opening this week

The Edjuhmuhcation Follies
Toad City specializes in improv, so expect that. Toad City Productions, at Itisness, 3016 NE Killingsworth, 736-1027, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Mar 1, $10-$12

The Langston Hughes Project
A biographical sketch of Langston Hughes, followed by dramatic performances of the great man's poetry. Flooney's Theater Company, at The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th, 275-8352, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 5 pm, $10

one week only

Puppetry of the Penis
Performance art that's never flaccid. This Australian group specializes in contorting their male genitalia into hilarious works of art like the Eiffel Tower and the Loch Ness Monster. Puppetry of the Penis, at the Aladdin Theater, 224-4400, Tues-Wed 8 pm, $35-$39

The 24 Hour Plays
When a slew of writers, directors and actors converge to produce ten minute plays for public viewing in just 24 hours, it's a can't-fail recipe for fun, fun, fun! Theatre Vertigo, at the Electric Company, 2512 SE Gladstone, Suite 200, 306-0870, Sun 7 pm, $10

Adonis-an Allegory
The Sekhet-Maat Lodge deals with the theory and practice of magick and mysticism. This play, by influential occultist Aleister Crowley, is about the struggle of the human and divine elements in the consciousness of man. Sekhet-Maat Lodge, 1409 SE Stark, Thurs-Sat 8:30 pm, $8-$10

The Alice Event
24 teenage theater nerds have joined forces with the TEAM (Theatre Education And Mentoring) program to bring this twisted take on Alice and Wonderland. The Haven Project at the Winningstad Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, 872-9635, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm, $15

closing this week

Search and Destroy
A down-and-out schmoe gets in all sort of trouble to raise money for a film. Paula Productions, at the Jack Oakes Theater, 2820 NE Sandy Blvd, 450-9939, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Feb 1, $8-12

The Posture Queen
The moving story of real-life sailor-turned-drag-queen-turned-junkie-turned-AIDS-addled-Zen-Buddhist-Master, Tommy Dorsey. Hand 2 Mouth Theatre, 4625 SE 67th, 235-5284, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Feb 1, $8

Portland Comedy Competition-Final Round
The final round of this super-fun standup comedy standoff, with five semifinalists going at it for the grand prize of $500, not to mention the right to say, "I'm the funniest mofo in this whole town. Bitch." Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder, 232-2759, 8 pm, $12

current runs

Anything Goes
Cole Porter's 1920s musical about love on an ocean liner. Lakewood Theatre Company, 368 S State St, 635-3901, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm & 7 pm, through Feb 16, $21-$23

Cart
James Moore's feature-length dramatic writing debut, Cart, tells the story of three squatters who shack up in a seemingly uninhabited house. The history between the threesome is difficult to make sense of, but what is clear is that Rick (Rollin Carlson) is obsessed with a grocery cart that mangled his car. It's not easy to make sense of the bizarre series of events that ensues, but that's kind of the point. The characters struggle to determine what is real and what isn't, and the audience struggles along with them. Moore is clearly inspired by the great surrealists--Shepard, Pinter, Charles Mee--but that doesn't mean he hasn't created something entirely new. JWS defunkt theatre, at the Back Door Theater, 4319 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 993-9062, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 4 pm, through Feb 22, $8-15

Child of Pleasure
Directed by the talented Angie Lawless, this eclectic-sounding play delves into the life of 17th century philosopher-courtesan Ninon de L'Enclos. Call me a philistine, but I have never heard of that person. Coho Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh, 220-2646, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Mar 1, $16-$18

Living Newspaper
Improv inspired by material ripped from the headlines Brody Theater, 1904 NW 27th Ave, 224-0688, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Mar 1, $10

Proof
It's not that Proof is bad per se, it's just not really all that good. It has an interesting premise--daughter of a genius, Catherine (Kristen Brown), tries to follow in her dad's footsteps--and some likable characters--the dorky love interest, Hal (played by a very funny Ryan Lee), is a highlight. The end of the first act ends with a bang, unveiling a genuinely surprising twist regarding a long-lost mathematical proof that Catherine's father supposedly wrote before he died. But the second half unravels. There are still interesting points to be sure, especially involving flashbacks with Catherine's dad (Steve Smith) as he nears death and his mind starts to go. But by play's end things go stale. Catherine's problems with Hal and her father wrap up like a Hallmark Special; her problems with her sister are kicked to the gutter and ignored. It's as if playwright David Auburn just got tired of his play at some point. JWS Artists Repertory Theatre, 1516 SW Alder St, 241-9807, Thurs, Sun, Tues-Wed 7 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, through Feb 23, $15-30

Seascape
This season's Edward Albee landslide continues with this play about two couples on the beach, one human and one... REPTILIAN!? The Profile Theatre Project at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 SE Belmont, 242-0080, Thur-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, though Feb 16, $12-$25