Briefs: Theater, music and more
Theater
‘IRMA VEP’ SHOWCASES
QUICK-CHANGE COMEDY
A sympathetic werewolf, a vampire and an Egyptian princess — to say nothing of a British Egyptologist, his (second) wife, a maid and a swineherd — populate “The Mystery of Irma Vep,” which opens a three-weekend run tonight at Las Vegas Little Theatre.
There’s just one twist: Only two actors play all the roles.
Actually, there’s more than one twist — which is part of the fun of Charles Ludlam’s lunatic spoof of Gothic thrillers.
The comedy focuses on Lord Edgar, a British Egyptologist who’s haunted by the memory of his first wife, Irma Vep — despite the lively presence of his second wife, Lady Enid, at the family manor, Mandacrest . Also in on the action: the Mandacrest staff, plus assorted characters who’ve sprung from an ancient Egyptian tomb.
Tony Blosser and Troy Tinker play the roles; Troy Heard directs.
“The Mystery of Irma Vep” will be presented at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Las Vegas Little Theatre, 3920 Schiff Drive; additional performances are 8 p.m. April 4-6 and 11-13, with 2 p.m. matinees April 6, 7 and 14.
For tickets ($24 general, $21 students and seniors), call 362-7996 or go online to www.LVLT.org.
Music
GUITARIST COOK
PLAYS HENDERSON
Buoyed by acclaim for his eighth studio recording, “The Blue Guitar Sessions,” award-winning Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook brings his “Blue Guitar” tour to the Henderson Pavilion tonight.
Cook may be known as a flamenco specialist, but “Blue Guitar” expresses quieter, more intimate emotions, according to the guitarist, who says Adele’s “21” inspired the “blue mood” recording.
“It was the simplicity of it,” Cook says in an Internet interview, explaining his goal to create a “much more personal album.”
As a result, “it’s a big departure from the work I have done in the past,” he says, “and there’s a fear that if you do something drastically different, will there still be someone there to listen to it if you change?”
He’ll find out when he performs at 8 tonight at the Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway. Tickets ($10-$20) are available by phone at 267-4849 or online at www.HendersonLive.com.
Dramatic reading
‘POURING TEA’ EXPLORES
BLACK GAY EXPERIENCE
Coming of age — and coming out — are two of the topics explored in “Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell Their Tales.”
Performance artist — and Northwestern University professor — E. Patrick Johnson will present the free dramatic reading Thursday night at the Clark County Library.
In the program, Johnson embodies the lives of various Southern residents, ages 19 to 93, who tell their stories in Johnson’s book “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South — An Oral History.”
The performance will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. For more information, call 507-3459 or go to the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s website at www.lvccld.org.
Music/dance
AWARD-WINNING IVERIA
BRINGS GEORGIA TO LV
They’ve got Georgia on their minds.
But not the U.S. state of Georgia.
Instead, it’s Europe’s Georgia — a sovereign nation since the dissolution of the Soviet Union — that Iveria will salute Saturday afternoon at the Winchester Cultural Center.
The award-winning Georgian national music and dance ensemble — directed by David Rusiya and choreographed by Irakli Rusiya — performs poignant songs and fiery dances from several regions of Georgia, which is situated south of the Caucasus mountains and borders on the Black Sea.
Iveria will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 McLeod Drive. For tickets ($10 in advance, $12 on the day of the show), call 455-7340.
— By CAROL CLING
