The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 174

CALENDAR WEEKENDLOS ANGELES E56 8DAYS: THEATER An Evening With Video are now on sale during performances of John play Great at the Odyssey Theatre (310) 477-2055 STEPHEN LEACOCK 4332239 man Smith Artistic Company, 6902 Santa Monica Hollywood. 8 p.m.; ends Aug. 16. $10. (888) 221-8426.

(323) 467-1599. Raree Meadows Basement Theater presents K.C. new drama set in Colonial Phila- delphia, where an enigmatic arrival leads a wealthy merchant and his family to question the nature of their existence. 6425 Hollywood fourth floor, Hollywood. 8 p.m.; 7 p.m.; ends Aug.

15. $15. (323) 782- 6218. Re-Adaptation: Staging John Malkovich (or: The Eternal Sunshine of the Split.Id Mind) Adark comedy based on co- director Dominic short story, OC about a man accused of sex- ual harassment while trying to mount a staged adaptation of the film John Split.Id Theater the Com- plex, 6470 Santa Monica L.A. 7:30 p.m.; ends Aug.

29. $12. (323) 462-2662. rogerandtom. In Julien three per- son comedy, the one female character exists only onstage.

Tamarind Theatre, 5919 Franklin Hollywood. 8 p.m.; 2 and 7 p.m.; ends Sun. $15. (310) 364- 0766. The Scheme of Things Dan new translation of a classic Spanish comedy set in a town where two con men find fertile ground for their schemes.

El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim North Hollywood. 8 p.m.; 5 p.m.; ends Aug. 29. $28. (888) 972-4363.

Shel Hamlet As Told on the Street Premiere of the playwright and adaptation of tragedy, updated with jazz, folk music and poetry. Raven Playhouse, 5233 N. Lankershim North Hollywood. 8 p.m.; ends Sat. $12.

(818) 754-1423. Melissa James comedy about the communication and miscommunica- tion between New York apartment dwellers. Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope Drive, Hollywood. 8 p.m.; ends Aug.

14. $15. (310) 281-8337. Signs of the Times An Evening of Shorts GuerriLA Theatre presents an eve- ning of short plays. kuttingroom, 1221 2nd Santa Monica.

8 p.m.; ends Aug. 28. $20. (323) 650-2493. Slow Boat Nick new play exploring is- sues of identity is about a Chinese body- switching cult and a man and his grand- mother, each inhabiting a different body, traveling to China.

Los Angeles Repertory, 6560 Hollywood second floor, L.A. 8 p.m.; ends Aug. 14. $15. (310) 470- 9899.

Streamers The Gangbusters Theatre Com- pany and Blue Sphere Alliance present Da- vid drama about GIs waiting to be shipped out to the front lines during the Vi- etnam War. Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Hollywood. 8 p.m.; 7 p.m.; ends Sun. $10. (213) 864-9365.

Theater District Richard sensi- tive and funny coming-of-age story about a teenager who decides to live with his father and his gay lover is intelligent, mov- ing and genuinely sophisticated, although a flawed ending veers into emotional bla- tancy (F.K.F.). Black Dahlia Theatre, 5453 Pico L.A. 8 p.m.; 7 p.m.; ends Sun. $20. (866) 468-3399.

This Is Show Vol. 1: A Comedy With No Acts Ahumorous look at the trials of hopeful actors. Open Stage West, 14366 Ventura Sherman Oaks. 8 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.; ends Sun. $15.

(323) 960-7753. A Tribute to the Honeymooners Re-enact- ments of four episodes of the classic televi- sion comedy. Hollywood Fight Club, 6767 W. Sunset Suite 6, Hollywood. 9 p.m.; 8 p.m.; ends Sat.

$12. (323) 465- 0800. Triple Crown Short play competition featur- ing works by Tom Kiesche, Analisa Brouet, Peter Coca, Michael LaChance and others. Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope Drive, Hollywood.

10 p.m.; ends Aug. 14. $10. (310) 281-8337. Underneath the Lintel ADutch librarian sets off on a global quest after discovering a book 123 years overdue in this comedy by Glen Berger.

With Brandon Clark; Eric Wer- ner directs. Sacred Fools Theater, 660 N. Heliotrope Drive, Hollywood. 8 p.m.; ends Aug. 11.

$10. (310) 281-8337. Welcome Home, Soldier: A Tribute to the Vietnam Veterans; Lone Star; The Weight Is Over and other plays. Playhouse West 1, 4250 Lankershim North Hollywood; and Playhouse West 2, 10634 Magnolia North Hollywood. Call for show times.

Indefinitely. Free. (818) 971-7191. When Divas Were Divas ing Their Lives, Their Way Five superb singing actresses spin Sharon L. salute to trailblazing black chanteuses into avirtual Ken Burns revue.

Though too brief, this fetching salon will thrill diva devotees (D.C.N.). Harry Mastrogeorge Theatre, Brewery Art Colony, 600 Moulton Suite 103B, L.A. 8 p.m.; 6 p.m.; 3 p.m.; indefinitely. $25. (323) 227-5410.

Whip It! Sugar and Spice Everything Nice Sweet one-woman show. 2100 Square Feet Theater, 5615 San Vicente L.A. 8 p.m.; 7 p.m.; ends Aug. 8. $15.

(310) 230-6911. Wife Swappers Justin salacious satire of Orange County swingers guts con- servative repression with lewd hilarity. The one-act format stymies full ironic impact, but distinctive voice scalds, em- bodied by an expert cast (D.C.N.). Third Stage, 2811 W. Magnolia Burbank.

8 p.m.; ends Aug. 21. $18. (818) 842- 4755. The Women of Juarez Ruben impassioned play about the young female murder victims in the in- famous Juarez serial slaying case is a pow- erful plea for justice (F.K.F.).

Unity Arts Center, 2332 W. 4th L.A. 8 p.m.; 6 p.m. In Spanish: Aug. 6-8, 20-22; Sept.

3-5, 17-19. In English: this Aug. 13-15, 27-29; Sept. 10-12; ends Sept. 19.

(213) 382-8133. Asinger-songwriter, as well as occa- sional actress, the former co-host of her own show (with Dweezil Zappa) on the Food Network, and the author of an al- bum of songs, Lisa Loeb think at all unusual that she continues to add diverse projects to her schedule. think most creative people have many she says. peo- ple I hang out with are like However many hyphensshe adds to her title though, Loeb says, pri- mary thing is being a musician, of music is back at the forefront with an upcoming tour, in- cluding opening for Heart on Sunday at the Greek Theatre, and a new album, Way It due Aug. 10.

Asmart collection of tunes that shows off her increasingly fine crafts- manship, the album alternates between jangly pop tunes and sparse ballads. Loeb, who first caught the ear 10 years ago with her single off the soundtrack, wanted to make an album that captured not only the immediacy of her live perform- ances but also the diversity of those sets. initial concept was to make a record that was half very produced and half bare and as acoustic as she says. Though the songs alternate styles, Loeb says, there is a thematic tie throughout the album. about the way people look at life.

Whether you look at it as something good or bad, the way it Baltin Heart, Lisa Loeb, Greek Theatre, 2700 N. Vermont L.A. 7:30 p.m. Sunday. $30- $55.

(323) 665- 1927. Lisa Loeb: singer, again Vince Bucci Getty Images ON TOUR: new album is due in August. CALENDAR WEEKENDLOS ANGELES E13 They appeal to an audience of older, wiser listeners learned the same life lesson: That venting is easier than in- trospection, if ultimately unproductive. Caught in the melodramatic swirl of fleet- ing, serial romance, younger fans may not relate. So be it, Morissette says.

are some people who listen to Oughta who still want to be listening to that sort of blaming, victim- consciousness she said. me to continue writing songs based on some- thing that a personal experience just so that I can cater to those people go- ing to happen. But there are some people who enjoy Oughta who wanted to strangle me during that period of time who now are connecting more with what writing about, so I feel like lost a lot of people and I feel like gained I looking for angst, stick with Avril Lavigne, the 19-year- old Canadian found suc- cess mining the same dark emo- tions, delivering them with the same pop polish as Morissette did a decade ago. My the follow-up to debut two years ago (which sold 6 million cop- ies), has sold 1.1 million. By comparison, latest has sold 347,000.

Both records were released within a week of each other in May. Clearly, youthful misery sells, though it may not have sold as well if Morissette opened the door with Lit- tle a now-classic album that has sold 14.3 million copies. do think she opened the door for the genre been called angry young says David Browne, Entertain- ment Weekly magazine music editor. Says Morissette: think that even- tually these artists would have found their form and their voice, but I do feel like part of the movement that made confes- sional music welcome in a commercial sense. I feel a huge part of As for the relatively lukewarm sales of her latest record, she seem con- cerned.

Ten years in the limelight has taught her to use fame to her advantage. understand it more now. using it. Before, I seeing how I could capi- talize on it to serve my she said. whole life, always felt like nothing unless I was serving on some level, and so now I can just use fame as another form of service, putting myself out there so people can either find comfort in what I write about.

Even if repulsed by what I write, still serving them by giv- ing them something they can define them- selves in accordance What: Alanis Morissette with Barenaked Ladies Where: Greek Theatre, 2700 N. Vermont Los Angeles When: 7 p.m. today and Friday Price: $39.50 to $59.50 Info: (323) 665-1927 or www.greektheatrela.com Alanis Morissette Swift responses Richard Swift fields all jibes about his music with aplomb. might be circus music, but something kind of crazy and chaotic about he says. want to be known as the guy who does weird vaudeville my thing is vaudeville from a Kinks per- An arresting mix of baroque, ragtime and indie rock, vin- tage pop offers a perfect setting for his compelling sto- ries, which soon will reach a larger audience.

an EP with a poignant storyline that was released last year on Velvet Blue Mu- sic, is being remas- tered and paired with Without a collection of songs Swift recorded in 2001 with Frank Lenz producing. The two-disc ard Swift Collec- tion Vol. will be released in late Au- gust on Leftwing Recordings. It will cap a busy month. The multi- instrumentalist has session work and other collabora- tions on tap, and his band will per- form every Monday as the August resi- dents at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa.

Name claimed Dios, the fledg- ling band from Hawthorne, will be- come Dios Malos after a complaint from a 55-year-old heavy metal rocker that the name infringed on his. A cease-and- desist order from Ronnie James Dio who fronts the band Dio, claimed the name would cause confusion among fans. thought, guy be Dios singer Joel Morales said. he was, and we have the resources to fight know, old guys who relevant in music anymore give young, struggling guys a hard has used the band name Dio for 20 years, putting out numerous albums and performing in front of millions of said Stan- ley J. Diamond at- torney for Dio.

Ronnie had to pro- tect his Dios, whose de- but album of that name earned them critical praise for their gauzy, Beach Boys-inspired sound, headlines the Troubadour on Saturday. Also on the bill is L.A.’s Earlimart, whose impressive new al- bum is due Sept. 28. Fast forward Eugene Ed- new album, the Dave Peterson produced Fa- vorite stray far from the Elvis Costello reci- pe. But easy to see why Edwards has become a favor- ite on the L.A.

pop scene his revved- up live shows and sterling guitar licks put muscle behind his melodies. His band, along with O.C. favorites Scar- let Crush and Sparklejets U.K., is among the per- formers Sunday on the closing night of International Pop Overthrow. The show, at Fitzger- Irish Pub in Huntington Beach, is a benefit for the VH1 Save the Mu- sic Foundation, which aids music record release show for Jim al- bum is tonight at the Knitting Factory. Bronson Richard Swift RICHARD SWIFT: thing is vaudeville from a Kinks BUZZ BANDS.