‘Gang of Four’ Performs at Mr. Smalls; barebones Staging ‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’ (Sun., 17/19)

1) Taking their name from a Chinese political faction that included Chairman Mao’s wife, Gang of Four combines punk instrumentation, Marxist lyrics, and a dance beat. Andy Gill played the “anti-guitar” solo, during which he would drop out entirely and let the drums and bass carry on, as he does on the brilliant “Not Great Men.” The quartet formed in 1977 in Leeds, England, and released its debut album, Entertainment!, in 1979. New album, HAPPY NOW, will be released in March. Catch them at Mr. Smalls. The Gotobeds open.8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (CM)

2) Playwright Matthew Lopez is known for sensitive, nuanced treatments of LGBTQ and racial/ethnic themes. There are times, however, when one must say “Screw the nuance, let’s go for laughs,” and therefore Lopez wrote The Legend of Georgia McBride. It’s set in a seedy bar in the Florida panhandle. The bar’s Elvis impersonator is failing to draw crowds, so the owner replaces him with a couple of drag queens. When one of them can’t make a gig, the former fake Elvis is pressed into action, and presto—a legend is born. The Legend of Georgia McBride made its New York debut in 2015. A critic for the Times found it more fun than “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which is high praise, if one can believe an allegedly failing newspaper. Pittsburgh theater fans will see the theory tested. Barebones productions presents The Legend of Georgia McBride with actors Andrew Swackhamer, Shua Potter, Justin Lonesome, and Sara Williams. Performances through March 9. In the barebones black box at 1211 Braddock Ave., Braddock.

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