STAGE LISTINGS
REVIEW
Battle of Angels
COMPLETE LISTINGS AT WWW.BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM
Lauren LaBorde, Listings Editor listingsedit@gambitweekly.com 504.483.3110 FAX: 504.483.3116
THEATER DEBAUCHERY. Mid-City Theatre, 3540 Toulouse St., (504) 488-1460; www.midcitytheatre. com — Pat Bourgeois’ monthly soap opera follows an eccentric New Orleans family. Tickets $10. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Gambit > bestofneworleans.com > aPRiL 9 > 2013
THE HUNTING OF THE SNARK. Hi-Ho Lounge, 2239 St. Claude Ave., (504) 9454446; www.hiholounge.net — Skin Horse Theater reprises its stage adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s epic nonsense poem, in which a motley crew embarks on a journey to find a dangerous and elusive creature. Tickets $10. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday.
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LOCKDOWN. Ashe Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 569-9070; www.ashecac.org — Troi Bechet and Michael “Quess” Moore’s play explores the impact of education reform in postKatrina New Orleans. Tickets $15 general admission, $10 students and seniors. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through April 21. MISCASTED. Shadowbox Theatre, 2400 St. Claude Ave., (504) 298-8676; www.theshadowboxtheatre.com — The weekly revue takes excerpts from plays and songs from musicals and casts them using actors of different genders, ages or races than the written roles. Tickets $10. 7 p.m. Wednesday. MOLD. Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., (504) 528-3800; www.cacno.org — The third installment of John Biguenet’s trio of Hurricane Katrina plays is set in the summer after the levee failures, during which a young husband is forced to choose between his wife and the city he loves. Tickets $20-$35. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. MY WAY: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA. National World War II Museum, Stage Door Canteen, 945 Magazine St., (504) 528-1944; www.stagedoorcanteen.org — Four singers bring Sinatra’s
repertoire to life in the musical revue. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, through May 12. THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. Delgado Community College, City Park campus, 615 City Park Ave., (504) 671-5012; www.dcc.edu — The school stages its production of the rock musical on an outdoor stage in the center of campus, and there will be prop bags for audience participation for sale. Tickets $12 ground seating, $15 preferred seating. 8 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, through April 20. SORDID LIVES. Cutting Edge Theater, 747 Robert Blvd., Slidell, (985) 290-0760; www.cuttingedgeproductions. org — Brian Fontenot directs Del Shores’ cult classic play that follows a colorful Texas family as it confronts its demons while planning a funeral for the family matriarch. Tickets $20. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday through April 27. THIS SWEATY CITY. Shadowbox Theatre, 2400 St. Claude Ave., (504) 298-8676; www. theshadowboxtheatre.com — Goat in the Road Productions presents the debut of its serial radio show, which follows inhabitants of a water-laden city in which bicycles have personalities and bureaucratic offices operate on moving steamboats. Performances are recorded for podcasts. Tickets $10. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. WOLFBOY. Mid-City Theatre, 3540 Toulouse St., (504) 488-1460; www.midcitytheatre. com — Two teen boys share an adventure in a mental hospital in Brad Fraser’s play. Tickets $15. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday, through April 21.
BURLESQUE, CABARET & VARIETY BURLESQUE BALLROOM. Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bour-
Battle of Angels, recently staged at AllWays Lounge and Theatre, was Tennessee Williams’ first professionally produced play. Although it’s an early work, all of Williams’ strengths are there: the Gothic South, the everyday language that somehow rises to poetry and conflicts that teeter on the edge of melodrama. The story centers on Myra Torrance (Veronica Russell) and Val Xavier (Eli Grove). Myra runs a store in a small Mississippi town. Stricken with a cancerous tumor, her husband Jabe (Doug Mundy) lies on his deathbed upstairs and bangs on the floor with his cane when he wants something. A group of gossips (Nicole Gruter, Lilian Claire Dodenhoff, Patricia Raw and Rebecca Rae) gather in the store and serve as a sort of chorus. They are the first to notice Val, a stranger who arrives in town wearing a snakeskin jacket. Though the town is hardly a paradise, the snakeskin suggests temptation — judging by the women who act like teens swooning over a rock star. Vee Talbot (Rebecca Meyers) is a primitive-style painter who renders religious scenes that she receives in visions — a curious touch, since she is going blind. More important, her son Sheriff Talbott (Barry Bradford) is the heavy in the tale. Although all the women are attracted to Val, it’s the reckless, hard-drinking Cassandra Whiteside (Diana Shortez) who makes a play for him. She’s a rich carouser who says the two of them are soulmates and outsiders “of the fugitive kind.” When she gets too forward, however, he slaps her. Val is a drifter, which sounds romantic, but he is lonely and harbors a dark secret that forces him into a nomadic existence. Val wants a normal life, starting with a job as a salesman in Myra’s store. He’s a stranger and doesn’t know a thing about the business, but eventually she agrees to hire him. These characters are well-drawn although unsure of the undercurrent of romance between them. Russell and Grove play the complex growth of their love with delicate honesty. At the end, the dark secret that’s been haunting Val catches up with him, as does Sheriff Talbott. Death in the form of Jabe hobbles down the stairs on his cane carrying a gun. Val tries to escape and chaos ensues. Glenn Meche directed a top-notch cast and brought a rarely seen Williams play to life. — DALT WONK
bon St., (504) 553-2299; www. sonesta.com — Trixie Minx stars in the weekly burlesque show featuring the music of Romy Kaye and the Brent Walsh Jazz Trio. Call (504) 553-2331 for details. 11:50 p.m. Friday.
RAY NAGIN: THE GOING AWAY PARTY. Andrea’s Restaurant, 3100 19th St., Metairie, (504) 834-8583; www.andreasrestaurant.com — Comedian Chris Champagne and singer Philip Melancon present the satire aimed at the former mayor. Call (504) 330-9117 for reservations. Tickets $15. 8 p.m. Thursday.
OPERA MADAME BUTTERFLY. Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts, 1419 Basin St., (504) 525-1052; www.mahaliajacksontheater.com — In Puccini’s opera, a young geisha falls for and mar-
ries an American sailor who eventually abandons her. Visit www.neworleansopera.org for details. Tickets $35-$195 (plus fees). 8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
FAMILY RAPUNZEL. Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts, 325 Minor St., Kenner, (504) 461-9475; www. rivertowntheaters.com — Ricky Graham directs the spin on the children’s tale, in which the long-haired girl is a child of the ’60s with go-go dancing friends. Tickets $12-15. 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. SaturdaySunday, through April 21.
CALL FOR THEATER NEW ORLEANS BUR-
LESQUE FESTIVAL. The fifth annual festival (Sept. 19-21) accepts applications from performers including striptease dancers (male and female), singers, emcees, magicians, contortionists, aerialists, duos, troupes, novelty and other variety acts. Visit www.neworleansburlesquefest.com for details. Application deadline is May 26.
COMEdY ALLSTAR COMEDY REVUE. House of Blues Voodoo Garden, 225 Decatur St., (504) 310-4999; www.houseofblues.com — Leon Blanda hosts the stand-up comedy show with special guests and a band. Free admission. 8 p.m. Thursday. BITS & JIGGLES. Siberia, 2227 St. Claude Ave., (504)
265-8855 — The show mixes comedy and burlesque. Free admission. 9 p.m. Monday. BROWN IMPROV COMEDY. Rendon Inn’s Dugout Sports Bar & Grill, 4501 Eve St., (504) 826-5605; www.therendoninn. com — The local improv troupe performs its long-running show. Visit www.brownimprovcomedy. com for details. Tickets $10 general admission, $7 students. 9:30 p.m. Saturday. CHRIS & TAMI. The New Movement, 1919 Burgundy St.; www.newmovementtheater. com — Chris Trew and Tami Nelson perform an hourlong improvised comedy show. Tickets $5. 10:30 p.m. Friday. CHRIS D’ELIA. The Civic Theatre, 510 O’Keefe St., (504) 272-0865; www.civicnola. com — The comedian and actor from the NBC series Whitney records a one-hour standup special for Comedy Central. Tickets free via www.theblacklistnyc.com/ccnola. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. COMEDY BEAST. Howlin’ Wolf Den, 828 S. Peters St., (504) 522-9653; www. thehowlinwolf.com — The New Movement presents a stand-up comedy showcase. Free admission. 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. COMEDY CATASTROPHE. Lost Love Lounge, 2529 Dauphine St., (504) 944-0099; www.lostlovelounge.com — Cassidy Henehan hosts the weekly comedy showcase. Free admission. 9 p.m. Tuesday. COMEDY GUMBEAUX. Howlin’ Wolf Den, 828 S. Peters St., (504) 522-9653; www. thehowlinwolf.com — Local comedians perform, and amateurs take the stage in the open-mic portion. 8 p.m. Thursday. COMEDY NIGHT. Grit’s Bar, 530 Lyons St., (504) 899-9211 — Vincent Zambon hosts the free stand-up comedy showcase. 9 p.m. Thursday. COMEDY SPORTZ. La Nuit Comedy Theater, 5039 Freret St., (504) 231-7011; www. nolacomedy.com — The theater hosts an all-ages improv comedy show. Tickets $10. 7 p.m. Saturday. DREAM FANTASY CASTLE PRESENTS THE BAT. The New Movement, 1919 Burgundy St.; www.newmovementtheater.com — The troupe performs improv in the dark. Tickets $5. 9:15 p.m. Saturday. FEAR & LOATHING WITH GOD’S BEEN DRINKING. La Nuit Comedy Theater, 5039 Freret St., (504) 231-7011; www.nolacomedy.com — The