Sneak peeks

>> Kick back with seven plays and a cabaret

by AMY BARRATT

This time of year in English theatre, all anybody's asking is, "When's the Fringe?" The answer is, June 14-24, and there'll be lots about it next week in this space, but first, some of the highlights of the rest of the summer. Gravy Bath's new play, Critic, continues through June 16 at the Epic Newsroom, an unconventional theatre space on the Plateau at 111 Roy E., corner Coloniale. In the text by Anthony Kokx, four characters explore the state of art and the meaninglessness of the society in which we live--or something like that. Info: 920-9183

And what about those zanies at the Saidye doing Brecht's Threepenny Opera, in Yiddish! Sergeant-Major Bryna Wasserman directs the amateur thespians of the Yiddish Theatre. Until June 28. Info and reservations: 739-7944.

Come summer solstice, it'll be time for infinitheatre's third annual Midsummer Night's Costume Cabaret. The party takes place Wednesday, June 20 at Le Belmont sur le Boulevard (4483 St-Laurent). As always, revellers are encouraged to dress up, but if you don't want to go the full Frank N. Furter, as artistic director Guy Sprung did last year, you are encouraged to at least wear "your maddest hat."

Saskatchewan-bred singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor--who was spotted at the recent opening of infini's Dead Ducks--has been booked to perform. That's a special treat for local fans who rarely get to see Kaldor perform live, even though she lives here. Other acts are still being lined up, but are sure to include local actors doing their party pieces. Last year's event even had a surprise appearance by Hollywood star William Hurt. Let's just say it's not out of the question that he might reappear. There will also be a raffle draw the night of the Costume Cabaret. All proceeds from the evening will go to commission a new Montreal play. Info: 987-1774.

Village Theatre West in Hudson kicks off its summer season next week with The Melville Boys, by Norm Foster. Renovations transforming the old train station into a comfortable, air-conditioned theatre are now complete. The Melville Boys is directed by Heather Markgraf-Lowe with a cast including Paula Hixson, seen recently in Wit at the Centaur, and Graham Cuthbertson, a Concordia Theatre student who was really terrific in Soulfishing's production of Crackwalker. Info: (450) 458-5361.

Shaking up Shakespeare

July will see the return of Elysian River Theatre's Shakespeare on Mount Royal. As they did two years ago with Shakespeare on Love, the company will be cutting and pasting scenes from Shakespeare. NOT in a Dream is literally a cross between Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night's Dream. It is directed by Lowell Gasoi and the cast includes Cory Fantie and Jennifer Wade. The meeting place is the Cartier Monument at the base of the mountain (where the Tam-tams are) and performances are at 7 p.m. July 5-21, excluding Sundays and Mondays. Admission is by donation. Info: 926-3992

The Just for Laughs comedy festival will try to follow up the success of last year's import, Late Nite Catechism, with the locally produced Mom's the Word. The play, a collective creation by six Vancouver writer-performers, is--you guessed it--all about motherhood. Any company that wants to produce the show has to promise to cast only real-live mothers. The Montreal cast who are talented actors as well as moms, includes Jennifer Morehouse, Carolyn Guillet, Ellen David, Susie Almgren, France Rolland and Satori Shakoor. July 5-22 at the Centaur. Info: 288-3161.

The show to watch out for in August is Camera, Woman, presented in the context of Divers/Cité. The co-production between Montreal companies Out and Sin 4 and Toronto's Buddies in Bad Times has been in the works for a year. It's the story of one of Hollywood's first female film directors, Dorothy Arzner, also a lesbian, whose career effectively ended when she filmed a kiss between two women. That's slotted for the MAI, August 1-12. Info: 522-6198.

Gravy Bath is back at the end of August with a bold version of Shakespeare's The Tempest, to be staged at the Calixa-Lavallée theatre in Parc Lafontaine. Titled Tempest: Forecast Disaster, it's the unadulterated text, but set in an asylum. Directed by Matthew Tiffin, it runs Aug.-Sept. 1. Info: 920-9183.