notes from the underground san diego play

Meanwhile, an adjacent Playhouse venue is running Yale Repertory Theatre’s Notes from Underground, Robert Woodruff’s adaptation of the acclaimed Fyodor Dostoyevsky novella— and here, I’m using the term “underground” advisedly. The Man (Bill Camp), who’s quit his civil-servant post to live in snowy isolation and madness, says man is basically a stupid, greedy, ungrateful poopface, then pulls several isolated incidents out of his ass to prove it. The situations he describes show up the accused for the idiots they are, but in no way do their offenses justify his obsessive scrutiny, let alone his derangement. Many say Camp is wonderful in the role, and if you like one-dimensional characters, I suppose that’s true. Meanwhile, the show experienced a technical burp the day I saw it; during the break, the lady next to me quipped, “They went to look for a script.” No word on whether they found one. Sheesh. Through Oct. 17 at the Potiker Theatre in La Jolla. $31-$66. lajollaplayhouse.org

OPENING

Welcome to Arroyo’s: Alejandro and his sister Molly discover what might be a secret about their mother that could change the foundation of their lives and, possibly, the history of hip-hop. Now in previews, it opens Sept. 30 at The Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. $29-$67. oldglobe.org

Romeo and Juliet: Two crazy Italian kids fall in love and pay for it with their lives in the middle of a family feud. Produced by Intrepid Shakespeare Company, it’s in previews and opens Oct. 1 at The Roundabout Theatre in Encinitas. $15- $25. intrepidshakespeare.com

The Road to Mecca: An eccentric widow is the target of a minister’s battle for her future. Produced by San Diego Repertory Theatre, it’s in previews and opens Oct. 1 at The Lyceum Space, Downtown. $29- $47. sdrep.org

NOW PLAYING

Brighton Beach Memoirs: Fifteenyear-old Eugene can’t think about much else except playing for the Yankees—and girls. Through Nov. 7 in repertory with

Broadway Bound, its sequel, at the Old Globe Theatre mainstage in Balboa Park. $29-$85. oldglobe.org

Jack Goes Boating: A limo driver’s romance with a funeral-home worker inspires him to take cooking and swimming lessons and more while his best friend’s marriage hits rough waters. Produced by Ion Theatre Company, it runs through Oct. 9 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn in Hillcrest. $10-$25. iontheatre.com

miXtape: Life was just beginning for Generation X in this musical look at the 1980s. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through Oct. 24 at The Horton Grand Theatre, Downtown. $28-$58. lambsplayers.org

The Norman Conquests: This trilogy of full-length comedies (Table Manners, Round and Round the Garden, Living Together), performed in rotating repertory, focuses on Norman and his oddball in-laws. Produced by Cygnet Theatre Company, the program runs through Nov. 7 at The Old Town Theatre in Old Town. $24-$29. cygnettheatre.org

Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin: Soaring success and a fall from grace marked the career of the man who changed motion pictures forever. Through Oct. 17 at the Mandell Weiss Theatre in La Jolla. $44-$80. lajollaplayhouse.org

The Man next door

Notes from Underground and the rest of this week's theater listings

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