Need a diversion? Catch a silly play, hear from the Man in Black or take in an old-time music show
‘Love, Sex, and the IRS’
The Olympian staff makes some effort to come up with catchy headings, but in this case, it would be difficult to do better than “Love, Sex, and the IRS,” the title of Olympia Little Theatre’s latest play. “IRS,” opening Friday, Jan. 26, is a farce in the classic mold with twists of fate, sight gags and, of course, mistaken identities. The plot of Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore’s 1979 play centers on two roommates who pretend on their tax returns to be husband and wife to save money. The play’s theatrical rights company describes as “a cross between ‘I Love Lucy’ and ‘Some Like It Hot.’ ” Performances are at 7:25 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26-27, as well as Feb. 2-3 and 8-10; and at 1:55 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, as well as Feb. 4 and 11, at the theater, 1925 Miller Ave. NE, Olympia. Tickets are $10-$16.
Cash in
Fans of country-music icon Johnny Cash can revisit Cash’s songs about loss, tribulation and prison time Sunday, Jan. 28, in Olympia. “Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience” combines footage of the Man in Black performing with live musicians, plus interpretations of Cash classics by other singers. The video footage, projected above the stage, includes both performances and stories from “The Johnny Cash Show,” a TV program that ran from 1969 to 1971. Among the songs featured are “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire” and “I Walk the Line.” The show is at 7 p.m. Sunday at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $49-$99. Also coming up at the center is “Potted Potter,” a Harry Potter parody that compresses all seven books into 70 minutes. The show, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, is sold out with a waitlist.
Old-time music at the Crypt
Modern honky-tonk duo Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms, internationally known in the world of old-time music, are bringing their soulful country sounds to Olympia on Sunday, Jan. 28. The San Juan Islands-based duo, who also play with the Portland-based Foghorn Stringband, have performed many times at the Oly Old-Time Festival. Also on the bill are The Faux Paws and Golden Shoals, also internationally known old-time outfits. “It’s amazing to have all these amazing musicians in one place in downtown Oly,” said Emily Teachout, who organizes the old-time festival. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Cryptatropa Bar, 421 Fourth Ave E, Olympia, The cover charge is $15-$30.
Laughter is not normally freelance writer Molly Gilmore’s response to discussions of the IRS.