The sexy Varsity opened this spring in hopes of being all things to all artistes: coffee shop for socializing or solitary pondering; stage for emoting or escapism; bar for all of the above. Now it’s staging a play perfectly suited to such funky and flexible environs. The Artificial Jungle, a film-noir send-up by Charles Ludlum (The Mystery of Irma Vep), has its female roles played by exquisite men in drag. The lead character is the vampy Roxanne Nurdinger, whose husband brings to their marriage not only that surname, but a meddling mom. When Roxanne meets a fascinating stranger, she concocts the ugliest way possible to get out of her dull situation. 1308 Fourth St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-604-0222; www.varsitytheater.org ??
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