San Diego Reader December 15, 2016 61


The Mystery of Love and Sex An exceptional cast, snappy writ- ing, and polished production ele- ments bring to life the complicated nature of interpersonal relationships between family and friends in Bath- sheba Doran’s refreshing burst of theatrical life not often witnessed in San Diego or anywhere. The team at Diversionary rises to the occasion to create an entertaining, uproariously funny, and uplifting evening at the


theater. Critic’s Pick. DIVERSIONARY THEATRE, 4545 PARK BL., UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS. 619-220- 0097. 7PM THURSDAYS, 8PM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 2PM SUNDAYS.


The Normal Heart Ion Theatre is giving Larry Kramer’s drama, about the birth of the HIV/ AIDs crisis, a stark and moving pro- duction. The play unfolds like a doc- umentary of the times, the urgency, the denial, the frustration (Kramer says “there’s not a good word to be said about anyone’s behavior in this whole mess”). Claudio Raygoza does outstanding work as Ned Weeks, who crusades almost alone to raise awareness. Few plays or musicals can re-create a point in time likeThe Normal Heart. It depicts events with such tenacity you feel free to say, “That must be how it was” [Note: Ion Theatre has extended the run of this show]. Critic’s Pick. ION THEATRE COMPANY BLKBOX THEATRE, 3704 SIXTH AVE., HILLCREST. 619-600-5020. 8PM THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS, 2PM & 8PM SATURDAYS, 7PM WEDNESDAYS.


Rented Christmas: The Musical Lamplighters Community The- atre offers the Norman C. Ahern, Jr., Yvonne Ahern, Kathryn Eng- land, and Bryan Linton musical. A middle-aged bachelor and promi- nent businessman wants to rent a Christmas “not just with a tree and Christmas carols, but complete with a wife, a family, and all the happi- ness for which he has been secretly longing.” So the proprietor of a rent shop calls the Actors’ Guild. But they


can’t locate a mother for the part. LAMPLIGHTERS COMMUNITY THEATRE, 5915 SEVERIN DR., LA MESA. 619-303- 5092. 8PM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 2PM SUNDAYS.


The Santaland Diaries/ Season’s Greetings Different Stages, in association with the OB Playhouse, presents two yuletide shows by David Sedaris. Both “naughty plays,”The Santaland Diaries and Season’s Greetings, put a satirical “spin on and depiction of


holiday magic.” Jerry Pilato directs. OCEAN BEACH PLAYHOUSE, 4944 NEWPORT AVE., OCEAN BEACH. 619- 222-0836. 9PM FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 3PM SUNDAYS.


The Wholehearted La Jolla Playhouse presents a special engagement of Deborah Stein’s “tale of revenge and redemption, the vio- lence of love, the sexuality of sports, and the high cost of fame. A female boxer who survives a brutal attack by her husband. Suli Holum directs and


performs in this solo show. LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE, 2910 LA JOLLA VILLAGE DR., UCSD. 858-550-1010. 8PM THURSDAY & FRIDAY, 2PM & 8PM SATURDAY, 2PM SUNDAY.


The Zoo Story San Diego Actors Theatre presents a staged reading of Edward Albee’s one act about Peter and Jerry. They


meet on a park bench in NYC’s Central Park. Peter’s a successful publisher. Loner Jerry just wants to have a meaningful conversation “with another human being.” Patri- cia Elmore Costa directs. LA JOLLA LIBRARY, 7555 DRAPER AVE., LA JOLLA. 858-552-1657. 2PM SUNDAY.


UPCOMING SHOWS


Altar Boyz Coronado Playhouse stages the musical — book, Kevin Del Aguila, music and lyrics, Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker — about a “heavenly” boy band’s last night of theirRaise the Praise tour. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Juan “attempt to save the world, one screaming fan at a time.” Michael Mizerany directs


and choreographs. CORONADO PLAYHOUSE, 1835 STRAND WAY, CORONADO. 619-435-4856. JANU- ARY 20 THROUGH FEBRUARY 19.


American Hero Different Stages presents Bess Wohl’s “supersized dark comedy” about three up-and-coming “sandwich artists” at a toasted subs franchise in the local mall: a teenager, a single mom, and a downsized refugee from corporate banking. “When a series of strange events interrupt their shot at the American Dream, they become unlikely allies in a post-recession


world.” Kristen Fogle directs. OCEAN BEACH PLAYHOUSE, 4944 NEWPORT AVE., OCEAN BEACH. 619-222-0836. JANUARY 6 THROUGH JANUARY 21.


Beau Jest Lamb’s Players Theatre presents James Sherman’s comedy. “Sarah’s parents are delighted she’s engaged to a charming doctor. Only thing is, she’s not.” So she hires an actor


to “keep the fiction alive.” LAMB’S PLAYERS THEATRE, 1142 OR- ANGE AVE., CORONADO. 619-437-0600. JANUARY 6 THROUGH FEBRUARY 12.


California Young Playwrights Contest: Plays by Young Writers The Playwrights Project presents its 32nd annual festival of plays by writers 18 and under. Contest win- ners came from 385 plays submitted by students from across the state. The plays come in two programs. Program A: Supermarket of Lost by Cassandra Hsiao; Hackathon, by Eliana Dunn; Turtle on a Rock, by Absinthe McDonald. Program B: The Dumping Ground, by Mat- thew Maceda; Pros and Cons, by Katie Taylor; A Play on Words, by Samantha Rafter. For specific days and times, consult the Playwright’s Project website, write@playwright-


sproject.org. SHERYL AND HARVEY WHITE THEATRE, 1363 OLD GLOBE WAY, BALBOA PARK. 619-234-5623. JANUARY 21 THROUGH JANUARY 29.


Les Liaisons Dangereuses New Fortune Theatre stages Chris- topher Hampton’s adaptation of the Laclos novel (1782) about ex-lovers the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, who compete in games of seduction and revenge. “This isn’t a battle between the sexes. It’s war.” Richard Baird and Kaitlin


O’Neal co-direct. LYCEUM THEATRE, 79 HORTON PLAZA, DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. 619-544-1000.


JANUARY 14 THROUGH JANUARY 28.


Maple and Vine Trinity Theatre Company presents Jordan Harrison’s new play. “Katha and Ryu have become allergic to their 21st-century lives. After they meet a charismatic man from a com- munity of 1950s re-enactors, they forsake cell phones and sushi for cigarettes and Tupperware parties… Katha and Ryu are surprised by what their new neighbors - and they themselves - are willing to sacrifice for happiness.” Sean Boyd directs. TENTH AVENUE ARTS CENTER, 930 TENTH AVE., EAST VILLAGE. 619-920- 8503. JANUARY 6 THROUGH JANU- ARY 29.


Marjorie Prime North Coast Repertory Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of Jordan Harrison’s 2015 finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. In the near future, artificial intelligence reaches new heights. Now “lifelike robots provide companionship for the lonely.” Mat-


thew Wiener directs. NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE, 987-D LOMAS SANTA FE DR., SOLANA BEACH. 858-481-1055. JANUARY 11 THROUGH FEBRUARY 5.


Our Great Tchaikovsky The San Diego Repertory Theatre presents Hershey Felder’s “time bending” tribute to Russia’s most famous composer, “from present- day Putin’s Russia, where Tchai- kovsky is a hero, back in time to Czarist Russia, where that was not


entirely the case.” Trevor Hay directs. SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE, 79 HORTON PLAZA, DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. 619-544-1000. JANUARY 18 THROUGH FEBRUARY 12.


Perfect Arrangement Intrepid Theatre Company stages Topher Payne’s comedy about Bob and Norma. It’s the 1950s, and they have been tasked with identifying sexual deviants within their ranks. “There’s just one problem: Bob and Norma are gay, and have married each other’s partners in a carefully constructed cover.” Can they sustain


“heteronormativity”? HORTON GRAND THEATRE, 444 FOURTH AVE., DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. 619-234- 9583. FEBRUARY 2 THROUGH MARCH 5.


Shakespeare &I Tea San Diego Central Library hosts family-friendly, monthly informal Shakespeare readings, with discus- sion, and starring you. No experi- ence necessary. Parts are assigned before each scene so everyone who wants to can read. Tea and scones, clotted cream and jam provided by Shakespeare’s Corner Shoppe &


Afternoon Tea. CENTRAL LIBRARY, 330 PARK BL., EAST VILLAGE. 619-236-5800. JANUARY 15 THROUGH MARCH 19.


Twelfth Night, or What You Will Theatre Arts West, which incor- porates the visual arts and music with theater, presents Shakespeare’s festive, gender-bending comedy of capricious love on the shores of Illyria, “a timeless place that cel- ebrates music, poetry, and art.” Backdrops and set pieces painted


by local artists. MURAMID MUSEUM AND ART CENTER, 212 F ARTIST ALLEY, OCEANSIDE JANU- ARY 6 THROUGH JANUARY 22.


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