The Garden Party:

We here at the Mercury don’t always understand the work put out by defunkt theatre. But frankly, after three years of reviewing theater in this town, I’ve seen enough blandly “thought-provoking” productions to appreciate the fact that defunkt doesn’t shy from genuinely difficult material. Their newest show, Vaclav Havel’s The Garden Party opens this weekend, and the two opening shows (Friday and Saturday) are FREE.

Back Door Theater, 4319 SE Hawthorne, show opens April 25, runs Thurs-Sun 8 pm, Fri &S at $10-15, Thurs & Sun pay what you will

Nobody Here But Us Chickens:

The consistently excellent Third Rail Repertory presents Nobody Here But Us Chickens, their last show at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center before they move to the World Trade Center Theater downtown. Based on the press release, Film Editor Erik Henriksen was under the impression that the show was actually performed by chickens. ("Chickens will have a signed performance for the deaf on Thursday 5/1/08 at 8pm. Chickens will have an audio performance available for the blind on Sunday matinee 5/4/08 at 2pm.") It is not. It's three comedic pieces about people with disabilities, by British playwright Peter Barnes. ("The disabled are not a different species but, like the rest of us, absurd and ridiculous; only they have it harder.")

Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate, opens Fri, runs Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, $25 ($16 students)

The Ed Foreman Show, with ME! ED FOREMAN!:

Local funnyman Aaron Ross has a fictional alter ego—motivational speaker Ed Foreman—who will be joined onstage by none other than our future mayor, Sam Adams.

AudioCinema, 226 SE Madison, Sat, April 26, 7:30 pm, $10

Shakespeare Party:

In what must be the most endearingly nerdy theatrical event of the year, the Northwest Classical Theatre Company present their fifth annual "Shakespeare Birthday Bash," at which the Bard's b-day is celebrated with tea and cake, a Shakespeare open mic, and highlights from the NWCTC's upcoming season. I'm not sure I believe actors should be allowed access to open mics, but otherwise it sounds pretty fun.

PLUS! It's still "Clown Month" at Theater! Theatre! Click here for more info; and don't forget to check Found It! for complete reviews, listings, and more.