FRI 11/25
Judging from the play's name, one might assume that a solo performance titled The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? is full of the revenge-seeking rantings of a disgruntled divorcée. But alas, the person behind said performance is a full-fledged carrier of the Y chromosome — Bob Dubac. Lest you think Dubac's out to assign gender roles or, worse, show the ladies his sensitive side, that's not his agenda. He simply wants to know: What do women want?
"The main character has to figure out what women want before his girlfriend calls," Dubac explains on the phone from his Los Angeles home. "She's going to call to decide whether we break up or stay together. The clock's ticking away, the phone's going to ring, and he has to figure out where he screwed up and what she wants. But the only people he can ask are these guys in his memory banks."
The guys Dubac refers to are a motley crew indeed — Old Mr. Linger, an elderly fisherman; Ronnie Cabrezzi, a " lover" of women; Jean-Michel, a slick but piggish Frenchman; the Colonel, a bitter war veteran; and Fast Eddie, who thinks women want only what's bad for them. "It took a lot of work as an actor and writer to make them likable, because there are some pretty bold things they say," Dubac notes. Though the male characters overwhelmingly dominate the stage (modeled after the narrator's conscience), they're on the right side; the left side is the feminine part, where a female voice can be heard. But it's largely drowned out by the chorus of machismo.
If you saw The Male Intellect when Dubac last came to town five years ago, the current show is an update, with lots of new material. So after ten years of exploring the male intellect for a living, has Dubac found an answer to his question? Don't count on it. "That's why there's a question mark," he says. Dubac performs Friday and Saturday at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts (201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Tickets cost $29 to $32. Call 954-462-0222, or visit www.browardcenter.org. — Jason Budjinski
MOFRO Rising
Swamp Rockers Return
TUE 11/29
Down here in relatively cosmopolitan South Florida, we tend to forget that the northern part of our state isn't just the Deep South; it's the deepest part of the Deep South — swamp country so rugged and unforgiving that when Union troops took it back after the close of the Civil War, they didn't even bother to capture Tallahassee. But that's part of the history that brought us Mofro. Jacksonville's Southern-fried soul/funk/blues combo carries the spirit of old North Florida through to its very bones; the groove of the swamp permeates every funky note. But unlike the band's legendary homeboys Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mofro's music isn't Southern white-boy bravado so much as it is an evocative mix of John Fogerty's protest boogie and the minimalist artsy blues of Morphine. Mofro leader (and unabashed environmentalist) J.J. Grey comes across like something out of a Carl Hiaasen novel, equal parts grizzled bluesman and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas. Mofro brings the swamp blues to the Bamboo Room (25 S. "J" St., Lake Worth) Tuesday and Wednesday. The show begins at 9 p.m. both nights. Tickets cost $25. Call 561-585-2583, or visit www.bamboorm.com. — Lewis Goldberg
The Other Mr. Rogers
Doesn't change his sweater, but he's just as comforting
SUN 11/27
It's hard to imagine that there's enough plastic in the world to manufacture 105 million records. If put together, how many warehouses would they take up? How many square acres? Kenny Rogers has moved 105 million albums since he appeared on American Bandstand in the '50s. Although most people recognize him for his big hits "Lucille" and "Lady" (and for acting in films based on his songs "Coward of the County" and "The Gambler"... and for opening fried chicken restaurants... and for making photography books...), Rogers also does an annual holiday tour. This year, the bearded one soothes us with tunes like "Let It Snow" and "White Christmas." Students from the Suncoast Community High School Chorale join in for "The First Noel" and "Everybody's Nicer at Christmas." Country singers Rebecca Lynn Howard and Billy Dean perform too. The show takes place at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Kravis Center (801 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach). Tickets cost $20 to $100. Call 561-833-8300, or visit www.kravis.org. — Deirdra Funcheon
Elvis Is Red!
FRI 11/25
Rockabilly bands are all the same, right? They've got the upright bass, the hollow-body guitar, the standing drummer, and more pomade than a Grease production. But that stereotype is blown to Siberia by Los Angeles' Red Elvises, who look more like a Russian circus act than Gene Vincent disciples. For a group of expats from a former communist country, they're quite the entrepreneurs, having released 11 albums on their label, Shooba-Doobah Records. And the sound? Add some horns, piano, organ, and a little Latin and you've got a pretty good idea. It's as if Yakov Smirnoff joined the Stray Cats. The Elvises perform at 9 p.m. Friday at the Bamboo Room (25 S. "J" St., Lake Worth, 561-585-2583). Tickets cost $18. On Sunday, the Elvises bop over to Alligator Alley (1321 E. Commercial Blvd., Oakland Park , 954-771-2220). Tickets cost $10. — Jason Budjinski
