Theater Minis

NOW PLAYING

• Closing Time — Keegan Theatre’s New Island Project at Theatre on the Run — The American premiere of Owen McCafferty’s dark, gloomy 2002 play about dark, doomed drunks in a dark, doomed Belfast pub. Through June 7. 703/892-0202, ext. 2

• The Color Purple —Hippodrome Theatre—***1/2 Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel transfers to the stage with its toughness and soaring sense of triumph intact and heightened by a score that’s a multitextured tapestry of blues, funk, gospel, boogie-woogie and contemporary soul-pop. Through Sunday. 800/547-7328

• Crumble (Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake) — Catalyst Theater Company at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop — A lonely girl fantasizes about Justin Timberlake, her widowed mother fantasizes about Harrison Ford and their apartment suffers in Sheila Callaghan’s play. Through June 7. 202/494-3776

• David in Shadow and Light — Theater J — World-premiere musical retelling of King David’s arc from boy shepherd to aging king. Through June 22. 202/518-9400, 800/494-8497

• Death of a Salesman — Arena Stage in Crystal City — *** Rick Foucheux embodies the tragic aspects of Willy Loman in a towering, gutsy performance of the Arthur Miller classic. Through Sunday. 202/488-3300

• The Happy Time — Signature Theatre — *** Signature’s winsome chamber-musical revival of the seldom seen 1968 Kander and Ebb show “The Happy Time” is both a coming-of-age story for a young boy (the excellent Jace Casey) and the end of a protracted adolescence for the show’s hero, Jacques (Michael Minarik), a jaunty reprobate. Through June 1. 703/573-7328

• The History Boys Studio Theatre —***1/2 A hit on both London’s West End and on Broadway, Alan Bennett’s play gets the Joy Zinoman treatment at Studio Theatre in a fluid, stirring production that emphasizes the social and political aspects of the play. Taking a subdued, reserved approach to the beloved character Hector, the kind of teacher one never forgets, Floyd King provides the audience with one emotional high after another.names cq webay . 202/232-3200.

• Julius Caesar —Sidney Harman Hall, Shakespeare Theatre —**1/2 Image makes the man —and proves his undoing — in the Shakespeare Theatre’s majestic production of “Julius Caesar” under the direction of David Muse. As is customary with the Shakespeare Theatre, “Julius Caesar” is a handsome production, and several performances stand out, including Scott Parkinson’s crafty, conversational turn as Cassius, Dean Nolen’s talent as a raconteur in his portrayal of Caska, and Aubrey K. Deeker as the delicately astute politician Octavius Caesar. Running in repertory with “Antony and Cleopatra.” Through July 6. 202/547-1122

• Looking for Roberto Clemente — Imagination Stage — *** This world-premiere children’s musical features a buoyant rock score that harkens back to the days of the Jackson Five and 1970s supergroups with tuneful lessons that delve into the nature of heroism. Set in 1972 Pittsburgh, the musical centers on the impact Roberto Clemente’s 3,000th hit has on the life of Sam, an 11-year-old fan, and his friends. Through June 1. 301/280-1660.

• Mad Breed — Active Cultures Theatre at Joe’s Movement Emporium — A black freewoman with Shakespearean dreams shows up to complicate a play staged by John Wilkes Booth’s teenage siblings. Through June 1. 301/526-9921

• The Oresteia — Constellation Theatre Company — **1/2Music, myth and immortals converge in this ambitious and well-intentioned production of Aeschylus’ “The Oresteia,” the only trilogy of ancient Greek drama — first produced in 458 B.C. — that has survived intact. Constellation’s large cast of 29 varies widely in technical ability, both in vocal and physical control, and the results are often distractingly uneven. Through June 1. 800/494-8497

• The Screwtape Letters — Lansburgh Theatre — ***1/2 Christian writer C.S. Lewis’ 1942 book (and the two-person play adaptation) is a dapper, elegant affair — 31 letters penned by an upper-level demon named Screwtape (Max McLean) to his nephew and protege, Wormwood. Through Sunday. 202/547-1122

• A View From the Bridge — Arena Stage in Crystal City — ***1/2 Obsessive love taints the family dynamic and modest ambitions of Eddie Carbone (Delaney Williams), a Brooklyn longshoreman and the injured heart of this searing, startlingly alive production of Arthur Miller’s play. Through tomorrow. 202/488-3300

• Volvio una Noche/She Returned One Night — Teatro de la Luna at Gunston Theatre Two — An underachiever is prodded to succeed by his dead mother, whom only he can see and hear. Through May 31. 202/882-6227

MAXIMUM RATING: FOUR STARS

— Jayne Blanchard