Audio By Carbonatix
Shades of Gray Written by 21-year-old college student Brent Black, this two-hour musical revue makes light of life’s little oddities. Like, how does a lonely PlayStation addict attract “Player 2”? Or what’s the best way to get a shy guy and a shy girl to talk to each other? And can two lifers find true love behind bars? The tunes are bouncy and pleasant, the lyrics decidedly dark and R-rated, but overall the show zings with a sweet and slightly off-center view of the world of ’80s babies. Black also directed the production, which features eight young singers with pretty decent comedy chops. Standouts are Aaron Kozak, Kenneth Sparks (playing one of those smitten prisoners) and Tyler Jones. Through September 24 at Pocket Sandwich Theater, 5400 E. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 119, 214-821-1860. Reviewed this week. (Elaine Liner)
The Miss Firecracker Contest Carnelle (Jennifer Knight) is a little gal with a short fuse. The pageant contestant wants so desperately to win the July 4 beauty pageant in her little Mississippi town that she’d do anything short of murder to get the crown (even dye her hair cherry red). A victory will help Carnelle to leave home “in a crimson blaze of glory,” rather than with the scarlet letter she’s earned as one of the town tramps. But she also needs to declare her independence from a family of kooks that includes a stalker cousin named Delmount (John Venable) and his middle-age crazy sister Elain (Sue Loncar). Add a seamtress named Popeye (Jenny Thurman) and a pageant coordinator (Trista Wyly) who uses her whistle in a most aggressive manner and you’ve got one of the most colorful collections of characters playwright Beth Henley ever created. Funnier than Henley’s first play, Crimes of the Heart, this comedy gets lively direction by Susan Sargeant and first-rate performances by the entire cast (Loncar’s never been better). Through September 18 at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, 5601 Sears St., 214-828-0094. Reviewed August 25. (E.L.)