‘The Fantsticks’ Continues Strong Run at The Public; off the WALL Stages ‘An Accident’ (Sat., 10/15/16)

So simple and yet so puzzling: Jason Shavers (center) says it all with a look while Mary Elizabeth Drake and Jamen Nanthakumar expound in “The Fantasticks.” photo: Pittsburgh Public Theater.

1) The longest-running musical in the history of show business? It’s not Phantom of the Opera, which holds the Broadway record at nearly 12,000 performances and still counting, but a modestly scaled off-Broadway musical. The Fantasticks opened there in 1960 and finished its initial run in 2002, after 17,162 performances. Part of the show’s charm is its mixture of simplicity and surreal strangeness.

Using only a few actors and rudimentary stage props, The Fantasticks conjures up a bizarre tale. Two neighboring dads concoct a surefire scheme to make their children fall in love with one another: they forbid the young man and woman to have any contact. Then, as surreptitious romance blooms, the fathers hire a dashing stranger to pretend to kidnap the girl so the lad can “rescue” her—a twist that brings unexpected consequences. The show also mixes haunting music (such as the song “Try to Remember”) with wry humor, and Pittsburgh Public Theater has chosen The Fantasticks to open its 2016-17 season. See our review. 2 and 8 p.m. Performances through October 30. At the O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (MV)

In Off The Wall’s “An Accident” Amy Landis is recovering from critical injuries she sustained after being run over by driver Kenneth Bolden who is now visiting her in the hospital.

2) off the WALL productions opens their 2016-17 10^th anniversary season with An Accident, written by Lydia Stryk. Loaded with cynical humor, it has an intense story line involving recovery, guilt, and forgiveness. The central character—Libby—was run over and critically injured in an accident with an auto. The vehicle was driven by Anton, who after the accident appears at her bedside. Now the two must confront and overcome a myriad of emotions, some old and some new, that arise in the aftermath of the accident. Will the two of them rise above the calamity to find better days? Drive very carefully to off the WALL and see. For mature audiences only. 8 p.m. Continues through October 29. Carnegie Stage, 25 W. Main St., Carnegie.

3) Baja Bar and Grill will be jamming tonight as the band Nightlife performs some groovalicious dance and funk hits. Songs from Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, and Rick James could be played! 8 p.m. 1366 Old Freeport Rd., O’Hara Township.

4)The Penguins play their second home game of the regular season tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. Let’s go Pens! 7 p.m. Consol Energy Center, 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

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