Shel Game

Though our humor tends now toward Eddie Izzard, David Cross or Patton Oswalt, there was a time when we thought Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein were comic gold. I mean, come on, "My Mother Says I'm Sickening"? Or "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout (Would Not Take the Garbage Out)"? That was relatable hilarity, man, back when life’s problems consisted of cleaning your room and acing your weekly spelling test. Though we outgrew Prelutsky, we never gave up on Silverstein. (In fact The Giving Tree, which we used to think was the saddest book in the world, still occupies a spot on our bookshelf.) And Silverstein never gave up on adults, contributing to Playboy for more than 40 years, writing lyrics to many bawdy songs by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show and publishing plays intended solely for grown-ups. The Butterfly Connection presents Shel's Shorts, a collection of 10 Silverstein vignettes, 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday at Rhythm Nation Studio, 3512 Highway 121 in Bedford. Admission is $25 and includes a catered dinner. This show is for adults only. Call 682-560-0776.
May 11-13, 7:30 p.m.