Review
“The Effect” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. See review.
Opening
“Chach” Snook and Jodi Darling appear in “The Last Five Years.”
“The Last Five Years” — Roadrunner Theatre, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. Jason Robert Brown’s score for this story of a love raveling and unraveling is a stunner. The couple is an up-and-coming New York writer and his struggling actress girlfriend. Brown uses an unusual style of storytelling: Cathy’s story is told in reverse, Jamie’s in chronological order. They are separate tales; the two meet only in the middle, when they marry — the only time the stories intersect. Sound complicated? It’s not. It is amazingly clear, and the music sticks with you. Mark Klugheit directs and Chach Snook and Jodi Darling star in the two-person play. Opening performance is 7 p.m. Aug. 3. Regular performances are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 26. $25. 207-2491 or roadrunnertheatrecompany.org.
Sara Jackson, Claire De La Vergne and Callie Hutchison, left to right, perform in “Agnes of God,” part of the Festival of Plays.
Festival of Plays — The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre, 738 N. 5th Ave, Suite 131. The Bennett TheatreLab’s Festival of Plays, featuring students taking classes at the school, brings two plays and a mime showcase to the stage. “Agnes of God,” by John Pielmeier, is about a nun who has been arrested after her infant was found strangled. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 and 4, and 2 p.m. Aug. 12. The cast is made up of Claire De La Vergne, Callie Hutchinson, and Sara Jackson. John Logan’s “Red” plays 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3 and 9 and 2 p.m. Aug. 5. It is about artist Mark Rothko in an intense conversation with his assistant about art and the commercialization of it. John Muller and Jorge Taborda are the players. The Mime & Scene Showcase features Grant Bashore and Rick Wamer. It is at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5 and 11, and 2 p.m. Aug. 4. Philip G. Bennett directs the productions. Tickets are $20 per performance, or $50 for a 3-day festival pass. 468-1664 or bennetttheatrelab.com.
Continuing
The delightfully silly “Gnatman” is at Gaslight Theatre. Expect eye-rolling wonderful humor and plenty of puns.
“Gnatman” — The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. The Gaslight brings back the thoroughly silly Peter Van Slyke play. And that’s a good thing. Here’s what the Star’s review had to say about the 2011 production: “Holy cornball, Gaslight’s done it again. ‘Gnatman’ has returned. And Gnatboy. And Gnatgirl. And all the bad guys. This isn’t a sequel, but essentially the same show that Gaslight presented about this time five years ago. It was funny then; it’s funny now. Oh, not a sophisticated, witty, Noel Coward kind of funny. No, this is Peter Van Slyke kind of funny — the writer/director of ‘Gnatman’ has made every other line a groaner.” Sometimes the jokes change, but the groanable humor we love rarely does. It is various times through Aug. 26. $21.95. 886-9428, thegaslighttheatre.com.
“Rockin’ Cinderella” — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Tucson playwright Richard Gremel takes the classic “Cinderella” tale and transfers it to the 1950s. The Burger Palace King throws a sock hop to find a girl for his son. Banned by her wicked stepmother from going, Cinderella’s fairy godmother comes to the rescue so Cinderella can go to the sock hop until midnight. She leaves a shoe behind and the Burger Palace Prince has to find the love of his life. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Sundays. Through Aug. 19. $10. 327-4242, livetheatreworkshop.org.
