Curtain call

Same hit, different day: It says here that I Love You Because, the latest entry at North Coast Repertory Theatre, is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It’s true this musical comedy tastes a lot like Jane’s classic take on romantic love and how opposites attract to that end, and Jane would have laughed herself loopy at this shticky, highly physical portrayal—but set it in modern-day New York and the story itself becomes pretty unremarkable. Two young couples find romantic happiness in spite of themselves ad nauseam in Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman’s overwritten piece, although director Rick Simas, an SDSU theater professor, exploits the innuendo extremely well. As love interest Diana, Kristen Mengelkoch is particularly interesting; she’s terribly funny, and with her glasses on, she looks frighteningly like Sarah Palin. The show runs through Sept. 27 at North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987-D Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach. $32-$50. 858-481-1055, www.northcoastrep.org.

Opening

Speed-the-Plow: Intrigue surrounds the back lots of Hollywood movies and the stars that made them. Produced by Ion Theatre Company, it opens Sept. 9 at Sushi Performance and Visual Art, 390 11th Ave., Downtown. $14-$25, $35 opening night (includes reception). 619-600-5020, www.iontheatre.com.

Now playing

Coriolanus: A great military leader can’t seem to stomach the idea of popular rule and pays the ultimate price for his betrayal of Rome. Through Sept. 27 at The Old Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. $29-$56. 619-23-GLOBE, www.oldglobe.org.

* Drink Me: Can imaginary childhood friends become actual living beings? Produced by MOXIE Theatre, it runs through Sept. 27 at The Mandell Weiss Theatre Forum Studio, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive in La Jolla. $15. 858-598-7620, www.moxietheatre.com.

* Leaving Iowa: A newspaper columnist is on his own road trip to honor his dad’s memory amid flashbacks of childhood vacations. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through Sept. 20 at the Ione and Paul Harter Stage, 1412 Orange Ave. in Coronado. $22-$58. 619-437-0600, www.lambsplayers.org.

* Shopping and Fucking: If you killed someone, what would it feel like? Produced by Triad Productions, it runs through Sept. 12 at Compass Theatre, 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest. $10-$23. 619-688-9210, www.compasstheatre.com.

The 39 Steps: An innocent man’s on the lam for the murder of a woman that may have been committed by the cops. Through Sept. 13 at The Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive in La Jolla. $38-$65. 858-550-1010, www.lajollaplayhouse.org.

Twelfth Night: A secret love and some false bravado make Malvolio’s life suck, but it all works out. Through Sept. 27 at The Old Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. $29-$56. 619-23-GLOBE, www.oldglobe.org.

*Spamalot: You’ll never guess where Sir Lancelot and his men find the Holy Grail. Produced by Broadway/San Diego, it runs through Sept. 13 at the Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., Downtown. $49.99-$119. 619-570-1100, www.broadwaysd.com. See our review.