Food & Drink
Seattle Spring Arts Preview 2014: Theater Events
Spring’s theatrical performances dig deep into the human power dynamic—in all its gritty glory
By Seattle Mag February 14, 2014
This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of Seattle magazine.
!–paging_filter–pstrongimg src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/0314_theater_suit.jpg” style=”float: left; margin: 10px;” height=”525″ width=”350″[The Suit]/strongbrIn 1940s–’50s South Africa, a wife is caught in flagrante delicto with another man, who upon being discovered, rushes out and leaves his suit behind. As punishment, the cuckolded husband insists the wife host the suit in their home as if it were a guest of honor. The intriguing concept becomes even more so when the story is read as a parable about South African apartheid. 3/19–4/6. Times and prices vary. Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St.; 206.443.2222; a href=”http://www.seattlerep.org” target=”_blank”seattlerep.org/a em(Photo by Johan Persson: Peter Brook’s The Suit, starring Nonhlanhla Kheswa, reveals the glimpses of joy that can be stolen within an repressive regime)/embrstrongbr[Royal Blood]/strongbrThis world premiere by Seattle playwright Sonya Schneider concerns an American family behaving badly while persisting in the belief of a royal bloodline. Things go downhill from there, naturally. 3/20–4/4. 8 p.m. $20–$25. West of Lenin, 203 N 36th St.; 206.352.1777; a href=”http://www.westoflenin.com” target=”_blank”westoflenin.com/abrbrstrong[Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]/strongbrA primer in how to humiliate and enrage one’s spouse, Edward Albee’s booze-soaked cringefest was immortalized on screen by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Now, acclaimed local actors sink their teeth into these juicy roles, with R. Hamilton Wright as George, Pamela Reed as Martha, and Aaron Blakely and Amy Hill as the young dinner guests who wish to God they’d just stayed home. 4/18–5/18. Times and prices vary. Seattle Repertory Theatre; a href=”http://www.seattlerep.org” target=”_blank”seattlerep.org/abrbrstrong[Truth Like the Sun]/strongbrAdapted from Seattle author Jim Lynch’s novel about the political machinations behind the 1962 World’s Fair, this play follows glad-hander Roger Morgan from his race to raise the Space Needle to his race for mayor. 4/23–5/18. Times and prices vary. Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle Center House, 305 Harrison St.; 206.216.0833; a href=”http://www.book-it.org” target=”_blank”book-it.org/a/p
pstrong[Talls of Wasps]/strongbrProlific Seattle playwright Stephanie Timm unveils a world premiere with a totally outlandish premise: A powerful politician can’t resist his sexual transgressions! Produced by the crack team at New Century Theatre Company. 4/3–4/27. Times and price vary. ACT, 700 Union St.; 206.292.7676; a href=”http://www.acttheatre.org” target=”_blank”acttheatre.org/abrbrstrong[Bethany]/strongbrA middle-class woman hits the financial skids after the economic downturn, forcing her to use whatever means necessary in order to get her daughter out of foster care—including squatting in a foreclosed house occupied by a possibly deranged man. 4/11–5/4. Times and prices vary. ACT; a href=”http://www.acttheatre.org” target=”_blank”acttheatre.org/abrbrstrong[King Lear]/strongbrHere’s a hint for aging dads: Don’t force your children to shower you with compliments in exchange for an inheritance. It never ends well! Seattle luminary Sheila Daniels directs Shakespeare’s classic tale of parental hubris run amok. 4/24–5/11. Times and prices vary. Cornish Playhouse, 201 Mercer St.; 206.733.8222; a href=”http://www.seattleshakespeare.org” target=”_blank”seattleshakespeare.org/abrbrstrong[Winners and Losers]/strongbrVancouver, B.C., performers and pals Marcus Youssef and James Long argue sportingly over whether specific things (microwave ovens, Pamela Anderson, their fathers) should be deemed winners or losers, until the game takes a turn for the personal (and painful). 4/23–4/27. 8 p.m. $20. On the Boards, 100 W Roy St.; 206.217.9888; a href=”http://www.ontheboards.org” target=”_blank”ontheboards.org/abrbrstrong[Musical Theater]/strongbrIsn’t It Romantic? Spring is for swooning, and theaters are bursting with musicals featuring star-crossed lovers who voice their feelings in song. Little Shop of Horrors brings nerd love to ACT (3/8–6/15); Once (based on the movie) offers soulful rock at The Paramount (5/27–6/8); A Room with a View—anbsp; new Broadway incubator production at the 5th Ave.—boasts E.M. Forster’s brand of Edwardian amour (4/15–5/11); and in Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, a quirky world premiere by Balagan Theater, the arctic explorer falls for an unemployed video game soundtrack composer (4/18–5/4)./p
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