Theater Listings

GO MODERN ORTHODOX hangs on Michael Goldstrom’s blisteringly funny portrayal of an Orthodox Jewish Tartuffe, Hershel Klein, in Daniel Goldfarb’s schematic comedy. Diamond merchant Hershel bursts into Ben (Ross Benjamin) and girlfriend Hannah’s (Robyn Cohen) life, so that the unobservant couple suddenly find themselves in the middle of The Dybbuk. The comedy’s glee and cultural satire make up for its lapses in credulity, and Howard Teichman directs the action with the perfect interplay of farce and pathos. Theatre 40, on the campus of BEVERLY HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, 241 Moreno Drive (enter on Olympic due to road construction); in repertory, call for schedule; thru Sept. 9. (310) 364-0535. (SLM)

PRIVATE LIVES Noel Coward's comedy about exes honeymooning in the same hotel. LONG BEACH PLAYHOUSE, 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru Sept. 29 (added perfs Sept. 9 & 23, 2 p.m.). (562) 494-1014.

GO QUARTET German Heiner Müller’s adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ 18th-century novel, Les Liasons Dangereuses is a dense and poetical sequence of arias and dialogues spoken by two characters (Troy Dunn and Sharon Gardner), terrified of aging and playing out a jealousy duet. Set against the sky-blue backdrop of Charles A. Duncombe’s elegant production design, director Frederique Michel’s spectacle is as beautiful to watch as it is to hear. Michel’s overlay of Kabuki formalization helps elevate the lusty melodrama from a poem about the meaning of sex to one about the meaning of life. CITY GARAGE, 13401?2 (alley) Fourth St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 5:30 p.m.; thru Sept. 23. (310) 319-9939. (SLM)

SOME GREEKS ARE NOT IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS Greg Lewis’ solo comedy. BEVERLY HILLS PLAYHOUSE, 254 S. Robertson Blvd., Beverly Hills; Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru Sept. 9. (310) 358-9936 or www.­camelotartists.com.

TUG OF WAR Adaptation of Amy Richlin’s translation of Plautus’ Rudens, by Meryl Friedman. GETTY VILLA, 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; thru Sept. 29. (310) 440-7300.

TITUS THE CLOWNICUS “Shakespeare’s bloodiest and most macabre drama (Titus Andronicus) becomes rip-roaring family fare” in Angela Berliner’s adaptation. ACTORS’ GANG AT THE IVY SUBSTATION THEATER, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City; Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.; thru Sept. 9. (310) 838-4264.

Special Events

DANCING QUEEN Cabaret dinner theater history of the Queen Mary cruise liner. Aboard the QUEEN MARY, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach; Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru Nov. 18. (562) 435-3511 or www.tibbiescabaret.com.

A DELICATE ARRANGEMENT Staged reading of Dawn Leary’s play about a young actor and an artist’s widow. THE HAYWORTH, 2509 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; Mon., Sept. 10, 8 p.m. (213) 389-9860.

ESCAPE REALITY Steve Spill and Bozena Sparrow perform classic illusions. MAGICOPOLIS, 1418 Fourth St., Santa Monica; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; indef. (310) 451-2241 or www.magicopolis.com.

FALSETTOS William Finn’s Broadway musical. WILSHIRE THEATRE, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; Sat., Sept. 8, 8 p.m. (213) 480-3232.

IN HELL Radomir Luza’s one-man show. WHITEFIRE THEATRE, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; Wed., Sept. 12, 8 p.m. (818) 990-2324.

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD Rupert Holmes’ Victorian musical. WESTCHESTER PLAYHOUSE, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; thru Oct. 20. (310) 645-5156.

THE NEED TO KNOW Former intelligence analyst April Fitzsimmons’ take on Cold War bureaucracy. A benefit performance for VetStage. WHITEFIRE THEATRE, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; Sun., Sept. 9, 8 p.m. (310) 880-0911.

THE OH! SHOW: OLD & HORNY Monica Palacios’ solo show, part of three-day event Tongue 2 Tongue for “queer women of color.” THE VILLAGE AT ED GOULD PLAZA, L.A. GAY & LESBIAN CENTER, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hlywd.; Sat., Sept. 8, 7 p.m. (323) 860-7300 or www.tonguetotongue.org.

SHOUT! Meme Kelly’s “literary musical.” BARNSDALL GALLERY THEATER, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Sun., Sept. 9, 7 p.m. (818) 990-6967.

SPONTANEOUS FANTASIA J. Walt Adamczyk’s musical-visual-theatrical extravaganza. GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PLANETARIUM, 1500 N. Verdugo Rd., Glendale; schedule varies, call for info; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 6:30 & 8 p.m.; thru Nov. 10. (626) 688-0778 or www.spontaneousfantasia.com.