When Benjamin Franklin meets Figaro on Whidbey Island, hilarity ensues
Published 5:03 pm Thursday, June 11, 2009
“Franklin &Figaro”: This is a story about the pursuit of liberty, fraternity and cold, hard cash.
Described as a revolutionary farce, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts’ production of “Franklin &Figaro” is set in 1776. It begins with Benjamin Franklin’s legendary arrival in France, which triggers a wave of whispers, shrieks and sighs, especially among the upper-crust society of Madame DuDeffand’s salon.
This action-packed story follows the high stakes adventures of Pierre Beaumarchais, the Parisian playwright who wrote “The Marriage of Figaro” and “The Barber of Seville.” As the aging Madame DuDeffand fights for control of her changing world, young upstart Beaumarchais runs guns for Franklin’s American Revolution while both pursue cash.
“Franklin &Figaro” opens at 7:30 tonight at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 27. Tickets are $12 to $16. Call 360-221-8268, or 800-638-7631 or go to www.WICAonline.com.
“Leading Ladies”: In this comedy, author Ken Ludwig succeeds with the old switcheroo.
The story spotlights two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, who are down on their luck and performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit. The two learn that an old lady is about to kick the bucket and plans to leave her fortune to two long-lost English nephews.
Jack and Leo plan to pass themselves off as those nephews. The web of deceit gets tangled when they discover the lady is expecting two nieces. The hilarity continues when Leo falls in love with the lady’s vivacious niece.
“Leading Ladies” opens at 8 tonight at Driftwood Players’ Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Shows are 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 28. Tickets are $23 and $20. Call 425-774-9600 or go to www.driftwoodplayers.com.
“Beau Jest”: This Act of God Drama Troupe production follows Sarah, a nice Jewish girl whose parents want her married to a nice Jewish boy. Her boyfriend, a Protestant executive, has yet to meet them.
She tells them she is dating a Jewish doctor and they insist on meeting him. She plans a dinner party and employs an escort service to send her a “Dr. Steinberg.” Instead of Steinberg, the service sends Bob Schroeder, an aspiring actor who is extremely convincing. Sarah’s parents are enraptured. Soon, even Sarah falls for Bob.
“Beau Jest” shows are 7:30 tonight and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Snohomish County PUD Auditorium, 2320 California St., Everett. Suggested donation is $10 and includes dessert. Group tickets are available by calling 425-355-9330 or go to www.ActsOfGodDramaTroupe.art.officelive.com.
“break/s”: Hip hop renaissance man Marc Bamuthi Joseph puts on his powerhouse performance called “the break/s,” a sort of mixed tape for stage that’s a combination of movement and theater performance art that The Washington Post called putting “sound and gesture on a single continuum of expression.”
Joseph does an 80-minute multimedia excursion, complete with movement, music, percussion and spoken word.
“break/s” opens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St., Seattle. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays through July 12. Tickets are $10 to $37.50. Call 206-292-7676 or go to www.acttheatre.org.
“Rent”: The return, limited engagement of “Rent” is coming to Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, featuring Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp and Gwen Stewart reprising the roles they originated on Broadway.
Set in NYC’s East Village, the musical makes modern the classic Puccini opera “La Boheme” by telling the story of a group of young artists learning to survive in Manhattan while falling in love and living for the moment.
“Rent” opens at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle. Performances are at various times through June 21. Tickets are $20 to $63. Call 206-292-2787 or go to ticketmaster.com, stgpresents.org or BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
“A Day of Dance”: Though Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2008-2009 season nears closing, the company still has more to offer with two additional full programs of dance that feature the students of the PNB School as well as the sixth annual Choreographers’ Showcase.
The 28th annual School Performance will include PNB’s students performing a new acquisition, the PNB premiere of George Balanchine’s “La Source.” Joyful and refined, “La Source” is set to Leo Delibes’ 1866 score for a French ballet with the same name. Like Edgar Degas’ 19th century paintings of the Paris Opera Ballet dancers, “La Source” pays homage to French Romantic ballet.
The choreographer’s showcase is an evening of seven original works by the next generation of choreographers, PNB company dancers and school faculty.
Both shows will be presented at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. (respectively) Saturday at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle. Tickets for the 28th annual PNB School Performance are $25 to $60 for adults, $15 to $60 for youth. Tickets for the sixth annual Choreographers’ Showcase are $10 to $20. Call 206-441-2424 or go to www.pnb.org.
“The Swashbuckle Sisters”: When the Swashbuckle parents are kidnapped by the Pirate Queen, the Swashbuckle Sisters and their brother, Rusty, must rescue them.
They end up in another century and enlist the help of the Melt family. Sword fights, a hip hop dance and lots of crazy characters add to the sisters’ search for the Pirate Queen’s sword — the only thing that can save their parents.
“The Swashbuckle Sisters” opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Stone Soup Theatre, 4029 Stone Way N., Seattle. Shows are at various times through June 21. Tickets are $14. Call the box office at 800-838-3006 or go to www.brownpapertickets.com or www.stonesouptheatre.com.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424, goffredo@heraldnet.com.
