Considering the fact that most people think playwright Jane Martin is actually former Actors Theatre of Louisville artistic director Jon Jory, it's fascinating that Martin's expertise lies in creating smartly developed women characters.
Jory has always been Martin's spokesman and though he continually denies beingJane Martin, he has directed all the premieres of "her" plays. "Talking With …," a play of 11 10-minute monologues, gained Martin national recognition and won the American Theatre Critics Association Award for best regional play in 1982. It's been a popular regional staple ever since.
Resurrection Theater presents the play with 11 actresses taking on the wide range of characters, with the cast including Margaret Morneau, Susan Madden, Gay Cooper, Shaleen Schmutzer-Smith, Ruby Sketchley and Tara Henry. Shawn B. O'Neal directs. The last performances at the Artisan Theatre, 1901 Del Paso Blvd., are 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m Saturday. Tickets are $12-$15, available at www.resurrectiontheatre.com or (916) 838-0618.
To the bone
You can't blame the Bad Plus for maximizing a good idea or two. In making themselves into a kind of alternative jazz band (except for the major label thing with Columbia) they have smartly positioned themselves as a unique presence in mostly already marginalized jazz world: Act like a rock band and top it off by playing a bunch of reimagined rock tunes.
From early attention grabbers like covers of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Knowing Me Knowing You" by Abba, live explorations of "Heart of Glass" (Blondie) and "We Are the Champions" (Queen) to a recent album that added a vocalist and tunes like "How Deep Is Your Love" (Bee Gees) and "Barracuda" (Heart), the band broadly wandered the pop landscape with a cheeky, open-minded sensibility and solid jazz chops.
Now the band, consisting of pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson and drummer David King, has smartly hopped out of the corner they had backed into and has just released its first album of all-original material, "Never Stop."
The band stretches out at the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre at UC Davis for performances at 8 p.m. today and Saturday. Tickets are $19-$38. For information, call (866) 754-2787 or go to www.mondaviarts.org.
Go ask Alice
The intrepid band of young thespians known as Fairytale Town Troupers open their fifth season of clever mash-up mayhem with,b> "Alice in Boogie Wonderland." The comic take on Lewis Carroll's classic tale has Little Alice falling into Boogie Wonderland while following a White (suited) Rabbit. Alice finds the requisite assortment of quirky characters including the Disco Queen of Hearts and lots of music. These performances for children are in the Children's Theater at Fairytale Town.
Tickets for "Alice in Boogie Wonderland" can be purchased at the Fairytale Town main gate or at the entrance to the Children's Theater: Tickets are $1, and Fairytale Town members receive 2 for 1 admission.
Show times are 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and April 28 and 29. 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento. Call (916) 808-5233 or go to www.fairytaletown.org for more information.
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