San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
No matter how hard they try, lovers Kasimir (Zach Martens) and Karoline (Jenni Putney) can't stop arguing.
- Photo by Manuel Rotenberg
dn von Horváth’s story about a couple’s dashed romantic hopes in a corrupt Munich is appropriately set in an amusement park and a beer hall, with their escapist, take-yourchances atmospheres, yet Gaeun Kim’s threadbare set design and director Larissa Lury’s methodical treatments don’t keep up with the spirit of such locales.
I get that Lury’s trying to tailor the acting to a particular style, with its long pauses and loud vocals, but the dialogue is too contentious and the topics (gender equality, the economy, society’s dishonesty) too numerous for those kinds of affectations. Cate Campbell and Zach Martens rise to the occasion, coloring their respective Emcee and Kasimir characters with the right haughtiness. Meanwhile, Lury tells us an interesting story—now, she’s gotta show it, through greater noise levels and bigger crowd backdrops.
Through Nov. 20 at the Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre (formerly the Mandell Weiss Forum Studio) on UCSD’s Scholars Drive. $8-$20. the atre.ucsd.edu
Opening
Reasons to Be Pretty: Four young working-class friends and lovers dish about their dissatisfaction with their dead-end lives and relationships. Produced by UCSD’s Department of Theatre and Dance, it opens Nov. 17 at the Arthur Wagner Theatre on the UCSD campus. Free. theatre.ucsd.edu
Joe turner’s Come and Gone: Harold Loomis is searching for his lost wife in order to make himself whole. Produced by the UCSD Department of Theatre and Dance, it opens Nov. 19 at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre on the UCSD campus. $8-$15. theatre.ucsd.edu
Paradise Hotel: Pinglet and his best friend’s wife, Marcelle, scramble to cover their tracks during their romantic rendezvous at the seedy Paradise Hotel. Produced by the SDSU School of Theatre, Television and Film, it opens Nov. 19 at the Don Powell Theatre on the SDSU campus. $13-$15. theatre.sdsu.edu
Storyville: Butch Brown and Tigre Savoy might have made a good couple, but the political machine of 1917 New Orleans had other plans. Produced by San Diego Repertory Theatre, it’s in previews now and opens Nov. 19 at The Lyceum Theatre Downtown. $34-$55. sdrep.org
Picturing My Sister: A young woman prepares for her sister’s wedding—but she can’t marry amid her love for another woman. Opens Nov. 19 at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. $15. newvillagearts.org
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!: The asshole is at it again this year, making life miserable for the residents of Whoville until the spirit of the season hits him. Opens Nov. 20 at The Old Globe Theatre mainstage in Balboa Park. $20-$77. oldglobe.org
Ruined: A Congolese entrepreneur runs a canteen where soldiers can meet up with women (for a price) as war looms. Now in previews, it opens Nov. 21 at the Mandell Weiss Theatre in La Jolla. $31-$66. lajol laplayhouse.org
Now Playing
Actos: Three Luis Valdez satires illustrate the plight of farm workers and misplaced cultural identities. Produced by the Visual and Performing Arts Department of CSU, San Marcos, it runs through Nov. 19 at Arts 111 of the CSUSM campus. $5-$10. csusm.edu/communications
* Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: The genteel Henry Jekyll whips up a potion that turns him into the cantankerous Edward Hyde, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. Produced by Ion Theatre Company, it runs through Nov. 20 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn in Hillcrest. $21-$25. iontheatre.com
Machinal: As humdrum Helen begins to discover her own wants and needs, her life takes a turn toward the unthinkable. Through Nov. 20 at the MiraCosta College Theatre in Oceanside. $8-$12. miracosta.cc.ca.us
The Spitfire Grill: A feisty parolee follows her dreams to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s grill, which she raffles off. Through Nov. 20 at The Poway Performing Arts Company in Poway. $15- $17. powpac.org
* True West: Two estranged brothers reverse roles in their lives, with near death the result. Produced by Lotus Theatre, it runs through Nov. 20 at Urban Grind coffeehouse in Hillcrest. $15. lotustheatrestory.com
* Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins: Horace Poore comes to terms with his sexuality during some pretty serious events of the 1970s. Through Nov. 21 at Diversionary Theatre in University Heights. $31-$33. diversionary.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 Nov. 21 at The Horton Grand Theatre, Downtown. $28-$58. lambsplayers.org
* The Rocky Horror Show: Janet and Brad blow a tire and come across a madman with an evil plan for the galaxy. Through Nov. 27 at OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista. $20. onstageplayhouse.org
Bram Stoker’s Dracula: The Big Guy finds himself in a frantic search for the human blood that means the difference between life and death. Through Nov. 28 at The Coronado Playhouse, 1835 Strand Way in Coronado. $18-$25. coronadoplayhouse.com
* The Crucible: Five Massachusetts Bay girls set Salem Town on its ear when they claim to have been visited by the Devil. Co-produced by MOXIE Theatre and Intrepid Shakespeare Company, it runs through Dec. 5 at The Rolando Theatre in the College Area. $20. moxietheatre.com, intrepidshakespeare.com
Deathtrap: How far will somebody go to pass off a hit play as his own? Produced by Scripps Ranch Theatre, it runs through Dec. 11 at the Legler Benbough Theatre on the campus of Alliant international University in Scripps Ranch. $10-$22. scrippsranchtheatre.org
Shotgun Wedding Anniversary: What happens after 25 years in a less-than-blissful marriage? For Basil and Petals, it can mean murder. Through Dec. 24 at Mystery Cafe, in the Imperial House restaurant in Bankers Hill. $59.50, including dinner. mysterycafe.net
