Opening This Week
She Stoops to Conquer
This is the play that started it all: a silly, frequently obnoxious 19th-Century British farce that we saw as a freshman in high school and went, "Hmm... This looks like something we could do..." Lincoln Hall's Studio Theater, PSU, SW Broadway & Market, 725-3526, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm, through Jan 16, $5
* Mike Daisey's 21 Dog Years: Doing Time @ Amazon.com
See interview this issue. Portland Center Stage, 1111 SW Broadway, 274-6588, Opens Fri, runs Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Tues-Wed, Sun 7 pm, Thurs 12 pm, Sun 2 pm, through Feb 6, $15-55
One Week Only
Love Child
A staged reading of Luther Goins' new play about the vicious cycle of teenage pregnancy and illiteracy within the African American community. The names of the main characters in this hard-hitting tragicomedy? Shawanda, Dawanda, Tawanda, and Lawanda. Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N. Interstate, 823-4322, Sun 4 pm, Mon 7:30 pm, $6, or $4 for students + 3 cans of food
Poona the Fuckdog
See review this issue. Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st, Fri-Sat 11:30 pm, $5
Current Runs
The Cold Comedy Concoction
In a frenzy of ambition, Stark Raving commissioned four writers to write four one-act comedies: William S. Gregory, Kelly Bartholomew, Stephen Karam (author of Mister Murdery, put on by the Cardboard Box Company last year, and one of the funniest plays we've ever seen), and Todd Pozycki. See all four in one sitting. Coho Theatre, 2257 NW Raleigh, 232-7072, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 7 pm, through Jan 22, $10-18
Comedy/Improv
Diabolical Experiments
The Brody unveils a brand new improv format, but here's the real catch: the performers don't know the rules beforehand any more than you do. Brody Theater, 1904 NW 27th Ave, 224-0688, Fri-Sat 8 pm, $10
* Portland Comedy Competition, Round 1
The Eighth Annual Portland Comedy Competition has begun, with professional standup comics throwing down at different venues for cash prizes totaling over $5000. Tonight's event at the wonderfully divey A & L is just one of many this week, and throughout the month. Catch www.portlandcomedycompetition.com for the full lineup. The A & L Sports Pub, 5933 NE Glisan, Fri 8 - 10 pm
