‘Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey’ Continues at City; Istanbul Sofra for Turkish Fare Parkside (Tues., 2/13/18)

Keith Randolph Smith plays Detective Chuck DeSantis in City Theatre’s production of ‘The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey.’ Photo: Kristi Jan Hoover.

1) One-person plays are, by their nature, unusual. Typically the lone actor plays multiple roles while also narrating. The one-person play on tap at City Theatre is doubly unusual, because of its subject matter and treatment thereof. The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey concerns the murder of a gay teenager. Young Leonard himself (a fictional character) never appears; he’s already dead. We learn about him from a detective who investigated the crime. Various people who knew Leonard chime in with their stories. And while his brutal end is tragic, the play has been described as the opposite of a tragedy. It’s said to come across as a portrait of a witty, high-spirited youth who lived briefly, but brilliantly. Writer/actor James Lecesne adapted the play from a novel he’d written previously, then performed it in its 2015 New York premiere. The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey was an off-Broadway sensation, winning rave reviews. Actor Keith Randolph Smith plays all the parts at City Theatre. 7 p.m. Tonight’s show also includes ASL Interpretation. Performances continue through February 25. 1300 Bingham St., South Side. (MV)

2) Open for a few years now, Istanbul Sofra is a welcome addition to that colorful culinary corner on South Braddock and Forbes across from Frick Park. Seinfeld’s Kenny Bania would proclaim their lentil soup “the best, Jerry, the best.” The falafels, hummus, and kebabs are also hard to beat.  Additionally cool: BYOB; outdoor seating and cay. That last item is pronounced “chai,” but don’t confuse it with those sugary lattés from Starbucks. A dark red tea, cay comes in tulip-shaped glasses and is a symbol of Turkish hospitality. Top off your meal with some Turkish coffee and baklava. 7600 Forbes Ave., Regent Square. (CM)

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