Night & Day

Tuesday
June 1
Hollywood author Craig Dirgo developed his writing chops while collaborating with true-adventure writer Clive Cussler on The Sea Hunters, a bestseller that treats readers to dives involving famous shipwrecks. But now Dirgo's striking out on his own with his first novel, The Einstein Papers. The plot revolves around Einstein's Unified Field Theory, which, if proved to be true, would allow for the creation of a weapon that makes the explosions of nuclear bombs look like campfires. In the book Dirgo has Einstein cracking the code in 1945, on the eve of the bomb drop on Hiroshima. But he's so freaked out by what he's discovered that he stashes his papers. Skip to the present day, when Chinese operatives are searching for the secret files and antiterrorist agent John Taft is out to stop them. Dirgo will discuss and sign copies of his book at 7:30 p.m. at Borders Books & Music in Plantation (12171 W. Sunrise Blvd.). Admission is free. Call 954-723-9595.

Wednesday
June 2
Zero Mostel starred as Pseudolus, the slave trying to obtain freedom from his master, Senex, in the original production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The musical comedy ran for nearly 1000 performances after its 1962 opening in New York City. In 1972 Phil Silvers stepped into the role, and Nathan Lane updated it in 1996. But even the Mostel "original" was a rehash. Librettists Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart pulled gags from seven farces by Roman playwright Plautus and set them to Stephen Sondheim's music. The original romps, first staged in 200 B.C., stand up because human nature hasn't changed; audiences still chuckle over mistaken identities, kicks in the butt, and doubletakes, all of which figure into Pseudolus' struggle for freedom. Dan Kelly directs and stars in the Stage Door Theatre production of A Funny Thing, which runs through June 6. The theater is located at 8036 W. Sample Rd., Coral Springs. Tickets cost $25. Call 954-344-7765 or see "Stage" listings for details.