Whidbey theater tackles Ayckbourn’s ‘Conquests’

“The Norman Conquests”: Whidbey Island Center for the Arts is taking on the masterpiece trilogy of English playwright Alan Ayckbourn and presenting “The Norman Conquests” which opens tonight in Langley.

This torrid tale is packaged in three separate plays that can be seen individually or all together.

Each of the three plays — “Table Manners,” “Living Together” and “Round and Round the Garden” — is set in a different room of an English country house. Each play tells a variation on the same story but given a different perspective by the setting of the room.

All three are comedies based on the desires of Norman, a librarian who has lingered a little too long in the erotica section and whose goal now is to make a conquest of three women at an English country house during one July weekend.

There are six characters: Annie, who owns the house and lives there as caretaker to her aging mother; Sarah, who is visiting with her husband, Reg; Norman, who is visiting with his wife, Ruth. Annie, Reg and Ruth are siblings. And there’s Tom, Annie’s veterinarian neighbor, who may or may not be in love with Annie.

The plays will be presented by WICA in the order Ayckbourn presented them. Then, when the showes close June 22, WICA will perform all three plays on that day.

“The Norman Conquests” opens at 7:30 tonightat Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees through June 21. All three plays will be presented starting at 11 a.m. June 22.

Tickets are $15, $18 and $22; and $45 for all three plays on Trilogy day June 22. Go to wicaonline.com or call 360-221- 8268 or 800-638-7631.

Edmonds Center for the Arts new 2013-2014 season: For its seventh performance season, ECA is mixing it up with music and dance artists, comedy and theater.

The season begins in October and runs through May. Full season subscriptions are available starting at $411. Call the ECA box office at 425-275-9595. Multi-ticket packages will be available June 20 and single tickets go on sale Aug. 1.

The lineup:

The Capitol Steps: Oct. 5. This irreverent troupe pokes fun of the political events of the day.
Malama Ko Aloha: Keep Your Love with Keola Beamer, R. Carlos Nakai, Geoffrey Keezer, and Moanalani Beamer: Oct. 25. Against a backdrop of powerful images on the screen, the audience will be treated to stories and music from Hawaiian history and legend.
Rufus Wainwright: Oct. 28. Grammy nominated vocalist and songwriter.
An Evening with Jim Brickman: Nov. 9. This pianist brings solo melodies and hit songs.
Seattle International Comedy Competition: Nov. 20. Nationally recognized comedians are part of this regional touring festival.
Sing-A-Long Sound of Music Nov. 30. This interactive family event features “The Sound of Music.”
Take 6: Nov. 11. Listen to syncopated rhythms of gospel, jazz and R&B.
Turtle Island Quartet with Nellie McKay: Jan. 17. Watch McKay on piano, mallets, and ukulele backed by Turtle Island rhythmic techniques.
Menopause the Musical: Jan. 22 and 23. An all-female cast finds the lighter side of hot flashes, night sweats and chocolate binges.
California Guitar Trio and Montreal Guitar Trio: Jan. 25. Be wowed by this virtuosic six-guitar experience.
Judy Collins with Passenger String Quartet: Jan. 30. Still singing after 50 years, Collins is joined by a Northwest group originally formed by the Seattle Rock Orchestra.
Lunasa: Feb. 15. Fiddles and flutes are part of this Celtic music experience.
Project Trio: March 1. A classical trio that also performs hard-driving jazz, hip-hop and rock.
Forbidden Broadway: March 15. For Broadway fans this show brings you amazing costumes, impressions of your favorite stars and funny rewrites of your favorite Broadway tunes.
Kurt Elling: March 20. Jazz improvisation, scat, spoken word and poetry.
Alpin Hong: March 26. Hong combines piano skill and humor.
Wailin’ Jennys: April 11. These women present folk harmonies and tug at your heart lyrics.
Theatre of Illusion: April 26. A combination of drama, comedy, romance and illusion in a high-tech stage show.
Bodyvox: May 3. A combination of imagery, athleticism and humor in the genres of dance, theater and film.
Chanticleer: May 8. Voices blend renaissance, gospel and new music.
Yesterday and Today: May 17. The audience creates the playlist in this interactive concert of Beatles music.