This week is hopping with a couple of openings and, especially, the Tucson Fringe Fest.
Opening
“The Grapes of Wrath” — The Rogue Theatre. See story.
Tucson Fringe Festival — Various locations. Check out the website for details and times on the 20 plays that will be performed over three days and six venues. New works by artists from across the country. This is a must-go for lovers of new, experimental works, or just old plain lovers of theater. Jan. 12-14. $10. 261-4851, tucsonfringe.org
“Sex Please, We’re Sixty” — Roadrunner Theatre Company, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. This farce by Michael and Susan Parker has the older audience in mind. The story: Mrs. Stancliffe is prim, proper and not easily amused by her neighbor, who has dubbed himself “Bud the Stud.” She runs an inn that sees the mostly-female clients return year after year. Bud thinks they are all there to be wooed and seduced by him. Mrs. Stancliffe will tolerate Bud because, well, he could be right, which would make him good for business. Another neighbor, Henry, has pursued Mrs. Stancliffe for 20 years. He is a retired chemist and has developed a pill that will increase the libido of menopausal women — maybe that will be what finally gets Mrs. Stancliffe to say yes. Michael F. Woodson directs. Performances are 7 p.m. Jan. 12, 13 and 19; 2-4 p.m. Jan. 14. Through Feb. 4. $20. 207-2491.
Reviews
The House of Blue Leaves — Live Theatre Workshop. See story.
A Delicate Ship — Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. Something Something Theatre Company stages an uneven production of Anna Ziegler’s talk-heavy play about three twentysomethings and love. Sarah and her boyfriend, Sam, are hanging at home on Christmas Eve when an old friend of her’s, Nate, knocks on the door. He’s there to profess his love for Sarah. Sam’s not particularly cool with that. Neither is Sarah. What follows is a time-jumping memory play that should captivate.
But this Joan O’Dwyer-directed production is too earnest and devoid of the humor needed to lighten the intense conversations and heavy topics.
The talented Shira Elena Maas — she was Eva Peron in Arizona Repertory Theatre’s production of “Evita” last season — does some fine work. But Stephen Dunham (Sam) and Nicholas Watts (Nate) are both fairly inexperienced actors, and it showed.
Maas is headed to Chicago soon, so this may be your last chance to catch her on a Tucson stage. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12, 13, 19; 2 p.m. Jan. 14. Continues through Jan. 21. $18-$22. 468-6111.
Continuing
Deputy Jan — Roadrunner Theater, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. This one’s for the kids: It’s the Old West. Robbers, cattle wranglers and gamblers roam wild across the untamed Sonoran Desert, making the small town of Dustville easy prey. Only one woman can stand in their way: Deputy Jan, the cowardly deputy. Written by Tucsonan Richard Gremel. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $8. 207-2491.
