OPENING
BLOOD RELATIONS | Flat Earth Theatre presents Sharon Pollock's 1980 drama about Lizzie Borden and her ax. Lizzie's parents, Andrew and Abigail, were murdered in their Fall River home back in 1892, and though Lizzie went on trial for the crime, she was acquitted. So, did she do it? | Arsenal Center for the Arts Black Box Theatre, 321 Arsenal St, Watertown | 800.838.3006 | August 6-15 | Curtain 8 pm Thurs-Sat | 2 pm Sun | $15; $10 students, seniors; "pay what you can" August 6 preview
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES | Reagle Players wrap up their 2009 summer season with this musical from Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman that's set in Saint-Tropez, where Georges and Albin live happily and Albin performs as Zaza in the title local drag club. But then Georges's son (from back before Georges's real gender preference kicked in), Jean-Michel, arrives with the news that he's engaged to Anne, whose father heads the Tradition, Family, and Morality Party, and of course her parents want to meet Jean-Michel's parents. The cast includes original (1983) Broadway cast members Jamie Ross and David Engel; original Broadway cast member David Scala choreographs and directs. | Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington St, Waltham | 781.891.5600 | August 13-22 | Curtain 2 pm [August 13] or 7:30 pm [August 16] Thurs | 8 pm Fri | 2 pm [August 15] + 7:30 pm Sat | 2 pm Sun | $32-$54
THE DREAMER EXAMINES HIS PILLOW | Shakespeare & Company does this early (1986) John Patrick Shanley play about a dreamer who wants to be a painter, his former girlfriend, his former girlfriend's father (who actually is a painter), and a refrigerator you're advised to keep an eye on. With Bowman Wright as Tommy, Miriam Hyman as Donna, and John Douglas Thompson as Donna's dad; no word on who plays the refrigerator. Long-time S&C favorite Tod Randolph makes her directing debut. | Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, 70 Kemble St, Lenox | 413.637.3353 | August 7–September 6 | Curtain times vary | $16-$38; $11-$29 students, seniors
"FEVER FEST 09: FRICTION" | The newly formed Small Theatre Alliance of Boston has taken over Whistler in the Dark's annual summer festival, which is now in its fourth year. On the bill: imaginary beasts in Angelo Beolco's Weasel, Veronica Barron and Company in would you meet me?, This and That Theater Group in The Old Woman, New Exhibition Room in Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, Bright Lights & Burning Nights Old Time Circus and Traveling Road Show in an excerpt from The Disappearing Man & Other Sad Songs, Phoenix Theatre Artists in Iron over the Curb, or Bollywood Ending, and Whistler in the Dark in Timothy Callahan's Friction of Dust. | Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont St, Boston |www.TheFactoryTheatre.org| August 6-16 | Curtain 8 pm Thurs-Fri | 4 + 8 pm Sat | 4 pm Sun | $20; $15 students, seniors
THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? | Gloucester Stage takes on Edward Albee's 2002 Tony winner about a married, successful, 50-year-old architect whose life is torn apart by his love affair with a soulful denizen of the barnyard. Anne Gottlieb, Robert Pemberton, Dennis Trainor, and Jesse Rudoy star; we don't recall whether there's an actual goat in the play, but if there is, casting is TBA. GSC artistic director Eric C. Engel is at the helm. | Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main St, Gloucester | 978.281.4433 | August 6-23 | Curtain 8 pm Wed-Fri | 3 + 8 pm Sat | 4 pm Sun | $32-$37
