Friday, August 29, 2008

Last weekend to see 6 plays and musicals (Aug. 29-31)

By Shawn Parikh

This is the chance for you to see quite a few productions, so take some time out of the long weekend to go to the theatre:

God’s Favorite

Just Jack

• God’s Favorite, presented by ONSTAGE in Bedford. Neil Simon actually made a hysterically funny play from the Book of Job, transferring the scene to a Long Island mansion where reside a tycoon, his wife, a prodigal son, and a pair of kookie twins. Then one night a messenger from God enters with a big G on his sweatshirt. Our modern Job won’t renounce God. Everything becomes a test of his faith, including his family. He tries listing his prodigal son’s qualities and can’t think of any. His wife asks him how he can love a God who makes him suffer and he says his prodigal son makes him suffer and he loves him. He believes he’s been chosen to show how much a man can love God. He gets an itch, then, neuralgia, tennis elbow and hemorrhoids. Having lost everything, God in the form of the messenger answers him. Purchase tickets ($10-15) online or by calling 817-354-6444.
• Radio TBS (Trailer Park Broadcasting Scandals), presented by Lakeside Community Theatre. Radio hostesses and society queens Vesta Poteet and Dixie Mandrell bring to you the comings and goings of the activities in and around The Luna Del Mar Manufactured Home Oasis and Monkey Emporium -- very few of the monkeys are contagious. And what a jumpin' place this trailer park is. There's a visit to Graceland from rovin' reporter Missy Goode (and her unfortunate arrest by the security guards); there are preparations for the annual Miss Manatee beauty contest (entries have dropped to practically nil since they inserted that no pregnancy clause); there are scandalous goings-on at trailer number 666, where the park's resident pariah hangs out lewd laundry and gives belly-dancing lessons; and there's “The Heart of Dixie” advice for the lovelorn and addicted. The colossal second act celebration at Luna Del Mar, penicillin capital of central Florida, is the annual drive-by nativity scene, where this year's theme is "Jesus and Elvis: A Tribute to the Kings.” For reservations ($10-12), call 972-727-4098 or 214-616-4289.
• Misery, presented by Theatre Coppell. Audiences will get a thrill out of this adaptation of the chilling novel by the “King of Horror” in which Paul Sheldon, world famous author of the “Misery Chastaine” romance novels, is crippled in a car wreck, only to be rescued by Annie Wilkes, his Number One Fan. When Annie reads his new novel and doesn’t like what she reads, we discover she isn't the angel of mercy she first appeared to be. Paul begins to realize that he has entered a new kind of hell beyond anything he might have dreamt up for his fictional heroin. Purchase tickets ($12-14) online or by calling 972-745-7719.
• “Just Jack", one-man show. "Its like an Elvis show but more of Jack in it than Elvis" Foltyn said. "Picture if you will an intimate space where the band talks to each other and asks Mr. Foltyn questions that everyone else wanted to ask". Based on the Elvis 1968 special this prodution also brings to light the ups and downs of Foltyns career as an actor, dancer and singer and how his story parallels the life of the king himself. "I think everyone has a right to know what an artist goes through in life to get him where he is." Foltyn continues, "I don't think people realize that we are such a different breed and this show explains all of that with music." For reservations ($22), call 972-239-3657 or purchase online.
• I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, presented by Music Theatre of Denton for this weekend only. If you missed it in February - now's your chance!! If you saw it in February - enjoy it again. Call 940-382-1915 for tickets ($12).
• Oklahoma!, for this weekend only. The wind will whistle through Addison Circle Park as WaterTower Theatre and the Dallas Wind Symphony present a concert version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! An affectionate paean to the Wild West, the Broadway classic Oklahoma! follows the romance between handsome cowboy Curly and winsome farm girl Laurey. Presented by the WaterTower Theatre & Dallas Wind Symphony. Call 972-450-6232 for advanced tickets ($5-10).

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