Shapera and Rolly’s ‘A Pirates Tale’ at Carnegie Stage; Subba Serving Up Nepalese Food on North Side (Sat., 7/30/16)

1) The Pirates are booked for a home stand at Carnegie Stage. Expect swordplay, as these buccaneers are characters in A Pirate’s Tale: A Swashbuckling New Musical. A short version of the show (sampled above) has been performed as entertainment aboard the Gateway Clipper fleet; the Carnegie engagement is the premiere of a much-enhanced full production. A Pirate’s Tale is composed by New York-based Paul Shapera and the book is by Pittsburgher Shaun Rolly, a theater artist who specializes in stage combat. (Don’t challenge him to a duel—he has a sword and knows how to use it.) Set in 1540 on the high seas, the musical relates the story of a pirate crew who take over a prized naval ship, only to be divided by internal rivalries and deceit. 8 p.m. Performances through July 31. At Carnegie Stage, 25 W. Main St., Carnegie. (MV)

2) As a sign of Pittsburgh’s growing cultural diversification, Nepali cuisine has been cropping up around the Steel City, with the North Side’s Subba generating some serious buzz among foodies. Quick geography primer: Nepal, home of Mt. Everest, is a country bordering India to the northeast. Unsurprisingly, then, Nepali food is reminiscent of Indian food. But, if you’re a Pittsburgher looking for something more familiar, something, say, pierogi-like, try momo—Nepalese dumplings filled with chicken and spices. Get them pan-fried or steamed. Other popular favorites include mango lassi (a yogurt-based drink) and a variety of meat and vegetarian dinner plates. Subba also serves Indian and Chinese dishes. Although the restaurant’s inside decor may be bare, it’s the food that’s bursting with color. 700 Cedar Ave., North Side. (CM)

The Nubian Princess Adia (Zakiya Young), center, in Music
Theatre Witchita’s production of ‘Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida.’ Photo: Christopher Clark.

3) Pittsburgh CLO wraps up July with a musical that might be called the ultimate adaptation. Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida is adapted (rather freely) from Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, the 1871 opera that endures as one of the world’s greatest and most popular. It’s pointless to wonder if the new work is “better” than Verdi’s masterpiece, as they are different creatures. First off, John and Rice’s musical is no opera: There’s plenty of spoken dialogue, which appeals to many music fans who aren’t opera fans. Verdi’s basic story elements are kept—the spectacular setting in ancient Egypt; the tale of the captured Nubian princess Aida and her doomed love for an Egyptian commander—but spicier modern twists are added, to bring zing to the thing and make it not so heavy. Finally, the music and lyrics are distinctly John-and-Rice-ish, with numbers like “Another Pyramid,” “The Gods Love Nubia,” and “Written in the Stars” varying through a range of pop styles. Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida won four Tony Awards in 2000, including Best Musical Score. Performance through Sunday. 2 and 8 p.m. Benedum Center, 237 7^th Ave., Cultural District. (MV)

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