Author: rakemag

It’s impossible for us to say “Digable Planets” without some feet-thumping and hip-swaying. It reminds us of our cooler, more nimble youth, specifically: First Avenue Danceteria, circa 1992, and the band’s ultra-smooth rendition of “Nickel Bag of Funk.” This brand of relaxed, jazz-infused hip-hop was something new then, and the Digable Planets helped pioneer it by sampling obscure soul and churning chilled-out ditties like “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat).” Now, ten years after they split, Butterfly, Doodlebug, and Ladybug are back together. Here’s hoping they’ve retained their groove from those early years, and here’s hoping we don’t throw out our back at their show. 701 First Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-332-1775; www.first-avenue.com

In this world-premiere production written by Lee Blessing, two fiftysomethings–a man and a woman–wake up side by side in a house on a mountaintop that’s encircled by water. They have absolutely no recollection of their lives before. Are they husband and wife? One-night lovers? People pass by, filling in the blanks of their forgotten lives, but their confusion only snowballs, turning from bemused perplexity into all-out terror. Blessing, a Minneapolis native and playwright of award-winners like A Walk in the Woods and Two Rooms (produced last January by Theatre in the Round), uses A Body of Water to explore some of our greatest worries: Alzheimer’s, memory loss, and waking in midlife to a relatively meaningless existence. 700 N. First St., Minneapolis; 612-377-2224; www.guthrietheater.org

Joe Orton’s play was a sensation when it premiered in Britain in the sixties. Time has tempered the shock value of this love triangle, in which a prim landlady and her sneaky brother compete wildly for the attentions of Mr. Sloan, a charming bisexual fellow played by Justin Kirk (Angels in America), but it’s still got plenty of entertainment value–especially when produced by the Jungle. The wry and witty dialogue, sharp satire, and lampooning of various communities remind us that Orton’s career, cut short by his murder at the hands of a lover, was a brilliant one that continues to influence theater. 2951 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-7063; www.jungletheater.com

Expect Lonely Mountain and Middle Earth to be spectacularly colorful. Expect a fantastical troupe of lords, dragons, and trolls, all cloaked and bearded and wearing their hair in those requisite sci-fi ringlets. Children’s Theatre Company has employed its own stable of sorcerers and wizards–costume and set designers, that is–to do justice to the beginning of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. When it comes to playing Bilbo Baggins, the story’s reluctant superstar, we can’t think of a better performer than the wide-eyed Nathan Christopher. With his hair in red curls and a wardrobe of nerdy wool vests and gaudy tweeds, this Twin Cities-based actor is just the tea-sipping, hapless hero we want him to be. 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-874-0400; www.childrenstheatre.org

A spectacular performance by the Ananya Dance Theatre attempts to produce something beautiful from the violence, fundamentalist zealotry, and militarism that seems especially plentiful right now. Created and performed by a group of twenty-five women from the Twin Cities and various locales overseas, Bandh expresses the dream of peace they wish for in their homelands and the rest of the world. The production draws on a variety of Asian dance forms, particularly Odissi, a classical tradition performed in the temples of India. After nearly dying out, Odissi has been studied extensively through old manuscripts, paintings, and poetry, and the difficult but highly lyrical dance is now experiencing a revival. 1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-340-1725; www.southerntheater.org

Payne’s About Schmidt, Election, and, of course, Sideways have all had success with mainstream audiences, and we find this encouraging, since there’s more than a little something off-kilter about his work. There’s his seedy and often shocking sense of humor; annoying and utterly pathetic characters that you don’t like, but can’t help but empathize with; and, ultimately, a pretty bleak worldview. To us, this says that moviegoers are indeed still interested in being challenged and disturbed by popular fare. Payne will offer his own thoughts about his success in a conversation with filmmaker and L.A. Times film critic Kenneth Turan, which should be entertaining if you enjoy watching people talk about movies, a la Siskel & Ebert. If you’d rather just cut to the chase, as they say in Hollywood, the Walker is also screening a retrospective of Payne’s work. We’re especially curious to see The Passion of Martin, a black comedy he made in 1991 as a film student, about a thirty-ish photographer who believes that a woman who admires his work is destined to become his soulmate. www.walkerart.org

According to a study conducted by the BBC, McDonald’s is the corporation with the least favorable image on the Internet. It’s not looking so good for this multinational in theaters, either, with documentaries like Super-Size Me and McLibel revealing that under the Golden Arches, it’s not just the food that’s bad. McLibel tells the story of the longest lawsuit in British history: A mailman and a gardener who handed out anti-McDonald’s leaflets defend themselves against libel charges and lose–but the corporation’s victory backfires in the course of a trial that uncovers rampant environmental abuse, cruelty to animals, unsavory business practices, and labor violations, among other charges. Like Super-Size Me, this documentary takes humorous turns, even while making you think twice about what you put in your mouth. 10 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-331-3134; www.mnfilmarts.org/bell

Burned-out, third-rate rocker starts music school for kids. Nerds, jocks, and princesses find joy and meaning and unity in their newfound desire to rock out. The hit film was, of course School of Rock, starring the gloriously second-rate rocker Jack Black; less well-known, until now, is that Black’s character was based on a real person, teacher Paul Green. Even if this documentary appears to be riding the coattails of the highly successful Hollywood version of Green’s story, it’s highly entertaining in its own right, thanks to Green’s frenetic and foul personality. Jack Black may be a spaz of the highest order, but this film shows that he actually shares this very special gift with another being. 612-825-6006; www.landmarktheatres.com

Time magazine dubbed the current glut of twenty-somethings “Twixters” because so many are hovering between (or betwixt) college and career. Mired in this limbo, many embark on a quest to “find themselves,” which often requires changing jobs and apartments every six months. But instead of taking a decade to “think about stuff,” what would it be like if you had to decide the course of the rest of your life over the next twenty-four hours? In a cleverly convoluted plot filled with old flames and new truths, Heights moves among five New Yorkers who have to make these life choices by sunrise the next morning. Advance word is that star Glenn Close’s comeback performance is stunning; the movie as a whole is worth a double viewing. 612-825-6006; www.landmarktheatres.com

The weather is warm, the sun is high in the sky–but don’t let yourself be deceived. There are crooks, murderers, and plenty of weirdos out there to get you, especially if you happen to be a winsome blonde. Find out how you might meet your end in this summer-long series that covers the early years of Alfred Hitchcock’s career; June’s screenings will include The Lady Vanishes, Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, and Rope. It’s worth taking advantage of this rare opportunity to see the icon’s less-famous works on the big screen, where it is easier to pick up on the clues the devious director scattered through his dark tales. Plus, it’s harder to miss his famous cameos–note, however, that he was quite slim in these early years. 309 Oak St. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-331-3134; www.mnfilmarts.org