Members Pick Our Picks Recommended

A Christmas Story 

Peter Billingsley, the star of 1983's holiday classic A Christmas Story, recently announced he'll be helming a musical stage version that will play in Seattle. Raleigh theatergoers will be denied such potential numbers as "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!," "Oh, Fudge" and "Triple-Dog-Dare," but you can relive Jean Shepherd's fictionalized recollections of wanting an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle (with compass and sundial in the barrel) under his tree. Boy, remember when this was just that film that played on every local channel around Christmas, and not the cultural phenomenon with action figures and a 24-hour marathon on cable each year? One can only hope this stage version at least has that weird kid from the Santa Claus line at the mall who randomly goes, "I like Santa," "I like the Wizard of Oz" and "I like the Tin Man." There' something strangely realistic about that. The production runs through Dec. 24; most shows are at 7 p.m., with weekend matinees at 2 p.m. And remember, if you wash your kids' mouths out with soap, don't use Lifebuoy. That's a sure path to soap poisoning. —Zack Smith