Baker Street, dummie! And 'Off the Record'

It's actually encouraging to find my email full this morning with corrections -- some gleeful, but many mildly supportive, as of some doddering uncle who isn't responsible for what he says -- of my blooper in this morning's review of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," where I gave Sherlock Holmes' address as 221B Wimpole Street. For the record, that's Baker Street.

But what's encouraging is that this shows the theater page has readers. There've been so many dire reports on the parlous state of the American newspaper business, it's good to hear you breathing out there. I could almost pretend that I made the mistake on purpose, to spark response, but that's nonsense, of course.

"What can you have been thinking?," my more supportive minders ask. Well, since you do ask, I've been a bit frazzled the past few weeks, what with a second full-time job to contend with, producing tonight's "Off the Record." That's not an excuse for the error: just a way to give the show one more plug.

It should be a hoot. Last night's tech rehearsal at the Byham had its usual ups and downs, so we know tonight's real performance is going to be good. This is all according to the law propounded most memorably by this exchange between Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush) and Fennyman (Tom Wilkinson) in Tom Stoppard's great filmscript for "Shakespeare in Love":

HENSLOWE: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
FENNYMAN: So what do we do?
HENSLOWE: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
FENNYMAN: How?
HENSLOWE: I don't know. It's a mystery.

From their lips to Thespis' ear!

No, seriously, "Off the Record VIII: When Robots Rule!," might be just what the doctor ordered -- one thing Pittsburgh always does is offer of plenty of material for satire. And however the production goes, it can't go far wrong with Chuck Aber and David Flick in the leads and the chief supporting female character parts played by Christine Laitta (Hillary, no other name needed), Karen Prunczik (Mary Beth -- Buchanan, in case you haven't been paying attention), Laurie Klatscher (Heather -- Bresh, that WVU MBA business, remember?) and Sheila McKenna (Sophie -- but this time, it's really SOPH-E).

Check it out. The show is at 8 p.m. at the Byham, and there are tickets available at the door. The lobby opens at 6:30 with free munchies and a cash bar, and the party continues there after the show.

What, you think you're better off staying home to watch (a) the debate, (b) the baseball playoffs (go Red Sox!) or (c) Pitt football? Nonsense! If anything, "Off the Record" offers itself up as your good reason NOT to watch the debate, which you're going to hear about endlessly afterward, anyway. And your VCR has a record button, doesn't it? In fact, the debate will be repeated later, on (I think) C-SPAN. Further, we just might have a certain lady governor from up north make an appearance in our show, too.

Mainly, it all raises money for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, which has never needed support more than now. If you come, say hi to me and I'll apologize again about the Wimpole/Baker Street mixup.