From there, let’s move toward debauchery and satire: In Spirits Willing (September 28-October 15), the PLAYERS’ RING presents a concoction of a lusty woman, a large-phallused man, a dog named Quido, a lover, a hag, and a bottle of excellent brandy. Then there’s the GOOD THEATER’S season opener, and what sounds like a glorious send-up, Ruthless: a musical that lampoons The Bad Seed, All About Eve, Gypsy, Valley of the Dolls, and The Women. Whew!
Now, for the more kid-friendly: The CHILDREN’S THEATER OF MAINE has entered into partnership with the Children’s Museum of Maine, and will present Odd at Sea — a pirates-and-mermaids epic — in the museum’s Dress Up Theatre (October 6-October14). Autumn will also bring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, to PORTLAND PLAYERS, and a youth production of Alice and Wonderland to the THEATER PROJECT (October 26-November 4).
Finally, I leave you with theater for civic engagement: ROIL will collaborate with PORTLAND HIGH’S CIVIL RIGHTS TEAM to write and perform two original plays; ADD VERB’S theatrical call for open teen talk about sex, When Turtles Make Love, returns for limited runs in Portland and Burlington, Vermont; and OPEN WATERS PRODUCTIONS will present The Fever (late November, at Zero Station), a solo show in which one character comes to terms with his/her role in global economics.
Email the author
Megan Grumbling: mgrumbling@hotmail.com
