Jeryn Pasha, David Persson, Lydia O’Day and Mike Merz in Red Curtain’s production of “The Real Inspector Hound,” opening Oct. 19 in Marysville. (Photo by Larry T. Lisk)

Jeryn Pasha, David Persson, Lydia O’Day and Mike Merz in Red Curtain’s production of “The Real Inspector Hound,” opening Oct. 19 in Marysville. (Photo by Larry T. Lisk)

‘Anything can happen’ during Red Curtain’s evening of one-acts

See two productions — “The Real Inspector Hound” and “The Actor’s Nightmare” — at the Marysville theater.

Two for the price of one is always intriguing, especially when it comes to arts events.

That’s what Red Curtain Theatre is offering with its evening of one acts, performances of “The Real Inspector Hound” and “The Actor’s Nightmare,” opening this weekend.

The works are by two well-known playwrights, written respectively by Tom Stoppard and Christopher Durang.

“The Real Inspector Hound” is one of Stoppard’s earliest works, written in 1968, part of a career that has spanned five decades.

Stoppard was “sort of writing a satire on how critics view themselves in the world of theater,” said Joe Goins, who is directing the production.

Critics can sometimes be pedantic and often feel as if they have more influence than they actually do, he said.

The play involves theater critics watching a play who begin having a conversation as the play is ongoing amidst a performance that involves a rather complicated who done it?

“It doesn’t quite verge on slapstick, but it is a lot of knee-jerk humor,” Goins said.

The rather intricate storyline is typical of Stoppard’s works, he said.

“We’ve got to have seven different layers,” ” Goins said. “It sounds really convoluted when you try to tell the story but makes complete and total sense when you see it on stage.”

He said he has tinkered some with the play, changing its setting from England to New Jersey. Actors speak in a mix of Jersey, Bronx and Midwestern accents, and they Americanize some colloquialisms.

Durang’s “The Actor’s Nightmare” is one of a series of short plays he has authored.

Goins summarizes it this way: “Absurd, surreal type of dreamscape insanity.”

It involves a man who is an accountant, not aspiring to be an actor, but thrust into a situation where he has to perform on stage in plays without having any rehearsals.

Although not steeped in theater, the character approaches his dilemma with a “I’ll try to make the best of it” philosophy, Goins said.

“The whole play, you’re kind of winking at the audience,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun, and we’re having fun doing it.”

Don’t expect the expected. Even the ending has a twist with two curtain calls, one written into the end of the script and then one for the cast.

The cast of eight act in both plays.

Audiences should be prepared for an evening of both comedy and absurdity.

“It is absurdly entertaining,” Goins said. “Anything can happen and probably will.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

If you go

What: An Evening of One-Acts featuring “The Real Inspector Hound” and “The Actor’s Nightmare”

When: Oct. 19 to Nov. 4, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays

Where: Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave., Suite J, Marysville

Tickets: $18 adults or $15 seniors, students and military

More: 360-322-7402 or www.redcurtainfoundation.org

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

The Moonlight Swing Orchestra will play classic sounds of the Big Band Era on April 21 in Everett. (submitted photo)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Relive the Big Band Era at the Port Gardner Music Society’s final concert of the season in Everett.

2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD (Honda)
2024 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport AWD

Honda cedes big boy pickup trucks to the likes of Ford, Dodge… Continue reading

Would you want to give something as elaborate as this a name as mundane as “bread box”? A French Provincial piece practically demands the French name panetiere.
A panetiere isn’t your modern bread box. It’s a treasure of French culture

This elaborately carved French antique may be old, but it’s still capable of keeping its leavened contents perfectly fresh.

(Judy Newton / Great Plant Picks)
Great Plant Pick: Mouse plant

What: Arisarum proboscideum, also known as mouse plant, is an herbaceous woodland… Continue reading

Bright green Japanese maple leaves are illuminated by spring sunlight. (Getty Images)
Confessions of a ‘plantophile’: I’m a bit of a junky for Japanese maples

In fact, my addiction to these glorious, all-season specimens seems to be contagious. Fortunately, there’s no known cure.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited (Hyundai)
2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited

The 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Limited is a sporty, all-electric, all-wheel drive sedan that will quickly win your heart.

The 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T hybrid’s face has the twin red lines signifying the brand’s focus on performance. (Dodge)
2024 Hornet R/T is first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge

The all-new compact SUV travels 32 miles on pure electric power, and up to 360 miles in hybrid mode.

Don’t blow a bundle on glass supposedly made by the Henry William Stiegel

Why? Faked signatures, reused molds and imitated styles can make it unclear who actually made any given piece of glass.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.