More 'Amerika' Comedies, 'edgy' dramas and more open this week

A few classic musicals and comedies, as well as a couple of dramas with "edgy" content, are among local productions opening this week.

• "ARSENIC AND OLD LACE," featuring Brigham Young University faculty members Barta Heiner and Janet Swenson as the sweet but deadly Brewster sisters, will play Wednesday-April 25 in the Harris Fine Arts Center's Pardoe Theatre. The classic comedy, written by Joseph Kesserling, is directed by Laurie Harrop-Purser.

Also in the cast are Ben Cummins as drama critic Mortimer Brewster; Jessica Montgomery as Elaine, his girlfriend; Daniel Hess as Uncle Teddy Brewster; Matthew Carlin as the sinister Jonathan Brewster; and David S. Julien as Dr. Einstein.

Discounted dress-rehearsal performances are Wednesday and Thursday. Regular performances are Tuesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with one matinee on Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. All seats are $5 at the dress rehearsals and matinee. Tickets for other performances are $12 for general admission or $9 for those with BYU or student ID. (422-4322).

• "BIG RIVER," Roger Miller and William Hauptman's Tony Award-winning musical version of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," will be staged Friday through April 8 by the Draper Arts Council in the Riverton City Civic Center, 12830 S. Redwood Road (1700 West).

Bradford Garrison is directing a cast that features Alex Boye as Jim, the runaway slave; Danny James as Huck Finn, Amy Kearns as Miss Watson, Bruce Craven as Duke, Melinda Mullin as Widow Douglas, Walt Price as Pap Finn and Howard Winn as King, Hilary Wood as Mary Jane Wilkes, Charles Clark as Mark Twain and Judge Thatcher, and Thomas Kulkus as the Young Fool and Ben Rogers.

Performances are Friday and April 3, 5, 7 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, April 8, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission seating, available at the door or in advance at the Draper Albertsons, 1212 E. Draper Parkway. There is also a limited amount of reserved seating at $10 each (835-8130 or 288-2874).

• "THE FOREIGNER," the late Larry Shue's comedy about shenanigans in a hunting lodge in the backwoods of Georgia — and a painfully shy visitor who pretends he can't speak or understand English — will play Saturday through May 6 at StageRight TheaterCompany, 5001 S. Highland Drive.

Directed by Mike Brown, the cast includes Jeff Davis as Charlie, who is afraid to converse with strangers; Jim Gastelum as Froggy LeSueur, a British demolitions expert who is Charlie's best friend; Vicki Pugmire as Betty, who runs the lodge; Chelsey Richardson as Catherine; Chris Kucera as Ellerd; and Josh Richardson as David.