The Return of the Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone music theme is right up there on the Mt. Rushmore of American tunes with "God Bless America," "This Land is Your Land," and Copland's "Appalachian Spring." Am I exaggerating? Perhaps, but if you were brought up to fear looking out the window while flying in a plane like me you probably saw the episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." Remember "Talking Tina?" This satanic talking doll haunted my dreams for years. And I loved every minute of it. The Lizard Theater company, of which I am a proud member, is reprising some of the more famous eposodes of the old "Twilight Zone" series but with more twists than a Shakira video. If you like the "Doomsday" episode you get it here but with a frenzied "I Love Lucy" spin. If you're partial to the aforementioned "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" you'll see it with an Abbot and Costello riff. The parody of Talking Tina is straightforward but "The Dummies" is eerie and downright twisted, alternately making you laugh and scream.
KTLA used to run a Twilight Zone marathon every Thanksgiving day. I have an uncle whose VCR would be programmed on "record" before the potatoes were mashed and the oven pre-heat for the big poultry. Twilight Zone was a ritual and if you didn't know which famous actor played a young grim reaper, you were ignored, a fate worse than that man in the jack in the box. America takes its icons seriously and its beloved series more so. Whenever the lists of "greatest shows of all time" come out, you get the familiar "Seinfelds," "MASH," and "Friends" gobbledygook. Twilight Zone usually gets enough votes to win respect but not enough to be king. That's okay. It's not always best to be most popular. Twilight Zone is the thoughtful loner in the corner of Algebra class, cigarette behind his ear, and rumpled paperback in his hands. He ignores the class until a spitwad lands on his leather jacket. Then, he gets up and unleashes the hounds of hell. If you come to Alhambra this weekend, you'll see what I mean.

What: "Like Something Out Of The Twilight Zone." A comedy by Jay Parker.

When: Friday and Saturdays starting March 6th, 7th, 13,14, 27,28 April 3rd, all at 8pm. Sunday April 5th at 5:00 & 8:00 pm (Please note, No performance on April 4th)

Where: Lizard Theater, 230 W. Main St. Alhambra CA 91801. RSVP (Seating is limited.) 626-371-0014.

Suggested Donation: $10 or Pay What You Can.