The Duchess Of Malfi, Writer's Theatre, through July 16. It thrilled viewers in 1614 as a Cardinal forced his mistress to kiss a poisoned Bible and die. In this highly-adapted version of Webster's bloody revenge play, Nick Sandys is the shivery stealth-villain. MSB
Flora, the Red Menace, Theo Ubique at No Exit Cafe, through July 30. The critical raves have been unanimous for this vest-pocket version of the first Kander & Ebb musical, a bittersweet romance set against the people power politics of the 1930s. JA
Pins, Bailiwick, through July 23. A gay high school wrestler grapples with conflicting loyalties in Jim Provenzano's tale of moral struggle, adapted from his novel. John Tunis never wrote about THIS in his teenager sports stories! There's a shower scene, too. MSB
Plastic Surgery or a Really Good Haircut?, Live Bait, July 7-Aug. 5. What a choice, huh? Nip and tuck or just a good wash-and-cut? The dilemma belongs to writer and cartoonist Nicole Hollander ( Sylvia ) , who wrote and performs this one-woman show. JA
— By Abarbanel and Barnidge