Encore

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? did for the American theater in 1962 what Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey did for its British equivalent just four years previously. Products of the postwar fracture of traditional family values and gender roles, both plays sent shock waves across their respective cultural landscapes and changed the face of theater forever. But while these days Delaney's play is considered a period piece and rarely performed, Actors Theatre's production (along with, of course, the recent highly lauded Broadway revival starring Bill Irwin and Kathleen Turner) proves Virginia Woolf to be as fresh today as it was when Albee wrote it. The caustically funny and darkly depraved drama takes place over the course of a booze-soaked night at the university-campus home of middle-aged history professor George (Christian Phillips) and his wife, Martha (Julia McNeal), as they play cat and mouse with each other and their newbie guests, the twentysomething biology professor Nick (Daniel Hart Donoghue) and his wife, Honey (Tara Donoghue). The claustrophobic atmosphere of Biz Duncan's living room set enhances the intensity of the couples' relentless "fun and games." Combining incisive, rhythmic direction by Keith Phillips and Kenneth Vandenberg with crisp performances by all four cast members (Tara Donoghue is especially pathetic and hilarious as the "thin-hipped" Honey), Actors Theatre's Virginia Woolf expertly mines the complex nature of marital relationships. Through Sept. 3 at the Actors Theatre, 533 Sutter (between Powell and Mason), S.F. Tickets are $10-30; call 296-9179 or visit www.actorstheatresf.org. (Chloe Veltman) Reviewed June 22.

Are We Almost There? Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter (at Powell), 433-3040.

BATS: Sunday Players Fort Mason, Bldg. B, Marina & Buchanan, 474-6776.

Beach Blanket Babylon Club Fugazi, 678 Green (at Powell), 421-4222.

Beyond Therapy Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter (at Powell), 433-3040.

Big City Improv Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter (at Powell), 433-3040.

"Blood Bucket Ballyhoo" The Hypnodrome, 575 10th St. (at Bryant), 248-1900.

Comedy Improv at Your Disposal Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter (at Powell), 510-595-5597.

Dangerous New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness (at Market), 861-8972.

Dead Certain The Next Stage, 1620 Gough (at Bush), Trinity Episcopal Church, 333-6389.

Do You Want to Buy My Brain? Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy (at Taylor), 673-3847.

Executive Order 9066 The Marsh, 1062 Valencia (at 22nd St.), 826-5750.

GayProv Off-Market Studio, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), 896-6477.

Line in the Sand Magic Theatre, Fort Mason, Bldg. D, Marina & Buchanan, 441-8822.

Love, Chaos & Dinner Pier 29, Embarcadero (at Battery), 273-1620.

Many Names of Compassion Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin (at McAllister), 581-3500.

Menopause the Musical Theatre 39 at Pier 39, 2 Beach (Beach & Embarcadero), 433-3939.

Monday Night Improv Jam Climate Theater, 285 Ninth St. (at Folsom), 364-1411.

Monday Night Marsh The Marsh, 1062 Valencia (at 22nd St.), 826-5750.

Speak to Me Off-Market Theater, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), 896-6477.

The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean Post Street Theatre, 450 Post (at Mason), 321-2900.

Wicked Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market (at Eighth St.), 512-7770.