Humorous plays abound this weekend in Olympia, but get ready for John Waters next week

Molly Gilmore
·3 min read

A modern ‘Liar’

Compulsive lying is, it seems, perennial — and not only in politics. Theater Artists Olympia’s “The Liar,” opening Friday, March 22, is a 2010 adaptation of a frothy French farce about a charming young man whose greatest talent is making up stories about himself, whether or not he has a reason to do so. The modern “Liar,” by David Ives, retains the iambic pentameter and setting of Pierre Corneille’s 1644 “Le Menteur” (which means, yes, “The Liar”) and adds, among other things, references to sexting and sports cars. Aaron Gotzon (known for Animal Fire’s 2023 “Measure for Measure”) plays the titular liar, Dorante. Teresita Brimms (TAO’s recent “Poe Nocturne”) and Andrea Gordon (Olympia Little Theatre’s 2022 “The Originals”) play the women who’ve gotten his attention, though he’s mixed up about who is who. Also in the cast: Chris Cantrell, Jeremy Hollen, Sherman Jenne, Ben Stahl and Jesse Morrow, whose dual role creates still more comic confusion. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, plus March 29-30 and April 5-6, and 2 p.m. Sundays, March 24 and 31 and April 7, at OlyTheater near the cinema in Capital Mall, 625 Black Lake Blvd., Olympia. Tickets are $10-$20.

Still playing — but not for long

Speaking of playwrights who predate the U.S.A., William Shakespeare is being both summarized and satirized in Harlequin Productions’ much-buzzed-about “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again],” playing through March 31 in the Washington Center for the Performing Arts’ Black Box, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. There’s been talk of extending the run, but short of that, the only shows with seats remaining are the pay-what-you-choose matinees at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, and Saturday, March 30. Meanwhile, Olympia Little Theatre’s “84 Charing Cross Road,” on stage through Sunday, March 24, also concerns writings from times long past. The play is based on a 1970 book of letters between a struggling New York writer and a London bookseller who specializes in antiquarian volumes. Remaining performances are at 7:25 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23, and 1:55 p.m. Sunday, March 24, at the theater, 1925 Miller Ave. N.E., Olympia. Tickets are $12-$16.

Filmmaker John Waters to speak in Olympia

Famous folks just keep coming to town, it seems — or more specifically, they just keep on coming to the Olympia Film Society’s Capitol Theater. Hot on the heels of action-movie icon Pam Grier’s visit, the theater is hosting John Waters, known for his groundbreaking, subversive and even transgressive films, many featuring Divine, who was a drag queen when drag queens weren’t nearly as visible as they are these days. (His most famous and most family friendly: 1988’s “Hairspray.”) Waters will present his comic spoken-word show “Devil’s Advocate” at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at the theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $45-$50. How is little old Olympia getting so lucky? “This year marks 100 years of the Capitol Theater, and OFS has many surprise guests,” said executive director Audrey Henley. “John Waters was one of the first to come to mind on our long wish list of artists whose work represents some of what the Olympia Film Society does. … We are over the moon to present his only Northwest appearance.”

Freelance writer Molly Gilmore talks with DJ Kevin the Brit about what’s happening around town on KGY-FM’s “Oly in a Can,” airing at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Fridays.