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Liaisons deconstructed
Actor David Fetzer's bold venture into alternative theater productions hit a detour last fall, when his New Works Theatre Machine production of "Go To Hell" at The Pickle Factory met the wrong side of Salt Lake City fire-code regulations. No such complication threatens New Works' resurrected effort, "Ride Me: A Play With Cruel Intentions," scheduled at The Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. This reworking of the film "Cruel Intentions," based on the stage adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' infamous novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses, is the kind of project Fetzer's shown a penchant for in the past: a deeply "meta" drama that also is deeply engaging. The news release promises a "deconstructed, multimedia, experimental rendition." Anyone who has read the book — or seen various film adaptations starring John Malkovich, Rupert Everett or Ryan Phillippe — knows how ferocious and fun this story of seduction, deception and manipulation can be. Sam Littlefield directs, with John Kuehne, Ariana Farber, Alexandrea Rassmussen, Amber Hansen and Rhiannon Ross filling out the cast.
When • June 1-2, 7:30 p.m.; June 3-4, 8 p.m.; June 5, 7 p.m.
Where • Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center's Black Box theatre, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
Info • $10. Call 801-355-ARTS or visit thenewworkstheatremachine.com for more information.
Plan-B's new season
A mishmash of Shakespeare's female characters, plus a drama about the love affair of Thomas Jefferson and a stage adaptation of "The Scarlet Letter," fill out Plan-B Theatre Company's 2011-12 season. All three plays feature new works by female Utah playwrights.
Oct. 27-Nov. 6 • Aden Ross's "Lady Macbeth." In the spirit of the comedy "Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," Ross' play mixes and matches Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy of outsized ambition with headline news and current events to comic effect. It features Kirt Bateman, Joe Debevc, April Fossen, Lauren Noll, Tracie Merrill, Jay Perry, Jason Tatom and Michelle Peterson, and will be directed by the company's producing director Jerry Rapier.
March 8-18 • Debora Threedy's "The Third Crossing." The play considers Thomas Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemings and the larger topic of interracial relationships in America. It casts Carleton Bluford, DeeDee Darby-Duffin, David Fetzer, Deena Marie Manzanares, Bob Nelson and Kalyn West. Rapier will direct.
April 12-22 • Jenifer Nii's adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. Mark Fossen, Claire Wilson and Lauren Noll are cast with Cheryl Ann Cluff directing.
May 12 • Plan-B will host its ninth annual "Slam" fund-raiser, featuring short plays written, rehearsed and performed within 24 hours.
Where • Rose Wagner Performing Arts, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City
Info • $75 for season subscription. Call 801-297-4200 ext. 1 or visit planbtheatre.org
Filipino film
Films from the Philippines get rare screen time in the United States. The screenplay and direction team of Rica Arevalo, Ellen Ramos and Sarah Roxas are out to change that with their new film "Ganap Na Babae (Garden of Eve)." A film about women made by women directors, the film tells three stories, all different but all resonating into a narrative whole. One woman is a sex worker. Two sisters struggle against poverty. Another, an old widow, grapples with her love for a younger man. The cast includes Mercedes Cabral, Sue Prado, Jam Pérez, Rome Mallari and Boots Anson Roa. This 2010 film won the Excellence in Cinematography Award at this year's SOHO International Film Festival. The filmmakers will be present after each screening for discussion.
When • June 4, 12:45 and 2:45 p.m.
Where • Brewvies Cinema, 677 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City
Info • Call 801-355-5500 or visit http://www.brewvies.com or brownpapertickets.com for more information.
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