Laughter awaits audiences

Wasatch Front theatergoers will find plenty of laughs this week, with everything from Neil Simon and an old-fashioned British "pantomime" to a couple of diverse touring shows.

• "LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS," one of Neil Simon's earlier comedies, opens Saturday and plays through March 12 at StageRight TheaterCompany, 5001 S. Highland Drive.

Directed by Mike Brown, the cast includes Jeremy Jonsson as Barney, a fish restaurant operator who decides it's time to find out if he's a lover or a loser, with Kimberly Cooper, Holly Braithwaite and Vicki Pugmire, respectively, as Elaine, Bobbi and Jeanette — three women he has to pick from.

StageRight cautions that, due to mild language and adult situations, this play is in "PG-13" territory.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens (272-3445).

• ONE OF THE FUNNIEST SHOWS IN TOWN could turn slightly serious on Valentine's Day.

KSOP Radio is accepting essays from potential couples on "Why We Should Have Our Own Big Fat Utah Wedding" — and the couple who turns in the winning essay will have the opportunity to be married on stage following the Valentine's Day performance of Desert Star Dinner Theatre's production of "My Big Fat Utah Wedding."

The couple selected will also receive a wedding dinner for 40 of their friends and family and tickets to see the show.

The wedding will be performed by Desert Star's artistic director, Scott Holman, who is an ordained Universal Life Church minister.

• "KUNG FOOEY: A CHOW MEIN WESTERN," written by Eric Jensen, will be staged Friday through March 19 at the Off Broadway Theatre, 272 S. Main.

The plot revolves around the heroic Kwai Cain Chain and his efforts to protect Sarah Lee and her Uncle Paddy O'Deck from having their mine taken away by Marvin Mudley and his villainous gang.

Performances are Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. The weekend performances are followed at 10 p.m. by OBT's Laughing Stock "improv" comedy revue.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for senior citizens and students. Admission on Monday night is $5 for all patrons (355-4628 or online at www.obt.com).

• "FUNNY CINDERELLA," a farcical, English "pantomime" version of the classic fairy tale, is being staged from Friday through Feb. 26 at the Alpine Playhouse, 81 S. 100 West, Alpine.

(In Britain, "pantomime" productions are not "mime" at all — they're a comedic mix of vaudeville and melodrama.)