‘Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey’ Continues at City; Pan Asian Entrees and Small Plates at Soba (Wed.,1/31/18)

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. 1 p.m. Performances continue through February 25. 1300 Bingham St., South Side. (MV)

2) Soba Restaurant—located along Shadyside’s Ellsworth Avenue—specializes in traditional and contemporary Asian dishes. With many small plate offerings Soba is perfect for sharing food with friends and family and making new culinary discoveries. Most of the inspiration for the menu comes from the cuisines of China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. Soba also puts a twist on some classic American dishes like Long Island duck and lobster tacos. An especially tasty small plate item is the bahn mi bao buns with pork belly, duck pate, pickles, and cilantro. The menu is categorized by sections: share, dim sum, maki & sashimi, soups and salads, plates, and rice and noodles. The culinary team is led by the restaurant’s executive chef, Lily Tran, and Big Burrito Group’s Executive Chef Bill Fuller. Soba sports a modern, yet comfortable interior. There is a happening lounge there as well featuring a fun selection of cocktails, wine, sake, and beer offerings. The restaurant takes its name from the soba Asian noodle made from buckwheat which it serves. Open for dinner 7 days a week. 5847 Ellsworth Ave.

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