Curtain call

Ion Theatre Company's All in the Timing heads our rundown of plays in local production

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Third time’s a charm: You have to go see Steven Lone and Karson St. John in Ion Theatre Company’s “The Universal Language,” about a fraudster who peddles a phony program to unite the world—and while you’re at it, stay for the other five David Ives sketches that make up All in the Timing, by now something of an Ion signature. Brian Mackey and Timing veteran Kim Strassburger round out the quartet, whose knack for stream-of-consciousness portrayal is nowhere more evident than in “Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread.” This is the third time Ion has produced the piece—and it’s just as funny and ironical as the other two. All in the Timing plays through May 29 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn, 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest. $10-$25. www.iontheatre.com.

Opening

King John: The tragic King of England is poisoned just as political intrigue seems to have run its course. Produced by Intrepid Shakespeare Company, it’s in previews and opens May 15, in repertory with Intrepid’s The Taming of the Shrew, at The Theatre, Inc., 899 C St., Downtown. $15-$25. www.intrepidshakespeare.com.

The Whipping Man: Secrets of the past threaten to destroy a family as a Jewish Confederate soldier returns home in the Civil War’s final days. Now in previews, it opens May 13 at The Old Globe Theatre’s White Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. $29-$55. www.oldglobe.org.

Now Playing

* Golda’s Balcony: The Yom Kippur War of 1973 is the backdrop for the story of Golda Meir, from her days as a Russian immigrant to an American schoolteacher to Israeli prime minister. Through May 30 at The Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. $35-$77. www.oldglobe.org.

Moscow: Trapped in limbo, three gay men stage a musical production of Chekhov’s The Three Sisters. Through May 30 at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights. $31-$35. www.diversionary.org.

* Night of the Laughing Dead: A bunch of crazies gear up for the world’s first live broadcast of a full-length horror film. Ongoing dinner theater at The Imperial House Restaurant, 505 Kalmia St., Bankers Hill. $59.50, $10 off on Fridays. www.mysterycafe.net.

* The Rivalry: The nation’s destiny hangs in the balance as Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas get ready to rumble. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through May 23 at The Ione and Paul Harter Stage, 1142 Orange Ave. in Coronado. $26-$48. www.lambsplayers.org.