San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
Dakin Adams (Jim Winker, right) has his head in the clouds; his dead son Spencer (Francis Gercke) wonders why.
- Photo by Daren Scott
The Tragedy of the Commons, the current Cygnet Theater Company world premiere by noted writer and Old Globe Theatre associate artist Stephen Metcalfe (who crafted the screenplay for Pretty Woman), has its moments, and director Sean Murray has Jim Winker and Veronica Murphy on all cylinders as the nerdy Dakin and his restless wife Macy.
The problem is that Metcalfe hasn’t supplied us with enough of Dakin’s back-story (and, indeed, the nature of his failures as a husband and father) to make him believable—the flap over the view thus doesn’t rise to the level of despair that marks Dakin’s gruesome end. Francis Gercke nails the role of dead son Spencer, and Tim West is great as neighbor Carl Men delson, but their efforts throw the show all the more out of balance amid Dakin’s lack of substance. Meanwhile, George Ye has created an outstanding sound design.
The play runs through Feb. 20 at Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. in Old Town. $24-$49. cygnettheatre.com
Opening
Big Daddy Is Here, a Play with Music: This piece is a nod to Muddy Waters, “Ma” Rainey and many other black artists who’ve figured prominently in the evolution of rock ’n’ roll and rhythm and blues. Opens Feb. 4 at Community Actors Theatre in City Heights. $12-$14. community actorstheatre.com
Steel Magnolias: Truvy Jones’ hair salon is a cultural center of Chinquapin, La.—a place where three generations of women can laugh, cry and celebrate together. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it opens in previews Feb. 4 at the Ione and Paul Harter Stage in Coronado. $28-$58. lambsplayers.org
Superior Donuts: Franco convinces Arthur to hire him with the dream of transforming Arthur’s doughnut stop into an upscale coffeehouse with live music and poetry slams. Produced by San Diego Repertory The atre, it opens in previews Feb. 5 at The Lyceum Space, Downtown. $35- $47. sdrep.org
The Man Who Laughs: The king carves a permanent smile on Gwynplaine’s face out of revenge for Gwynplaine’s father’s treachery. On Feb. 5 only at Patio Playhouse in Escondido. $10. patioplayhouse.org
Now playing
Seussical, the Musical: This piece integrates the storylines from more than 20 of Dr. Seuss’ works, using each town and species of creature as inspiration. Produced by Actors Conservatory Theatre, it runs through Feb. 5 at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre in the College Area. $12-$16. actsandiego.com
H The Threepenny Opera: Who’s the worse criminal—the man who robs a bank or the man who founds one? Produced by UCSD’s Department of Theatre and Dance, it runs through Feb. 5 at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre in La Jolla. $10-$20. theatre.ucsd.edu
Barefoot in the Park: Newlyweds Paul and Corrie Bratter learn to live together in a tiny New York apartment. Produced by Moonlight Stage Productions, it runs through Feb. 6 at Avo Playhouse in Vista. $30. moon lightstage.com
Shadowlands: This is the true story of educator-author C.S. Lewis and the student who leaves behind an abusive husband for him. Through Feb. 6 at Poway Performing Arts Center in Poway. $6-$10. powpac.org
* The Story of My Life: Author Thomas Weaver must use his only resource—his stories about former best friend Alvin Kelby—to find out where things went wrong between the two. Produced by San Diego Musical theatre, it runs through Feb. 6 at The Lyceum, Downtown. $30-$60. sdmt.org
* The Toughest Girl Alive: Oceanside’s Candye Kane performs her memoir of the same name, detailing her triumphs over countless adversities. Through Feb. 6 at MOXIE Theatre in the College Area. $22. moxietheatre.com
* Waving Goodbye: Lily Blue and her estranged mother manage to patch things up even as their lives are woefully incomplete. Through Feb. 6 at New Village Arts in Carlsbad. $20- $40. newvillagearts.org
* Two Pianos, Four Hands: Ted and George dream of classical-piano stardom and put up with just about everything to get there. Through Feb. 13 at North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach. $34-$41. northcoastrep.org
*Wonder Wounded Heroes: Dangerous skirmishes and Shakespeare mix as siblings face off over a mysterious past. Produced by Ion Theatre Company, it runs through Feb. 19 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn in Hillcrest. $10-$25. iontheatre.com
Shotgun Wedding Anniversary: What happens after 25 years in a less-than-blissful marriage? For Basil and Petals, it can mean murder. Through Feb. 26 at Mystery Cafe, in the Imperial House restaurant in Bankers Hill. $59.50, including dinner. mysterycafe.net
Death of a Salesman: Salesman Willy Loman promises his clients the moon but never delivers the same in his private life. Through Feb. 27 at The Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. $29-$67. oldglobe.org
* miXtape: Generation X was torn between disillusionment and hope in this cavalcade of music from the 1980s. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through Feb. 27 at the Horton Grand Theatre, Downtown. $28-$58. lambsplayers.org
* Jane Austen’s Emma—a Musical Romantic Comedy: A beautiful and clever young woman who prides herself on her matchmaking is clueless to her own feelings of love. Through March 6 at The Old Globe Theatre mainstage in Balboa Park. $39-$94. oldglobe.org
Leading Ladies: Leo falls in love with a dowager’s niece after a series of costume changes and mistaken identities. Through March 6 at Coronado Playhouse. $12.50-$25. coronadoplayhouse.com
