la carte from Katz's menu). Driskill: 474-5911/ Top of the Marc: 834-4623.
CAPITAL CITY MYSTERY PLAYERS In Cissy & Vinny's Wacky Wedding, it's a nightmare nuptial when someone says "I do" to murder. Was it the slick Yankees from New York or the rednecks from Pflugerville? You get to figure it out over a tasty dinner at their new location in the Doubletree. Sat, 7:30pm, at the 15th Street Cafe at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 15th & Guadalupe. $49. 478-7000 x650.
Auditions
MBD PRODUCTIONS announces auditions for its episodic dinner mystery production. Roles available: adult actors of all age ranges; female singer/actors, 25-35, needed to understudy lead. Should be able to perform Thirties and Forties standards with ease. All roles compensated. By appointment only. 834-4623.
ONE THEATER COMPANY holds auditions for Boys' Life, a contemporary comedy by Howard Korder. Roles available: 4 women, 2 men, all mid-20s-early 30s. Actors will be compensated. Résumé and headshot encouraged but not required. By appointment only. Sat-Sun, Feb 20-21, 2-6pm. 707-8464.
WATERLESS PLACE, a new full-length play by C. Denby Swanson, will be directed by Tamsen Wolff and open May 17 at Public Domain. Roles available: 1 woman, 30-40; 1 woman, 60s+; 1 man, 30-40. Rehearsals begin mid-April. By appointment only. 302-1349.
Theatre Openings
Blues for an Alabama Sky (Feb 19)
Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities (Feb 19)
Working (Feb 19), Cowgirls (Feb 24)
A Day in Hollywood ... A Night in the Ukraine (Feb 24)
Twelve Angry Jurors (Feb 25)
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Through Mar 21, Thu-Sun, 8pm
Planet Theatre
It has been almost 20 years since the Royal Shakespeare Company embarked on its incredible Dickensian epic, Nicholas Nickelby. The RSC may not have realized the extent to which this production and its approach would affect the future of ensemble theatre nor lead to the plethora of successful adaptations of classical works by Charles Dickens, and others, for stage and screen. But it should come as no surprise that the VORTEX Repertory Company, a company well-versed in the glories of working as an ensemble, should try its hand at another sweeping Dickensian epic, A Tale of Two Cities. A story of two men remarkably similar in visage, if not in fortune, Dicken's classic concerns an aristocratic Frenchman and a roguish Englishman and how their lives intersect and intertwine during the unruly and downright dangerous days of the French Revolution.
Perhaps a little surprising is that Kirk Smith, author of the rock & roll musical, Lucifa, should be the one to adapt this monster novel, but he proved quite successful in what might be considered the play's test run with the VORTEX'ssummer youth program participants a couple of summers ago. Now his Tale returns for a full production at the Planet. With Matt Patterson reprising his role as misunderstood English anti-hero Sydney Carton, expect a more detailed, richer set of performances from the VORTEX'stalented mob. Bonnie Cullum directs. 454-TIXS. -- Robi Polgar
BETRAYAL Moving backward in time, Harold Pinter's Betrayal follows a seven-year affair between Emma and her husband's best friend, Jerry, from an awkward reunion long after their breakup to their passion's first sparks 11 years earlier. It is a masterfully crafted piece of drama, littered with tiny hints and innuendoes, brimming with unanswered questions. You can feel the characters' dense misery in the hundreds of pauses which populate the play, each of which represents the thing not said but felt. And in this absence of emotional disclosure, it is these silences that sizzle. In the case of the Public Domain production, there may be too many sizzling silences; director Robi Polgar and company seem to be taking liberty with the spaces between words, so that a pause doesn't produce much effect by the play's end. Still, as the unhappily married Emma and Robert, Katherine Catmull and David Jones command our attention. Polgar's direction is sharp, in particular the way he glides the characters around each other during scene changes, using their interaction to add to the tension. The only times this Betrayal falters is when it wanders from this spartan emotional reserve. In particular, the set design is dominated by huge, disjointed pieces that seem to scream: This is about a breakup. But in the end, what stays with us are undercurrents of sadness, and the unreliable past of people who have been betrayed not only by each other but by memory and by language itself. (Sarah Hepola) FINAL WEEKEND! Through Feb 20, Thu-Sat, 8pm, at The Public Domain, 807 Congress. $12 ($10 students, seniors; $5, Thu). 474-6202.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST The Lockhart Community Theatre presents Oscar Wilde's sharp-witted classic of mistaken identity. J. Fredric Bell directs. FINAL WEEKEND!Through Feb 20, Fri-Sat, 8pm; Thu, Feb 18, 7pm, at the Baker Theatre in Lockhart. $8 ($5 students, seniors). 512/398-3812.
THE HOMECOMING Harold Pinter's The Homecoming is an ugly, obstinate vision of family bonding gone awry. When Teddy brings his wife Ruth to his childhood home in the bowels of lower-class England, it isn't long before she is cozying up to her brothers-in-law Lenny and Joe, and it's not much longer before they're all engaged in a menage a trois while her hubby loathsomely looks on. Amid all these bizarre happenings, what is certain is that The Homecoming is a play brimming with creepitude. If you can get past the English accents of this Austin cast (they're all over the map), director Peter Malof's production sinks you into the filth and makes you feel what's gooey in there. Amy McAndrew plays Ruth as a seemingly prim and proper lady seething with feral hunger. But the centerpiece of the play is Ev Lunning's scenery-chewing turn as Teddy's father Max. A butcher by trade, Max is a foul-mouthed geezer whose sport is spewing piss and vinegar, lashing out, cutting people down. And by the time the old man comes hobbling around with a cane, finally begging Ruth to kiss him on his grimy mouth, it's so unspeakably icky that I wanted to jump in the shower and wipe the slime from my toes. (Sarah Hepola) FINAL WEEKEND! Through Feb 21, Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 7pm, at the John Henry Faulk Living Theatre, 204 E. Fourth. $8-12. 454-TIXS.
WORKING In this musical, improbably based on a book by historian Studs Terkel, we take a look at the everyday grind, daydreams, and resilience of a spectrum of working Americans, from migrant farm workers to the men who run the steel mills The musical gets a poppy lift by original music from James Taylor, Stephen Schwartz, and others. Directed by Michelle Ebert, with choreography by Andrea Ariel. ONE WEEKEND ONLY! Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat, 2pm; Sun, 4pm, at the Auditorium on Waller Creek, 710 E. 41st. $5. 452-5772 x236.
COWGIRLS The classically trained Coghill Trio find themselves in one helluva pickle when they're mistakenly booked as the "Cowgirl Trio" in a bar bound to go belly-up if their set doesn't succeed. This corny off-Broadway musical promises plenty of yuks as well as a good measure of hootin' and hollerin'. THREE PERFORMANCES ONLY! Feb 24-26, Wed-Fri, 8pm, in Hogg Auditorium, on the UT campus. $15-28. 477-6060.
THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS Flame Failure Productions presents Carlo Goldoni's commedia dell'arte classic, a broad 18th-century comedy of errors which follows downtrodden Truffaldino, the crafty but foolish servant who stirs up trouble attempting to serve two masters at once. Directed by Dan Bonfitto. Through Feb 27, Thu & Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 6pm, at the Electric Lounge, 302 Bowie. $7 ($6, ACoT). 454-TIXS.
ANYTHING GOES This Cole Porter musical is full of those singable, swingable favorites, including "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top," "It's Delovely," and the famous title song. Jim Fritzler directs this Southwestern University Production. Through Feb 28, Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm, in the Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Theatre on the Southwestern University campus in Georgetown. 512/863-1378.
THEDIARY OF ANNE FRANK Austin Theater for Youth presents the Pulitzer-Prize winning play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. It is the cherished story of the articulate 13-year-old, whose promising life would be snuffed out by the Nazis, and whose memory would become an enduring symbol of the innocence forever lost in the Holocaust. Rod Caspers directs this second collaboration between ATY and McCallum Fine Arts Academy; the first was last year's acclaimed Ordinary People. Through Feb 28, Fri-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat-Sun, 2pm, at McCallum Fine Arts Academy Theatre, 5600 Sunshine. $10 ($7.50 under 18; $9, college students, seniors, ACoT). 459-7144.
AMBROSE BIERCE ON OUR -- THE CIVIL WAR TALES This one-man show takes a stroll through the life of journalist and author Ambrose Bierce, whose terrifying experiences on the front lines of the Civil War subsequently turned into the ghost stories and children's tales that are now modern classics. Timothy Patrick Miller stars in this production, directed by Gordon Kelso. Through Mar 7, Sun, 3pm, at the Scottish Rite Theatre, 207 W. 18th. $10 ($8 students, seniors, ACoT). 454-TIXS.
BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY In 1930s Harlem, five African Americans struggle to find love and hope in a world where the most deadly disease is poverty. Boyd Vance directs this play by Pearl Cleage. Feb 19-28, Fri-Sun, 8pm; Sat, 4pm, at the Santa Cruz Center for Culture, 1805 E. Seventh. $10 ($8 students, seniors, ACoT).
454-TIXS.
TWELVE ANGRY JURORS Karen Morris directs this stage version of Reginald Rose's television script, most memorably brought to life in Sidney Lumet's brilliant 1957 ensemble courtroom drama, Twelve Angry Men. When one man on a jury insists on scrutinizing an ostensibly open-and-shut case, tempers ignite and tension rules the day, but they discover a situation far more compelling and controversial than they ever imagined. Feb 25-28, Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2pm, at the Palace Theater, 814 S. Austin, Georgetown. $5. 512/863-2154.
PLAYFEST '99 Each week brings a new act in this festival of children's theatre. Bernadette Nason takes us on an adventure into Central America, as she tells the tales The Princess and the Music Maker and The 25 Mixtec Cats: Through Feb 21. ComedySportz bring their wacky shenanigans to this improv show for young audiences: Feb 24-28. Playfest lasts through Mar 14, Wed-Fri, 10am; Sat-Sun, 3pm, at the Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs. $4.50. 454-TIXS.
A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD... A NIGHT IN HE UKRAINE Michael Costello directs this musical double bill. In "A Day in Hollywood," sit back and enjoy Thirties sugary, singable classics "On the Goodship Lollipop," "Over the Rainbow," and "Hooray for Hollywood." In "A Night in the Ukraine," Kevin Archambault takes a turn as Groucho Marx, the bushybrowed comic master of innuendo and quippery. Kristen Ensrude and Sacha Bodner take the stage as Harpo and Chico, respectively. Feb 24-Mar 7, Wed-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm, at Mary Moody Northen Theatre on the St. Ed's campus, 3001 S. Congress. $6-12. 448-8484.
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' Ain't Misbehavin' is probably best remembered as the vehicle that launched Nell Carter's career and won the 1978 Tony for Best Musical, but this local production staged by Zach artistic director Dave Steakley boasts vocal talent just as sassy and strong. They're here to take you back to Harlem, to the Twenties and Thirties, when lovable characters like Fats Waller scorched clubs and music halls alike with his stride piano, rolling together the syncopated rhythms of ragtime and jazz into one rollicking sound. With their bowler hats askew and their double-breasted suits sagging just right, Marcus Maurice and Timothy Curry make the perfect pair of gentlemen, a couple of cats with voices as smooth as their moves -- Maurice the sly, lithe young'un and Curry the studied, sugarmouthed grandpop. A trio of lovely ladies are there for the ride, too, all dolled up in Thirties finery -- dripping with minks and silk scarves courtesy of Leslie Bonnell's costume design. There's the flirtatious breathiness of Janis Stinson, wriggling against the piano while she coos "Squeeze Me," and the starry-eyed, apple-cheeked Felicia Dinwiddie, whose nimble hoofing and melodious voice garner the spotlight probably more than anyone else. There's also Jacqui Cross, of Dreamgirls fame, whose pipes could make an organ jealous. And together, they're having a blast with these songs, which allow for as much showboating as sublime harmony work. And whether they're dancing, goofing, flirting, or wailin' the blues, their fun is infectious. Ain't Misbehavin' chugs along, with Steakley administering just the right doses of humor, pathos, and groove to make the evening feel whole. Again and again, these pieces move you -- whether to slap your knee, tap the arm of your chair, or wipe tears from your eyes. With big band fever probably about to swing its way out of popularity, this is a perfect time to move on over to Riverside and let this quintet spread some rhythm into your life. (Sarah Hepola) Through Mar 14, Thu-Sat, 8pm; Sun, 2:30pm, on Zachary Scott's Kleberg Stage, 1421 W. Riverside. $24-30.
476-0541.
DICKENS' A TALE OF TWO CITIES Kirk Smith received a Critics Table award for Best Adaptation for this thoughtful play, which premiered in the summer of 1997 with a cast of younger actors. VORTEX remounts this sweeping account of the French Revolution, with Matthew Patterson reprising his role as the ne'er-do-well lawyer Sydney Carton, who finds redemption amid the horrors of the chaotic streets when he saves doomed nobleman Charles Darnay from the guillotine. Directed by Bonnie Cullum. (See box for more info.) Feb 19-Mar 21, Thu-Sun, 8pm, at the Planet, 2307 Manor. $12 ($9, students, seniors, ACoT; Thu/Sun, $7). 454-TIXS.
DICK PRIVATE; PRIVATE DICK Murder by Design presents this interactive mystery with a comic twist. "An Angel in Danger" takes you down the mean streets of Chicago in the 1940s to find out why Angel's Uncle Juli came all the way from Sicily and why Dick keeps clucking like a chicken. Fri-Sat, 8pm, at the Driskill, 604 Brazos. Sun, 6pm, at Top of the Marc. Fri-Sat: $50 (includes dinner). Sun: $18 (order a la carte from Katz's menu). Driskill: 474-5911/ Top of the Marc: 834-4623.
CAPITAL CITY MYSTERY PLAYERS In Cissy & Vinny's Wacky Wedding, it's a nightmare nuptial when someone says "I do" to murder. Was it the slick Yankees from New York or the rednecks from Pflugerville? You get to figure it out over a tasty dinner at their new location in the Doubletree. Sat, 7:30pm, at the 15th Street Cafe at the Doubletree Guest Suites, 15th & Guadalupe. $49. 478-7000 x650.
Auditions
MBD PRODUCTIONS announces auditions for its episodic dinner mystery production. Roles available: adult actors of all age ranges; female singer/actors, 25-35, needed to understudy lead. Should be able to perform Thirties and Forties standards with ease. All roles compensated. By appointment only. 834-4623.
ONE THEATER COMPANY holds auditions for Boys' Life, a contemporary comedy by Howard Korder. Roles available: 4 women, 2 men, all mid-20s-early 30s. Actors will be compensated. Résumé and headshot encouraged but not required. By appointment only. Sat-Sun, Feb 20-21, 2-6pm. 707-8464.
WATERLESS PLACE, a new full-length play by C. Denby Swanson, will be directed by Tamsen Wolff and open May 17 at Public Domain. Roles available: 1 woman, 30-40; 1 woman, 60s+; 1 man, 30-40. Rehearsals begin mid-April. By appointment only. 302-1349.
