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The Old Globe's Summer Shakespeare Festival features some mighty fine costumes

July 7, 2010

12:00 AM

The Old Globe Theatre's Summer Shakespeare Festival is quickly becoming The Dierdre Clancy Show— the costumer's design work in King Lear and The Taming of the Shrew at once illuminates the characters and their circumstances, which is to say it's some of the finest dressage I've seen since I've been doing this. If only Shrew held up as well in other respects, not the least of which is director Ron Daniels' coaching. The story centers on gadabout Petruchio's (Jonno Roberts) attempt to woo Katherine (Emily Swallow) to the altar, but Roberts doesn't play Petruchio as quite the asshole Bill may have had in mind. And Swallow's Kate is certainly pissy enough, but pissy's no substitute for chronic anger (plus Swallow's far too pretty for the part). Meanwhile, give several secondary characters points for their sense of revelry and fun. Through Sept. 26 at The Old Globe's Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. $29- $56. oldglobe.org

OPENING

[title of show]: Two writers slave away on a new musical in homage to Broadway. In previews beginning July 8, it opens July 10 at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights. $33-$35, $20 previews. diver sionary.org

NOW PLAYING

Avenue Q: Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad, comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Produced by Broadway / San Diego, it runs through July 11 at the Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., Downtown. $15.50-$66.50. broad waysd.com

Surf Report: Judith swims against the tide amid the demands of her surfing-obsessed boss, her schlubby husband and her wannabe artist daughter. Through July 11 at La Jolla Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Forum, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. $30-$75. lajollaplay house.com

Smoke on the Mountain: The Great Depression is coming to an end, and the Sanders Family Singers are back on the road—'sep that the bus just broke down. Produced by Lamb's Players Theatre, it runs through July 18 at the Horton Grand Theatre, 444 Fourth Ave., Downtown. $26-$48. lambsplayers.org

Parasite Drag: Two estranged brothers are forced to make arrangements for their sister, a homeless drug addict. Produced by Ion Theatre Company, it runs through July 21 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn, 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest. See our review on this page. $15-$25. iontheatre.com

Harvey: Can Elwood P. Dowd help it if his best friend happens to be a 6- foot-tall invisible rabbit? Produced by Lamb's Players Theatre, it runs through July 25 at the Ione and Paul Harter Stage, 1142 Orange Ave. in Coronado. $28-$56. lambsplayers.org

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: A bunch of fidgety kids prove that the only thing worse than being 13 is being 13 while having to spell “pyrrhonism.” Through Aug. 3 at North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987- D Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach. $32-$50. northcoastrep.org