Opening
Gnatman! โ The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E. Broadway. The Gaslight brings back the thoroughly silly Peter Van Slyke play. And thatโs a good thing. Hereโs what the Starโs review had to say about the 2011 production:
โHoly cornball, Gaslightโs done it again. โGnatman!โ has returned. And Gnatboy. And Gnatgirl. And all the bad guys. This isnโt a sequel, but essentially the same show that Gaslight presented about this time five years ago. It was funny then; itโs funny now. Oh, not a sophisticated, witty, Noel Coward kind of funny. No, this is Peter Van Slyke kind of funny โ the writer/director of โGnatman!โ has made every other line a groaner. Physical humor is integral. Puns are plentiful. Bad puns, but, you know, funny. We say this with affection; we canโt help ourselves, we sorta laugh when a character says โMr. Dale, I believe I know your brother, Chippen.โโ
Sometimes the jokes change, but the groanable humor we love rarely does. It is at various times through Aug. 26. $21.95. 886-9428, thegaslighttheatre.com.
Last Chance
Drew Kallen-Keck and Bree Boyd play multiple sets of parents in Live Theatre Workshopโs production of โMiss Witherspoon,โ being staged through June 9.
Miss Witherspoon — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Christopher Durang. Just saying the playwright’s name can conjure up laughter, dark images and plays with substance. Those three things are in Durang’s “Miss Witherspoon,” Live Theatre Workshop’s current offering, which is a complete hoot. Miss Witherspoon has killed herself, and in Durang’s dark universe, why wouldn’t she? But there’s a hitch: She’s sent back to Earth to learn what life has to offer. She’s not happy about it. An Indian spirit guide helps. Lesley Abrams and Carlisle Ellis lead the cast, which also consists of Bree Boyd, Drew Kallen-Keck and Carley Preston. Final performances are 7:30 p.m. June 7 and 8; 3 p.m. June 9. $20. 327-4242. Livetheatreworkshop.org.
Disney’s Aladdin Jr. — Ironwood Ridge High School, 2475 W. Naranja Drive. Spotlight Youth Productions, Oro Valley’s youth theater, stages the abbreviated musical based on the folk tale “Aladdin and his Magic Lamp.” Final performances are 7 p.m. June 8 and 9. $10. 360-9812, spotlightyouthproductions.com
Continuing
Murder at the Howard Johnson’s — The Community Players Theatre, 1881 N. Oracle Road. Ron Clark and Sam Bobrick penned this play about Arlene, married to Paul but in love with Mitchell. She’s convinced Paul will never give her a divorce. Murder may be the only way out. Performances are 7:30 p.m. June 8, 9, 2 p.m. June 10. Continues through June 17. $15. 887-6239, communityplayerstucson.org.
