The comedy "In Bed With Chuck & Lois," now playing at Theatre on the Square is one of those plays that only works in the context of the stage. Written by Joni Hilton (who wrote the TOTS hit "Does this show make my butt look fat?"), we get a look at the minds of our titular couple, played by Darrin Gowan and Cindy Phillips, portrayed by two other actors.

The subject line for this entry is a scene title from the play "The Elephant Man," on stage for one more weekend at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre.

The Civic, which opened its season powerfully with its production of "Evita," has launched another triumph. Chris Goldfarb is brilliant in his portrayal of the titular character, John Merrick. With posture and voice he ably communicates the character's extreme handicap (in the stage play, no prosthesis is used) while imbuing the character with genius and, more importantly, humanity.

Just to the east of Hancock County in New Castle, there is an event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the sign that the Cold War was finally thawing.

From the press release:
The International League of Henry County will host a showing of the 54-minute documentary, “Ode to Joy and Freedom,” about the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989, 7 p.m. Monday in the Auditorium of the New Castle–Henry County Public Library. It is open to the public and free of charge.

Lots going on in live theatre in Indy:

Here a couple of off-beat destinations for this weekend:

Friday isn't quite Halloween, but it's still the weekend. Since trying to burn everything for Devil's Night is both dangerous and illegal, why not try --

The show that has been a phenomenon on Broadway, on tour, and even at the movies, "Mamma Mia," was back in Indy for live performances Friday through today (Sunday) at Clowes Hall.

For those who haven't seen this musical, it is a wonderful experience well worth the effort of seeing (unless you really hate the music of ABBA). It frames the pop hits of the 1970s-80s Swedish supergroup in a romantic comedy reminiscent of the goofy situations of a Shakespeare comedy.

I'm always up for a tall tale, as long as that tale is well-spun. And they rarely come better than the story of "Shipwrecked: An Entertainment" now on stage at the Phoenix Theatre in downtown Indy. Now, before you have the young'uns look away from the screen, I must note that unlike much of the Phoenix fare, this show is very much all-ages. I'd even recommended it for kids, and at 89 minutes long, it won't try their patience.

Edgar Allan Poe was the master of the macabre short story -- heck, he practically invented it -- and an excellent poet. But can such works be made into an interesting and entertaining musical? The answer is yes! Presenting "Cabaret Poe," the new musical with music and words (other than those supplied by E.A.P.) by Ben Asaykwee, playing Halloween in the Irvington Lodge (former Masonic Lodge No.666), 5515 E. Washington St. in Indianapolis.

Among the popular crowd pleasers that make the rounds of Indianapolis stages, it seems the number one show is Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Now Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in northwest Indianapolis is taking its turn, with performances daily except Mondays through Nov. 22.

The 20th anniversary Tenderness Tour to benefit the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence comes to The Bread Ladies in downtown Greenfield, with live music by Luke Austin Daughterty and Ann McWilliams and sales of the benefit CD "Give a Girl a Chance."

Richard Propes has toured the state in his wheelchair year after year for the cause. This is is last tour, as he establishes the Tenderness Network. Click on the tour link above for details.