No big openings but plenty of smaller treats open this weekend, including El Hijo Prodijo at Annex, Bat Boy: The Musical! at Meany Hall, Lauren Weedman’s solo show at Hugo House, Unitard at The Rendezvous and a birthday bash for The Bard at Seattle Shakes.
Photo Credit: Ian Johnston/Annex Theatre
Don’t you dare roll your eyes at ME! Yes, I’m plugging another “Drag” show but Carlotta Sue Philpott is not just another dude in a dress…beloved Seattle actor/writer/teacher Troy Mink has carefully crafted a rich human character full of Southern fried humor and emotion that just so happens to be a 60 year old grandma in a polyester housecoat and dime store eyeglasses…but who gives a rat’s ass? In the know audiences have been helping themselves to heaping mounds of Carlotta’s Cracker Country hospitality for YEARS and chances are, they’ll be lined up to check her out in her brand new late night show at the Annex Theatre, 1122 East Pike, starting this Friday, April 30 at 11pm. Evenings with Carlotta runs Fri/Sat nights (after the mainstage show, When I Come To My Senses, I’m Alive) through May 21, (but there’s no show on May 7). Tickets are only $10/Adult and $5 for Students. Only a dumbass hillbilly would pass this up…
Photo Credit: Tom Milewski/Steve Miller/Printer’s Devil Theater
Speaking of hillbillies, that Old Reliable wannabe, notorious blackjack dealer Keefee is back to his old tricks but in a new setting and a brand new show. The creation of local actor Stephen Hando, Keefee’s House of Cards premiered last year at The Theatre Off Jackson and featured multiple characters in the cast. While that show earned rave reviews, the newest incarnation of Keefee features Hando going solo at the Jewel Box Theatre at The Rendezvous (2322 Second Ave in Belltown) in an interactive audience show that will feature FAKE gambling, real booze (if you’re inclined that way, and I am…) and the booze and sex soaked sordid tales and revelations of that natural born raconteur, the incomparable Keefee. The show runs Friday nights ONLY, through May 28 at 8pm with a Pay What You Can show on May 7 but the tickets are only $13 if you buy in advance. The show is strictly 21 and over, the theater wishes to emphasize (for legal reasons) that the gambling is NOT real or genuine and, if you do not wish to participate in any interactions with Keefee, he won’t press you to “play” with him….sounds sexy!
Also at the Jewel Box Theatre at The Rendezvous this weekend, and definitely on the sexy side, is a special west coast appearance by beloved comedy trio, Unitard featuring the sessy, sessy talents of Mike Albo, David Ilku and Nora Burns and their ribald, take-no-prisoners brand of frequently filthy comedy. You might have seen them on Logo or heard them on NPR, or been lucky enough to catch them in New York, but wherever they go they’ve become the darlings of in-the-know, comedy loving, gay scenesters and have received raves from the likes of Michael Musto in the Village Voice, who declared: “You’ll wet yourself, a saucy romp who’s stars should be on Saturday Night Live” (Who knew Michael Musto was into Golden Showers?) Unitard performs May 1 and May 2 at 8pm at the Rendezvous and Pony will be hosting a “Pre-Funk Tea Dance” in honor of the trio from 4pm to 7pm on Sunday with Mr Albo and Mr Ilku in attendance…I hate tea but I like the sound of this “Tea Dance”…will there be crumpets or scones?
Bat Boy needs your love…Other theater offerings that might wet your whistle include a production of the iconic cult camp classic and Weekly World News poster child inspired Bat Boy: The Musical at Meany Hall at UW now through May 9; Almost Live/Daily Show alum Lauren Weedman performs her latest monologue, No…You Shut Up at Richard Hugo House Thurs-Sat at 8pm through May 8…The Annex Theatre presents El Hijo Prodijo (The Prodigal Son) a one man show written and performed by José Amador that details his return to his native Puerto Rico after a 22 year absence. It opens Tuesday May 4 at 8pm and plays Tuesdays and Wednesdays through May 19…and last but not least, Seattle Shakespeare celebrates the Bard’s birthday with Bill’s Bash a fundraiser for the theater company on Monday May 3 at McCaw Hall starting at 5:30pm (that’s an odd date and time for a fundraiser, if you ask me…) that will feature a cabaret and silent auction…I encourage you to go and support them and give them money so they can replace that damn noisy platform they use as a set for their shows…it needs to be padded or rebuilt or something so the actors don’t sound like Clydesdales stomping around on stage…as for me, I’m stomping off to bed…Ciao bella.
-Michael Strangeways
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
