Friday, July 11, 2008

Theater Minis

NOW PLAYING

The Imaginary Invalid — Shakespeare Theatre — ★★★½ Rene Auberjonois' hearty hypochrondriac is one of the slapstick pleasures of director Keith Baxter's mirthful and music-filled production of Moliere's final work. Mr. Baxter's lustrous staging is very much in keeping with the playwright's original intent — a court performance for Louis XIV — and contains an homage to the king, period songs and three commedia dell'arte dance interludes. Along the way, Moliere lavishly jabs the medical profession — which, in his mind, contains many similarities to the world's oldest profession — and quackeries that do nothing but lighten the patient's wallet. The show is light as a mousse, and the dance scenes staged by Gillian Lynnecq are as lyrical as the comedic interludes are buffoonishly buoyant. Through July 27. 202/547-1122

The Lion King — Kennedy Center — ★★★ "The Lion King" roared into town festooned with awards, its nine-week engagement here virtually sold out. This juggernaut of a musical is crammed with scenery, action, vibrant lighting effects, actors tumbling through space, musical power — an orchestra in the pit, a drummer on each side of the stage, belt-it-out soloists and a chorus, with most of the music by Elton John. Whether or not you're enthralled by this Disney extravaganza probably will depend on your view of the Disney franchise. Theater at its best is a transforming experience, and this "Lion King" has a hardhearted, careless sheen at its center. Through Aug. 24. 202/467-4600

Stuff Happens — Olney Theatre Center — ★ ★ ★ Recent events are turned into the stuff of epic tragedy in David Hare's frequently gripping political drama, a Washington premiere being given a polished, impeccably acted staging at Olney under the gifted guidance of director Jeremy Skidmore. Mr. Hare, a British playwright, wrote the play in 2004 as a meticulous timeline showing how President Bush dug in his heels with his decision to invade Iraq in 2003 and why then-Prime Minister Tony Blair chose to follow his lead. Mr. Skidmore has assembled a top-notch cast of actors who rise above comedic impressions. Jeff Allin embodies the manic zeal of Donald H. Rumsfeld, and Leo Erickson captures the inscrutable, Cheshire Cat quality of Dick Cheney. Carlos Bustamante and Amir Arison are striking in a number of international roles, while Stephen Schmidt exudes drive and ill-fated purpose as Tony Blair. Rick Foucheux resists the temptation for buffoonery with President Bush, giving us instead a man who cannot be moved once he makes a decision, and this portrayal is cannily comic and often poignant. As a great man who takes a great fall, Fred Strother's Colin Powell approaches a modern-day King Lear figure. Through July 20. 301/924-3400

The Mystery of Irma Vep — Arena Stage at Crystal City — ★★★ Take a dash of "Rebecca," a dose of "Gaslight" and throw in some cross-dressing and split-second costume changes, and you've got "The Mystery of Irma Vep," Charles Ludlam's loving satire of melodramatic mysteries and campy horror movies directed with a barefaced bent for sheer entertainment by Rebecca Bayla Taichman. With their physical grace and silent-movie faces, Brad Oscar and J. Fred Shiffman are Laurel and Hardy on steroids, playing a grab bag of stock characters (and monsters) and shucking flamboyant outfits more often than Carrie Bradshaw and the other "Sex and the City" gals put together. They also tread lightly on the script's shameless double-entendres and visual puns. Through Sunday. 202/488-3300

MAXIMUM RATING: FOUR STARS

• Jayne Blanchard and Jean Battey Lewis