The Boulevard Theatre's cozy studio space is perfect for the intimate comedies staged by Artistic Director Mark Bucher. The theater group opens its season Sept. 19 with the Midwest premiere of Yasmina Reza's Life (x) 3. It is precisely the kind of emotionally affecting comedy that does so well in this setting.
Joe Drilling and Jamieson Hawkins play a couple named Henry and Sonia. Henry, who has done a great deal of research in astrophysics, invites a noted astrophysicist and his wife over for dinner to discuss matters that pertain to a promotion he has been seeking. When the astrophysicist (Siddhartha Valicharla) and his rebellious wife (Rachel Lewandowski) arrive a day too early, Henry and Sonia are not prepared. And things unravel from there. Two couples try to make the best of the evening, a feat made more difficult since they neither like nor respect each other. Over a dinner of potato chips, chocolate fingers and wine, they proceed to trade insults.
There are many untested elements at play here. This will be the first Midwest staging of Life (x) 3. And the ensemble for this production hasn't done extensive work together. Valicharla has made memorable appearances in past Boulevard shows, but he hasn't made it to the stage in a while. Drilling, who offers a smooth, professional presence that should be an interesting fit for the young astrophysicist, will be making his Boulevard debut. They join the more familiar talents of Hawkins and Lewandowski in a dynamic that should be a great deal of fun.
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The Boulevard Theatre's production of Life (x) 3 runs Sept. 19-Oct. 14. For ticket reservations, call 414-744-5757.
Theater Happenings
- Two girls on roller skates play two guys starting a punk band in the '80s as The World's Stage Theatre Company presents Punkplay. Fly Steffens directs the Gregory S. Moss drama starring Liz Leighton and Emily Rindt as teenagers searching for meaning in a suburban wasteland. The show runs Sept. 6-8 at Cream City Collectives and Sept. 13-15 at Bucketworks. For ticket reservations, visit Brownpapertickets.com.
- Steven Dietz's Rocket Man, another play about the search for meaning, opens with a man attempting to sell all of his possessions. Soulstice Theatre opens its season with this interesting production, which runs Sept. 7-22. For ticket reservations, call 414-481-2800.
