This is one of those special years when Shakespeare and Cervantes' joint birthday on April 23 just happens to fall on a weekend. You know what that means: We party 'til dawn, brothers and sisters!

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Cell Theatre

Personally, I'm not all that frightened of Virginia Woolf. What does scare the crap out of me is the quartet of dysfunctional, alienated weirdoes who binge drink their way through Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Joe Pesce (top) and Chad Brummett in Macbett

Tricklock Performance Space

The Tricklock Company is putting up a new version of Macbett, Eugene Ionesco's infamous spoof of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Wacky, funny and down-right bloody outrageous, this production, directed by Joe Feldman, is a fast and furious slice of absurdist theater that examines the demonic nature of power and corruption. The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 6 p.m., through May 23. $12 general, $9 students/seniors. A special catered opening gala will occur on Friday, April 23, at 8 p.m. $18. To reserve tickets, call 254-8393.

A scene from Wings at the Vortex Theatre

Vortex Theatre

Emily Stilson suffers a brutal stroke after a long career as a wing-walker. Arthur Kopit's play Wings follows Stilson's life in the aftermath of this tragedy as she slips in and out of consciousness. The audience glimpses her trauma from her own perspective and that of her doctors and physical therapist. This nuanced psychological play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. through May 16 at the Vortex in a new production directed by Lou Mazzullo. $10 general, $8 students/seniors. 247-8600.

Three New Poetry Volumes from the Southwest

Though not a densely populated publishing Mecca like the Northeast, the Southwest is home to many small presses whose work is every bit as impressive. Tucson's University of Arizona Press recently released two ambitious, carefully crafted books of poetry: Margo Tamez's Naked Wanting (University of Arizona Press, paper, $15.95) and David Dominguez's Work Done Right (University of Arizona Press, paper, $15.95). Likewise, Albuquerque's La Alameda Press has released Michael Rothenberg's Unhurried Vision (La Alameda Press, paper, $16). This trio of books showcases the publishers' ability to produce well-crafted and beautifully designed books.

Books that claim to draw rational links between spirituality and science draw me to them like a kitten to cream. I've slurped up dozens of books on this theme over the years. Unfortunately, they almost always disappoint me, mainly because articulating connections between religion and science is extremely difficult. While religion is based almost purely on instinct and emotion, science is fueled mostly by intellect and reason. Like oil and water, these two elements rarely mix.

Fans of serious science fiction have been raving about Hamilton's new novel. Set in the 24^th century, Pandora's Star describes an attack on human civilization by a very peculiar alien intelligence. The epic will conclude with next year's Judas Unleashed.