Culture Shock: Irish Theater, Slam, Mythology

Erin Adair-Hodges
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2 min read
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Albuquerque. A high-desert city of half a million souls, all bumping into each other on the way to destiny. A sleepy town? Sure, this ain’t no Pittsburgh or anything, but there’s plenty here to keep the denizens of Dirt City well-fed with art, depending on their appetites. Here’s the menu.

Hungry for tragedy?
Mother Road Theatre Company presents Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane , winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play. Set in an early ’90s Irish village, it’s the story of a middle-aged spinster and her seriously messed-up relationship with her mother. This alternately bleak and darkly funny tale is directed by Burque theater stalwart Vic Browder. The show runs April 2 through 25, with performances on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 6 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. at The Filling Station (1024 Fourth Street SW). Tickets are $16; call 243-0596 for reservations. And on Friday, April 2, don’t miss the opening gala, with food and drink beginning at 7 p.m. Go to motherroad.org for info.

Are blood sports more your thing? Then welcome National Poetry Month by heading over to the
2010 ABQ Grand Slam Championship on Saturday, April 3, at the Outpost Performance Space (210 Yale SE), beginning at 7:30 p.m. The usual suspects, as well as a few newbies, will mouth-fight each other to the death, which will be sad since then we’ll only have a few slam poets left. Oh well. Hosted by Def Poet Tim Stafford, the evening is sure to be exxxxtreme. The top four who survive (for now) will go on to the National Poetry Slam in St. Paul, Minn. There, the competitors will be required to run the gauntlet, which may or may not be a metaphor. Slam’s unpredictable that way. Tickets are $10, $5 for students and Outpost members. Get them in advance at 268-0044. For more, go to outpostspace.org.

Maybe you’ve got an itch for mythology. That’s cool. I know a guy who can help. Painter
Thomas Christopher Haag’s new show, mysteriously titled New Works , presents his dense reimaginings of mythic and legendary characters. New Works runs at Mariposa Gallery (3500 Central SE) April 2 through 30. The First Friday opening reception on April 2 goes from 5 to 8 p.m. While you’re there, head upstairs to see work by Eric McCollon. See mariposa-gallery.com for details.
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