Not Black or White, Just Read

You could, one supposes, redo Star Wars without lightsabers, Spider-Man without shooting webs or Peter Pan without wire rigs. But why? That’s the question that arises with Pegasus Theatre’s staged reading of A Degree of Death!, one in a series of 16 comedy-mystery spoofs by playwright Kurt Kleinman. For nearly...

By Patrick Williams

March 20, 2014

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You could, one supposes, redo Star Wars without lightsabers, Spider-Man without shooting webs or Peter Pan without wire rigs. But why? That’s the question that arises with Pegasus Theatre’s staged reading of A Degree of Death!, one in a series of 16 comedy-mystery spoofs by playwright Kurt Kleinman. For nearly 30 years, Kleinman’s detective Harry Hunsacker has taken to local stages in glorious live black and white – a nifty visual trick that dresses actors and sets to mimic ’30s-era mystery movies. Friday and Saturday, Pegasus veteran A. Raymond Banda directs a cast performing A Degree of Death! sans makeup and costumes, putting the focus on the text of a story involving a mysterious disappearance, lost treasure and an evil mad scientist. We’ll be kind and call that a bold move. Performances are at 8 p.m. at Bath House Cultural Center, 521 E. Lawther Drive. Tickets are $10 and available by calling 1-800-838-3006 or at brownpapertickets.com.
Fri., March 21, 8 p.m.; Sat., March 22, 8 p.m., 2014

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Patrick Williams is editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer. Before joining the staff in July 1997, Patrick worked for the Southern Illinoisan, Amarillo Globe News and San Antonio Express-News. As editor-in-chief, he oversees the newsroom and guides the coverage of both the Dallas Observer’s printed publication and online website.

Contact: Patrick Williams