THEATRE GUIDE SLEEPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BED Thru July 5 Wilkerson Theatre 1723 25th St. Sac 451-5822 This play takes audiences on an epic yet all-too relatable journey. From the frustrations of finding the edge of a Saran Wrap roll, to the farce of internet dating, it’s an exploration in the secret life of a newly divorced man. From the sacred to the scary, it’s sure to be an evening of humor and self-discovery.
NO EXIT by Jean-Paul Sartre
Vision Zero results in U.S. cities. Most programs were started just last year. Unfortunately, efforts to improve safety in the United States have often focused not on preventing crashes, but on protecting automobile occupants after crashes occur. Seat belts, airbags, headrests and collapsible steering wheels are all examples. These measures have saved lives, but they don’t help the most vulnerable road users: motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists. Pedestrians and cyclists are disproportionately represented as crash victims. We know many ways to prevent traffic crashes. Making it harder to drive drunk or impaired is doable. Reducing traffic speeds gives drivers and others more time to react and significantly reduces the severity of collisions. Strict enforcement would help. The casual acceptance of distracted driving needs to change. Better road and vehicle designs can be employed. Fear of traffic deters parents from sending their children off to school on foot. It discourages adults and kids
from going places by bike. Deaths and injuries from crashes cause immense emotional and physical pain. According to the American Automobile Association, the annual economic toll of crashes is nearly $300 billion. Adopting Vision Zero would be a way to bring about change. Getting to zero is unlikely to be done easily or quickly. Maybe it’s not even possible. But improvement is possible. Our region has made admirable progress in traffic safety, but far more could be done. Vision Zero programs for both the city and county could help reverse the poor track record the area has had for traffic safety. If done right, Vision Zero would save lives, reduce human suffering, decrease vehicle property damage and cut auto insurance rates. Other cities and countries are leading the way. We shouldn’t be left behind. Walt Seifert is a bicyclist, driver and transportation writer. He can be reached at bikeguy@surewest.net n
Thru July 25 Big Idea Theatre 1616 Del Paso Blvd. Sac 960-3036 BigIdeaTheatre.com Ushered in by an amused, lidless valet, three people take up residence in a windowless Second Empire drawing room. As they await their impending agony, they question each other about the individual reasons that brought them together, and soon discover that ultimate punishment….is having company. Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist nightmare takes on new (after) life in this unique multimedia production, which audaciously visualizes the inescapable external elements that define – and condemn ….. our identities.
UNCANNY VALLEY Thru July 19 Capital Stage 2215 J St. Sac 476-3116 CapStage.org Drawing on current research in artificial intelligence, robotics, and the possibility of “downloading” human consciousness as a means of extending the human lifespan, Uncanny Valley charts the relationship between Claire, a neuroscientist, and Julian, a non-biological human. Uncanny Valley explores the painful divide between creator and creation, the inherent unpredictability of consciousness, and how we are redefining what it means to be human in the 21st century.
MY MOTHER’S ITALIAN, MY FATHER’S JEWISH & I’M IN THERAPY! Thru July 19 24th Street Theatre 2791 24th St. Sac (855) 448-7469 This two-time award winning play created by Steve Solomon has met with rave reviews and great audience acclaim throughout the country. It is an evening of hysterical comedy topped off with 30+ voices of the most hilarious characters and situations you’ve ever see. All this brought to life by the comic genius of author Steve Solomon, starring Peter Fogel. One part lasagna, one part kreplach, and two parts Prozac. You don’t have to be Jewish or Italian to love the show. All you need to know is what it feels like to leave a family dinner with heartburn and a headache.
THE EXPLORER’S CLUB Thru July 26 B Street Theatre 2711 B St. Sac 443-5300 Set in London, 1879, the prestigious Explorers Club is in crisis: their acting president wants to admit a woman, and their bartender is terrible. True, this female candidate is brilliant, beautiful, and has discovered a legendary Lost City, but the decision to let in a woman could shake the very foundation of the British Empire….. and how do you make such a decision without a decent drink? Grab your safety goggles for some very mad science involving deadly cobras, irate Irishmen, and the occasional airship.
SUBMIT EVENTS TO ANIKO@INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM
ILP n INSIDEPUBLICATIONS.COM
53