FRIDAY, SEPT. 7 

“Sisters of Selma: Bearing Witness for Change” A documentary of Bloody Sunday in 1965, at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph the WOrker Church, 1640 Addison St. Free. 482-1062. 

“War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death” Film screening and discussion with Normon Soloman at 8 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Circular Migration of Labor” with Rosalio Muñoz, chair, CPUSA Subcommittee on Immigration at 7 p.m. at the Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Suggested donation $5. 251-1120. ncalview@igc.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente Offices, Harrison Building, Room 8-K, 1950 Franklin St., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com  

Berkeley Women in Black weekly vigil from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. Our focus is human rights in Palestine. 548-6310. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 7:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St at University. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253.  

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8 

East Bay AIDS Walk from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lake Merritt, Bellevue and Grand Aves. To register see www.eastbayaidswalk.kintera.org 

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tour of Rocks, Parks and Neighborhoods of North Berkeley from 10 a.m. to noon. Co-sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Cost is $10. To register and for meeting place call 848-0181. 

Open The Farm Meet and greet the animals at the Little Farm in Tilden Park as you help the farmer with morning chores, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. 525-2233. 

Reptile Rap Meet our resident snake and turtle friends with an interactive talk for the whole family, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Sierra Club Grassroots Organizing Workshop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2530 San Pablo Ave. RSVP to 848-0800, ext. 307. 

Recycle Your Electronics Sat. and Sun. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the El Cerrito Dept. of Motor Vehicles, 6400 Manila Ave. Items accepted are computer monitors, computers, televisions, VCR and DVD players, toner cartridges, printers, fax machines, telephone equipment, cell phones and MP3 players. Sponsored by the City of El Cerrito. For information call 1-888-832-9839. www.unwaste.com 

Restoration Workday on the Banks of San Pablo Creek from 9:30 a.m. to noon at 4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante. For information call 665-3538. 

Walking Tour of Oakland City Center Meet at 10 a.m. in front Oakland City Hall at Frank Ogawa Plaza. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

Oakland Heritage Alliance Walking Tour of Montclair Village Meet at 1 p.m. at Montclair Branch Public Library, 1687 Mountain Blvd. for a gently sloping walk. 763-9218.  

Salud! A Celebration of Latino Art, Health and Community with health information, visual art and live music, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph Ave. 601-4040. www.wcrc.org 

The Crucible’s Fall Open House from 2 to 6 p.m. followed by Artist-in-Residence reception at 1260 7th Street, Oakland. www.thecrucible.org 

Fall Bloomimng Perennials & Shrubs at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. off 7th St. 644-2351. 

“Interested in Becoming a Foster Parent?” Information and training from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. RSVP to 925-370-1990. 

“The Art of Narration in Television and Radio Ads” with Paul Rowan at Dramatically Speaking, at 9 a.m., 1950 Franklin St., Room 2C, Oakland. Free, but please RSVP. ID required to get into building. 581-8675. Lunni8@aol.com 

East Bay Baby Fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Jewish Community Center of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. 540-7210. www.eastbaybabyfair.com 

Common Agenda, a local alliance of some 20 organizations in the Bay Area meets at 2 p.m. at the Peace Action Office, 2800 Adeline St. at Stuart. 524-6071. 

Auditions for Soli Deo Gloria from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1323 Central Ave., Alameda. For infromation call 888-734-7664. www.sdgloria.org 

Careers in Travel a full day class at Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St. Cost is $10. RSVP to 981-2931.  

Luna Kids Dance Open House and creative dance class from 1 to 3 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 644-3629. 

Produce Stand at Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Fast Pitch Softball for Adults at noon on Saturdays in Oakland. For information call 204-9500. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 9 

Solano Stroll “Going Green - It’s Easy” with a parade, entertainment, food, information booths, and more from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Solano Ave. in Albany and Berkeley. info@solanostroll.org 

Oakland Heritage Alliance Walking Tour of Broadway Auto Row Meet at 10 a.m. at 28th and Broadway, the tip of the Flatiron Building. 763-9218. www.oaklandheritage.org 

Huston Smith “Three Outstanding Experiences of My Life” at 10 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

The Red Oak Victory Ship Pancake Breakfast from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on board the ship, in Richmond harbor off Canal Blvd. Cost is $6, children under 5 free. 237-2933. 

The Great War Society meets to discuss “The Asquiths & Woods” by Peter Wood at 10:30 a.m. at 132 Montwood Way, Oakland. For information call 527-7118. 

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to keep your bike in excellent working condition through safety inspections, from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

MONDAY, SEPT. 10 

The 9/11 Truth Film Festival Films include “Hijacking Catastrophe,” “The Reflecting Pool,” “Zeitgeist,” “Let's Get Empirical,” “9/11: Press for Truth,” and “9/11 Mysteries” from 1 to 10 p.m. Mon. and Tues. at the Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Donation $5-$10. 

Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning Workshop for six consecutive Mon. eves. from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo Ave. Pre-registraion encouraged. 644-6130. http://bas.berkeley.net  

Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra rehearsals begin for Puccini's Messa di Gloria at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Pre-registration strongly recommended. www.bcco.org  

Children’s Dance Program begins with classes in creative movement and ballet at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave. at Gilman. For details call 233-5550. animamundi@jps.net 

Red Cross Blood Drive from noon to 6 p.m. at West Pauley Ballroom MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com  

People’s Park Community Advisory Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church, 2362 Bancroft Ave. 642-3255.  

TUESDAY, SEPT. 11 

Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Workshop for People with Disabilities at 10:30 a.m. at West Berkeley Senior Center, 1900 Sixth St. Sponsored by the Center for Independent Living and the West Berkeley Senior Center. All are welcome. 841-4776, 981-5180. 

The 9/11 Truth Film Festival showing “Hijacking Catastrophe,” “The Reflecting Pool,” “Zeitgeist,” “Let's Get Empirical,” “9/11: Press for Truth,” and “9/11 Mysteries” from 1 to 10 p.m. at the Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Donation $5-$10. 

“War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death” A documentary at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.HumanistHall.net 

“Confluence, Confusion, or Catastrophe: Prospects for Ending the Delta Stalemate” with John Cain, director of restoration programs of the Natural Heritage Institute at 5:15 p.m. at Wurster Hall, Room 112, UC Campus. 642-2666. 

Food and Farming Film “Harvest of Shame” on dislocation in agricultural landscapes, sprawl, immigration and crisis, with panelists Christopher Cook (author, Diet for a Dead Planet); Ann Lopez (Farmworkers Journey); Jason Mark (farmer, journalist), Carey Knecht (Greenbelt Alliance) at 6:40 p.m. at the Hillside Club 2286 Cedar Street at Arch. www.agrariana.org 

Womansong, PeaceSong An evening of participatory singing for women at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Small Assembly, 2345 Channing Way, at Dana. Donation $15-$20. 525-7082. betsy@betsyrosemusic.org 

End the Occupation Vigil every Tues. at noon at Oakland Federal Bldg., 1301 Clay St. www.epicalc.org 

Berkeley High School Governance Council meets to discuss BSEP Changes, WASC Plan, Update on UC Approved Courses and other issues at 4:15 p.m. in the Berkeley Community Theater. 644-4803. 

Writer Coach Connection Volunteers needed to help Berkeley students improve their writing and critical thinking skills from noon to 3 p.m. To register call 524-2319. www.writercoachconnection.org 

Tilden Mini-Rangers Hiking, conservation and nature-based activities for ages 8-12. Dress to ramble and get dirty. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-327-2757. 

“How to Realize Helping Others is Helping Yourself” A public teaching with Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Master Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche at 7 p.m. at Upaya Center for Wellbeing, 478 Santa Clara Ave., Suite 200, Oakland. Suggested donation $20. 525-5292.  

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Baby-friendly Book Club meets to discuss “Little Earthquakes” by Jennifer Weiner at 10 a.m. at Kensington Library. 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

Community Sing-a-Long every Tues, at 2 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. 524-9122.  

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland “New Era/New Politics” highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Healthy Aging Fair with health screenings and health and wellness information for seniors, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Centennial HAll, 22292 Foothill Blvd., Hayward. Sponsored by the Alameda County Commission on Aging. 577-3532. 

Students United For Peace shows the documentary “Berkeley in the Sixties” by Mark Kitchell at 7 p.m. in Evans Room 60, UC Campus. 848-8320. 

Poetry Writing Workshop with Alison Seevak at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

“Voices from Puerto Rico and Hawaii” Women resisting militarism at 6:30 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Colloquium with Todd Gilens on “Endangered Species” of urban activity, at 1 p.m. at Wurster Hall, Room 315A, UC Campus. All welcome. http://laep.ced.berkeley.edu/events/colloquium  

Recording African American Stories Add your voice to the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African American History, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., by appointment, at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. For appointment call 228-3207. 

Center for Buddhist Education presents Rev. Ken Yamada at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple, 2140 Durant Ave. at Fulton. Cost is $15. 809-1460. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. 548-9840. 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 13 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 3 to 4 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. 644-8833. 

“Lebanon, A Year Later” Lecture and slideshow by Zeina Zaatari on the aftermath of Israel’s War on Lebanon and the sectarian dilemma at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Donations accepted. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Climate Change and Health” at 6:30 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. Hosted by the Community Health Commission. 981-5437.  

“What is a Podcast and How Can it be Used in an Educational Environment?” with Mojdeh Emdadian at 7:30 p.m. in the Home Room, International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Cost is $5. 642-9460. 

East Bay Mac Users Group meets to discuss Word Processor Shoot Out: A Comparison of Options at 7 p.m. at Expression College for Digital Arts, 6601 Shellmound St., Emeryville. http://ebmug.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kaiser Center, 2nd floor lobby, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com  

Free Diabetes Screening Come find out if you might have diabetes with our free screening test and make sure not to eat or drink anything for 8 hours beforehand, from 8:45 to noon at the Latina Center, 3919 Roosevelt Ave., Richmond. 981-5332. 

Babies & Toddlers Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Council Agenda Committee meets Mon. Sept. 10, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. 

Peace and Justice Commission meets Mon., Sept. 10, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5510.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Mon., Sept. 10, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7410.  

City Council meets Tues., Sept. 11, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Homeless Commission meets Wed., Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5426.  

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. 981-6740.  

Commission on Early Childhood Education meets Thurs., Sept. 13, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5428.  

FRIDAY, SEPT. 7 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Urinetown, The Musical” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through Oct. 6. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Aurora Theatre “Hysteria” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through Sept. 30. Tickets are $40-$42. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Black Repertory Group “Secret War” Fri.-Sun. at 2:30 and 8 p.m., Gala Sept. 15. Tickets are $25-$35. 652-2120. www.BlackRepertoryGroup.com 

Impact Theatre “Sleepy” opens at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. and runs to Oct. 13. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. 

Masquers Playhouse “The Shadow Box” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., selected Sun. matinees, at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond. This show is not recommended for children. Tickets are $15. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Woodminster Summer Musicals "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat” Fri.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., Oakland, through Sept. 16. Tickets are$23-$36. 531-9597. www.woodminster.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Heading North: Journey to Atacama Desert, Chile” Photographs by Thea Bellos. Artist reception at 6 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“The Sacred in the Mundane” works by Pauletta M. Chanco. Opening reception at 5:30 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland. 465-8928. 

“Down There” New Work by Ayako Higo and Meadow Presley at 7 p.m. at Front Gallery, 35 Grand Ave., Oakland. 444-1900. 

“Distractions” Works by Janelle Renée. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at The Gallery at Lavezzo Designs, 5751 Horton St., Emeryville. 428-2384. 

“Food for Thought” Works by Barbara Garber, Vita Hewitt and Laura Parker. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, 25 Grand Ave., upper level, Oakland. www.chandracerrito.com 

FILM 

“War Made Easy” narrated by Sean Penn at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Zubeidaa” with filmmaker Shyam Benegal, at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Sunset Cinema: “Mighty Warriors of Comedy” about an Asian American sketch comedy group from San Francisco, at 7:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. 

“Great Wall of Oakland” Prjected video and improvisational music at 8:30 p.m. on Grand Ave., just west of Broadway. www.aoklandculturalarts.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Rhonda Benin and Soulful Strut at 5 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St., Oakland. 238-2022. 

Jim Ryan & Friends at 8 p.m. at Free-Jazz Fridays at the Jazz House, 1510 8th St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$15. 415-846-9432. 

E.W. Wainwright’s Tribute to Elvin Jones at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Adam Shulman Quartet, jazz and pop at 8 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10-$15. 845-1350.  

Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Iris Dement at 8 p.m. at The Thrust Stage. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Baha and Sam Coble at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Sleepyboy Moe, The Slow Poisoner, L. Cooper at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Du Uy Quintet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Cari Lee & the Saddle-ites at 9 p.m. at Downtown, 2102 Shattuck Ave. 649-3810.  

MDC at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

Kenny Burrell & The Jazz Heritage All-stars at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $14-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 8 

CHILDREN  

“The Panchatantra: Animal Lessons from India” Sat. and Sun. at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave. 452-2259. 

THEATER 

Shotgun Players “The Three Musketeers” Sat. and Sun. at 4 p.m. at John Hinkle Park, Southampton Ave., off The Arlington, through Sept. 9. Free. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

The Crucible’s Fall Open House Celebrating Art & Community frp, 2 to 6 p.m., followed by Artist-in-Residence Reception from 6 tp 8 p.m. at 1260 7th St., Oakland. www.thecrucible.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Niloufer Ichaporia introduces delicacies from “My Bombay Ckitchen: Traditional and Modern Parsi Home Cooking” at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Mozart, Mendelssohn & Brahms” with Tom Rose, calrinet, Darcy Rindt, viola, and Lynn Schugren, piano at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St.. Tickets are $18-$12. 549-3864. www.trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Iris Dement at 8 p.m. at The Thrust Stage. Cost is $26.50-$27.50. 548-1761.  

Stephen Taylor-Ramirez, Fontain’s M.U.S.E., The Simple Things at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

Beyond Walls, Beyond Wars with Georges Lamman, presented by the Arab Cultural Initiative at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $13-$14. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Dana Kemp’s Gateswingers Jazz Band at 8 p.m. at Central Perk, 10086 San Pablo Ave. at Central, El Cerrito. 558-7375.  

Eric Swinderman Quartet In Pursuit of Sound at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ.  

Sukhawat Ali Khan Band, The Wingin It Experience at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12-$15. 525-5054.  

Del Rey & Suzy Thompson at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Diablo’s Dust, Fernando Tarango at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Izabella, Cas Lucas, Mattt Lucas at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8. 848-0886.  

Dangerous Rhythm with Tim Fox at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $5. 843-2473.  

The Ravines at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

Royal Hawaiian Serenaders at 9 p.m. at Temple Bar Tiki Bar & Grill, 984 University Ave. 548-9888. 

Rock ‘N’ Roll Adventure Kids at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Bitches Brew at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 9 

THEATER 

Kung Pao Kosher Comedy “A Muslim, A Mormon, and A Jew Walk into A Bar” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 800-838-3006. www.brownpapertickets.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“graham + erikson”A sculpture and photography exhibit at the Addison St. Windows, 2018 Addison St. Sidewalk reception at 3 p.m. 981-7533. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Nathaniel Tarn and H.C. ten Berge read their poetry at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Conversations on Art “Art and Memory: An Intergenerational Conversation with Mayer Kirshenblatt and Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett at 2 p.m. at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $10-$12. 549-6950. www.magnes.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tessa Loehwig & Her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Evening for the Buffalo featuring Mike Mease and Phoenix & Afterbuffalo. Presentation at 7:30 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Skinny String Gals at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Americana Unplugged with The Stairwell Sisters at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

MONDAY, SEPT. 10 

EXHIBITIONS 

“They Called Me Mayer July” Painted Memories of a Jewish Childhood in Poland Before the Holocaust opens at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St., and runs to Jan. 13. 549-6950. www.magnes.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Robert Reich reads from his new book “Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy, and Everyday Life” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Donations requested. 559-9500. 

Peter Neumeyer discusses children’s literature and his new book “The Annotated Charlotte’s Web” at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Actors Reading Writers “Dream a Little Dream” stories by Lawrence Block, Thomas Meehan and James Thurber at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 932-0214. 

Brent Cunningham, Bill Luoma and Cynthia Sailers read their poetry at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Poetry Express with Buford Buntin at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Nada Lewis, French cafe music, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 849-1100. www.lebateauivre.net 

Conjunto Karabali at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10. 238-9200.  

TUESDAY, SEPT. 11 

THEATER 

Lynn Manning “Weights” A one-man show of narrative and poetry on Mnning’s experiences as a blind man, at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Sponsored by UCB’s Disability Studies Program and Institute for Regional Development. Tickets are $15-$25. 925-798-1300.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash An Open Reading for Peace at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley City College auditorium, 2050 Center St. 525-5476. 

Celine Parrenas Shimizu author of “Hypersexuality of Race: Performing Asian/American Women on Screen and Scene” at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585. www.universitypressbooks.com 

Daniel Cassidy describes “How the Irish Invented Slang: The Secret Language of the Crossroads” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Courtableu at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Kelly Park at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Bethany & Rufus at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. w 

Carioca, Brazilian guitariat, at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$14. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 

EXHIBITIONS 

New Works by Carol Dalton and Emily Payne opens at the Cecile Moochnek Gallery, 1809-D Fourth St., upstairs. 549-1018. 

“Wall Writings” A photographic investigation of abandonned buildings by Michelle Nye. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at The Light Room Gallery, 2263 Fifth St. 649-8111. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jazz Masters Concert with Danny Caron, blues guitarist, at noon at 12th and Broadway, Oakland.  

Wednesday Noon Concert, with Kevin Yu, cello and Chen Chen, piano, at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864.  

Ravi Abcarian Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ.  

Obeyjah and Buxter Hooten, benefit for Berkeley Television, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Pellejo Seco at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Brass Liberation Orchestra, Lloyd Family Players, Gamelon X, March Fourth Marching Band at 8 p.m. at Lobot Gallery, 1800 Campbell St., Oakland. All ages. Cost is $8-$15.  

Kids and Hearts at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

John Lester, Michael Manring at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Chuchito Valdez at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 13 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Berkeley Old Time Music Convention Panel discussion with Donna Ray Norton, Rich Hartness, Lee Stripling at 11:30 a.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. www.BerkeleyOldTimeMusic.org 

“The Port Chicago Mutiny” by Robert L. Allen Presentation, film clip and Q & A with author at 7 p.m. at Revolution Books 2425 Channing Way at Telegraph, under the Sather Gate Parking Garage. 848-1196. 

Peter Thomson describes “Sacred Sea: A Journey to Lake Baikal” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Old Time Music Convention with Donna Ray Norton, Rich Hartness & Frineds, Todalo Shakers at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50-$16.50. 548-1761.  

Linda Zuliaca & Her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ.  

Chris Jones at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Hiroshima at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $18-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

NADA LEWIS PLAYS 

Nada Lewis will play the accordian at 7 p.m. Monday at Le Bateau Ivre. The evening will feature two sets of French tunes, Parisian cafe melodies, valse musette gems, and perhaps a few central European pieces. This is music for dinner or something light, a family gathering, a glass of wine with friends, a sweet dance, or coffee and dessert at the end of your day. No cover charge. Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net.

Under a suspended crocodile in the parlor of a country home which resembles a ship’s salon, with walls covered in primitive masks and scimitars, a female servant (Lynne Soffer as Nurse Guinness) is sympathizing with a newly arrived, ungreeted—perhaps forgotten--guest: “Since she’s forgotten all about it, it will be a pleasant surprise for her to see you!” 

This is just the first arrival in a madcap stream of entrances: obviously eccentric denizens, past and present, and visitors to what the neglected (and seemingly normal) young lady, Ellie Dunn (Allison Jean White), later dubs Heartbreak House, after her only flirtation with high romance is revealed as just another compulsive interlude of wishful seduction by the husband, Hector Hushabye (Stephen Caffrey), of her hostess, Heshione (Michelle Morain). 

But the seemingly normal young woman, her brusque older intended husband (David Chandler as “Captain of Industry” Boss Mangan) and even a prepossessing burglar (Chris Ayles) will all be revealed as eccentrics themselves before the strange menage (and all of eccentro-centric England) gets derailed from its elaborate (and very comic) round of games, self-explanations and handwringing by a worldwide crisis greater by far than any of their own provincial, self-imposed wrangles in Bernard Shaw’s inverted comic masterwork, which opens Berkeley Rep’s 40th anniversary season. 

The panoply of strange customers who set up shop in the home of irascible Capt. Shotover (Michael Winters), who “sold his soul to the devil in Zanzibar,” seems to establish a square root of not-so-Goethean elective affinities, at first one with another, then hilariously multiplying. Each character alternately seems to feel and explain, at great, glib length, attraction to and/or repulsion for the others, one by one.  

This doesn’t include the game of animal magnetism practiced by Ella over Boss Mangan, nor the recognition or revelation of identities and past relationships, which kick off with an open, if neatly sidestepped, secret: the return home, after a quarter century among colonial rulers, of the younger of “the demonic sisters,” Ariadne, now Lady Utterword (Susan Wilder), trailed by her ne’er-do-well flautist brother-in-law, Randall (Michael Ray Wisely).  

“Young people understand nowadays a soul is an expensive thing to keep, more expensive than a motorcar,” says the Captain. But this Manichean socialist, holding forth on the more-than-class differences of “our seed and theirs,” sits at his drafting table making his quickly dissipated fortune inventing clever new armaments for mass slaughter. 

The cast is well up to a long evening’s comedy, especially the Shotover family—Captain and demon daughters—and the burglar who intends to be caught in the act. Chris Ayles’ entrance in the role picks up the pace and opens up the humor considerably.  

But director Les Waters has staged the play as a version of a later, more cinematic convention: screwball comedy. This skews the timing of Shaw’s marvelous lines and overloads (and slows down) what should be a satire with a zany, schtick-laden treatment of a cooly stylized stagepiece of great originality. 

Though the program mentions critical awareness of Shaw’s playing off Chekhov, there’s no sense of his parody, even burlesque, of the cult of Russian plays and novels—or of Oscar Wilde and Aestheticism, for that matter—which flourished among the would-be Bohemians of England’s Georgian middle class.  

Shaw, in his own way, covered similar ground as poet Ezra Pound did in his “Moeurs Contemporains” and novelist Ford Madox Ford did in some of the character and milieu studies in his Parade’s End quaternity of novels. All blasted the involuted English ego in its game of hide-and-seek, fiddling very artistically while Rome burned. Ford Madox Ford wrote in the ‘20s how he—and so many others—discounted the crises leading up to The Great War, so sure were they that the Labour Party, the Socialists in France, German Social Democrats, and independents generally would prevent a war. The house of cards rapidly fell, and many artists and poets were the first to fall in the carnage that followed. 

The program notes also make an unconvincing argument for the “surrealism” of Shaw’s charming, smarmy grotesques. What’s missed, both in the notes and too often on stage, is the hyper-self-aware quality actors of Shaw’s plays ideally adopt toward the characters they portray, one reason Bertolt Brecht acclaimed the Irish master of the English stage as genius and role model. 

As usual, The Rep’s production is sumptuous—Annie Smart’s set, Anna Oliver’s costumes, Alexander Nichols’ lighting, and the sound design and original music by Obadiah Eaves add up to a diverting, spectacular picture of the period—too much so. It’s more a setting for Galsworthy than for Shaw, a confection worthy of Masterpiece Theatre, complete with wigs. 

“How is this all going to end?” says one of the characters. Not with a whimper, but a bang, contradicting the Captain’s admonition, “I say let the heart break in silence” ... a dourly funny line after all the talk, all the fuss and nonsense of this bunch chasing their own tails.  

The Rep’s production does provoke occasional bursts of laughter at the spirited antics of the actors and at Shaw’s ingenious text, a bitter rebound off the wall of conventional comedy, but its stylization of laughter and reflection are mainly ignored. 

Contributed photo. Susan Wilder and Lynne Soffer in Heartbreak House, Shaw’s comedic masterpiece staged by Obie-winner Les Waters for Berkeley Rep’s 40th birthday. 

Heartbreak House 

The Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St. 

throught Oct. 14 

647-2900 

www.berkeleyrep.org

Cal Performances has started a rush ticket program for community members. For select performances, Cal Performances offers UC Berkeley student, faculty and staff, senior and community rush tickets. Rush tickets are announced two hours prior to a performance and are available in person only at the ticket office beginning one hour before the performance; quantities may be limited. Rush ticket sales are limited to one ticket per person; all sales are cash only. Rush ticket prices are $10 for UC Berkeley students; $15 for UC Berkeley faculty and staff (UCB ID required) and seniors age 65 or older; and $20 for all other community members. Information is available at 642-9988 (press 2 for the rush hotline) two hours prior to a performance only.