Candide
Voltaire's picaresque novel is epic in ideas as well as in globe-hopping scope. Nick Ryan's adaptation abridges the wild tale while successfully maintaining both Voltaire's witty satire and his intellectual debate. Four Humors Theater's production is as outrageous as the story. Director Jason Ballweber creates a broadly theatrical, anarchic experience. As the hapless Candide, Brant Miller is silly, but also sweet, giving the show an emotional punch. Playing multiple roles, Matt Spring, Ryan Lear, Christian Bardin and Anna Hickey dazzle. (10 p.m. Mon., 7 p.m. Fri., 5:30 p.m. Sat., Rarig Thrust, 330 21st Ave. S.)
WILLIAM RANDALL BEARD
Comedy, Magic, & Neurosis
The title aptly sums up writer-performer David Harris' stand-up-cum-stage-memoir. He effortlessly turns tricks with cards, bottle caps and fake snow, all the while daubing sweat as he tells us about growing up in New Hope (No Hope), crashing as a student at the University of Minnesota and suffering through his parents' divorce. Harris' self-deprecating, nervous shtick could be tightened, if only because we tire of feeling sorry for someone who seems to be dying up there. On the plus side, he had a very good opening act in Miss Shannon. (5:30 p.m. Wed., 10 p.m. Fri., 8:30 p.m. Sat., Rarig Arena, 330 21st Av S.)
ROHAN PRESTON
Hans The Obscure
Lawrence Ripp has adapted three minor works by Hans Christian Andersen -- "Clod Hans," "It Is Perfectly True!" and "Little Clause & Big Claus." The stories have the Andersen whimsy, caprice and dark humor, but in Ripp's telling, they go flat. The tales play best in the mind, as narratives to be read, rather than dramatic vessels. John Gottskalkson serves as narrator, and when theater needs a narrator, you know the action is not going to be very lively. Ripp and Mahmoud Hakima put some energy into this, but you're best served checking out the book. (5:30 p.m. Mon. & Wed., 7 p.m. Fri., 4 p.m. Sat., Brave New Workshop Student Union, 2605 Hennepin Av.)
