A & E

Cultural heritage and ethnic identity receive a lengthy but interesting investigation in Mark Clayton Southers' "James McBride."

The second in a "Culture Clash" trio of plays planned by Southers, "James McBride" dramatizes the consternation that arises when a society of Irish poets votes to confer its $25,000 annual prize on an American poet of Irish ancestry. Verbal and physical sparring erupt when the poet turns out to be not only Irish-American but African-American.

Andrew S. Paul directs a strong and talented cast headed by Joshua Elijah Reese and James Keegan as the poet McBride and the Irish pub owner Padraig Coogan. Jay Keenan, E. Bruce Hill and Roger Jerome entertain as contentious and articulate Irish poets. Joseph Martinez and Theo Allyn add sparkle as McBride's white rapper pal and a scrappy but sensitive barmaid.

"James McBride" continues through Saturday at The Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, on the mezzanine at 542 Penn Ave., Downtown. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.

Admission is $25 at the door or $20 with reservation. Students, artists and those 60 and older receive a $2.50 discount on Friday and Saturday. Call 412-288-0358 to reserve, then pay at the box office. For Thursday's performance, $14.99 tickets are available from ProArts Ticket Service at 412-394-3353.

-- Alice T. Carter

'Key to the Field'

Lots of action and not a little gore takes center stage in David Turkel's "Key to the Field."

Turkel's play won a fully staged production by Bricolage Theater Company after audiences chose it from among six plays that the company had given seated readings over the past year.

Turkel's exploration of parental paranoia and the American dream turned nightmare begins with a brick thrown through the picture window of a suburban couple's home. It quickly moves into a realm that's as bizarre and outrageous as it is involving.

The play's lack of forward motion is more than compensated for by Jed Allen Harris's energetic direction and the fiercely engaged performances of its cast of three -- Tami Dixon, Martin Giles and Sam Turich.

"Key to the Field." runs through Oct. 7 at 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown. Performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Admission is $15. Details: 412-381-0699.

-- Alice T. Carter

Dance inspired feelings of hope, despair and triumph at Philadanco's performance Saturday night at the Byham Theater, Downtown.

Four well-contrasted pieces were performed, opening with a vision of utopia called "In Between Time" by Zane Booker to fetching Latin-tinged music of Chuck Mangione. Booker's work integrated solo and ensemble dancing in a remarkably successful expression of joyous yearning.

"Southern Landscape" was a harrowing evocation of the Reconstruction era after the Civil War. It was originally created in 1947 by Talley Beatty and re-created by Philadanco with support from a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Although a scene in which gunshots killed many people was powerful, "Mourners Bench" was even more extraordinary -- a solo by Devin Roberts with breathtaking control of slow movement.

Although Gene Hill Sagan's version of "La Valse" to music by Maurice Ravel was visually entertaining, its high-energy pacing was often at odds with the music.

"Philadelphia Experiment" by Rennie Harris brought the show to an exciting conclusion that combined projected images of Philadelphia with powerful dancing. The exuberant sexuality of the final section elicited storms of cheering and applause, all well deserved.

-- Mark Kanny

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