Opening This Week

Fir Acres Theater presents Mother Courage and Her Children
Bertolt Brecht's not-performed-enough portrayal of a woman's struggle during the Thirty Years War. Lewis & Clark College, 0615 SW Palatine Hill Road, 768-7495, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, through Nov 17, $5-8

A Flea In Her Ear
The antics fly when Mrs. Chandebise sets a clever trap to catch her husband at a seedy hotel, where he is up to no good. PSU Lincoln Performance Hall, 1620 SW Park Ave, 725-3307, Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Nov 17, $6-8

Flesh and Blood
A new play by terrific playwright, Edward Albee, based on the book by terrific novelist, Michael Cunningham. This one should at least be interesting. Portland Center Stage, 1111 SW Broadway, 274-6588, Tues-Wed, Sun 7 pm, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, Thurs 12 pm, through Nov 18, $12-44

Natural Born Castaways
A one-act musical that parodies pop culture icons such as Gilligan's Island and the Beatles. Russell Street Theater, 116 NE Russell , 806-1526, Fri-Sat 10:30 pm, through Dec 1, $10

Sounding Hekate
Christine Calfas' new solo work presents HEKATE...QUEEN of the UNDERWORLD, brought to life through the power of dance. Conduit Studio, 918 SW Yamhill, 4th Floor, 221-5857, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, through Nov 18, $15

The Schemes of Scapino
Moliere's classic comedy. PCC Sylvania Theatre, 12000 SW 49th Ave, 977-4949, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, through Nov 17, $5-7

One Week Only

Amel Tafsout
The Algerian Tafsout brings to Portland an evening of North African Maghreb Dance Fez, 316 SW 11th Ave, 287-1794, Sat 7 pm, $10

* Holy Goats
Performance Works presents another episode of their improvisational dance series. Fun, spontaneous, and highly recommended. Performance Works NorthWest, 4625 SE 67th Ave, 777-1907, Sun 2 pm, $7, includes bagels and coffee

Journeys
Readers Theatre Repertory launches the first in a series of dynamic staged readings. This weekend's show presents two provocative one-acts: Ophelia and Goodbye Oscar. Blackfish Gallery, 420 NW 9th Ave, 224-2634, Fri-Sat 8 pm, $8

Closing This Week

7th Annual El Dia de los Muertos Festival
Translation: The 7th annual Day of the Dead Festival. Features drama, dance, puppets, and children. The Miracle Theater, 525 SE Stark Street, 736-1027, Thurs 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Nov 11, $14-15

Rich and Famous
A promising playwright descends into chaos, as his opening night draws ever nearer. Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, 522-9453, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, $1-5

Portland Opera Company presents: The Pearl Fishers
If you like opera, you only have one chance left to see this one, so buy those tickets fast. Keller Auditorium, SW Third and Clay, 790-ARTS, Fri 7:30 pm, Begins at $25

Current Runs

Call In Sick presents Theatre of the Film Noir
Paris...war...fog...criminals...morality...1944...noir. Raindog Theatre, 8638 N Lombard St, 335-3297, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Dec 8, $8-14

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
Seems folks didn't get enough of this overpriced musical the first time around. It's back for one more go at it. World Trade Center Auditorium, 121 SW Salmon, 239-5919, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Dec 22, $23-25

* Spinning Into Butter
CoHo Productions has opened its first season in its beautiful new home, with a play by Rebecca Gilman that attacks contemporary white America's self-congratulatory, racial tolerance. CoHo Production, 2257 NW Raleigh, 220-2646, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Nov 24, $13-15

The Birthday Party
The plays of Harold Pinter seem rather ubiquitous in Portland right now, which is definitely a wonderful thing. This one's about a societal outcast who seeks refuge in a seaside resort. See review this issue. Jack Oakes Theater, 2820 NE Sandy Blvd, 238-9692, Thurs-Fri 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, through Nov 18, $10

The Haint
A Southern Gothic ghost story with 13 characters and a cast of one...cool. Stage Direct, at CoHo Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh, 295-3565, Fri-Sat 10:30 pm, through Nov 17, $10

The Time Between
Collage play stemming from the MEDIARITES Grief Project, which involved meeting with more than 50 youths, adults, and families to report on how they have dealt with loss in their lives. Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate Ave, 750-1439, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Nov 17, $11-14

* Profile Theatre Project presents The Homecoming
A somber production of Pinter's contemporary classic, which chronicles a man's return from America to England, to visit his bickering, miserable brothers, uncles, and father. 3430 SE Belmont Ave, 242-0080, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Nov 18, $12-20

* The Third Floor in Pinata Full of Blood
The Third Floor is a talented, confident, and very funny sketch comedy troupe, and this current show, for the most part, reflects that. The skits at best are hilarious--a guerilla roller skating team trying to make the line-up at the Clark County Fair--and at worst, at least interesting. Blue Door Productions, at the Miracle Theater, 525 SE Stark, 258-1681, Fri-Sat 11 pm, through Nov 17, $8