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Night Howl
By Karen Reardanz

Lippy Chick: Marga Gomez unleashes her quirky sense of humor on UCSC's Mainstage Theater audience on Saturday when she performs her one-woman comedic romp, 'Marga Gomez Is Pretty, Witty and Gay.' Irene Young Babe in Toyland: Comedienne Marga Gomez sums herself up in her theatrical romp 'Pretty, Witty and Gay' SHE MAY NOT BE THE MOST FAMOUS lesbian comedienne in the biz, but she's surely one of the best. Marga Gomez has been teasing audiences around the country with wit and cutting clarity since she entered the world of theater in the early '90s. The Harlem-born Cuban/Puerto Rican began her professional career as one of the original members of Culture Clash, the influential and cutting-edge Latino comedy group. She then donned her face paint and turned the volume down for a season-long stint with the San Francisco Mime Troupe. But soon the funny lady realized her truest talents lie with comedy, and Gomez has been developing offbeat characters that delve into social commentary and sexual politics ever since. Gomez, who performs at UCSC's Mainstage Theater on Saturday night, bills herself as "half-Cuban, half-lesbian" and isn't shy about anything. Her shows--including Memory Tricks and A Line Around the Block--are known for their raucous, uncensored journeys through topics as varied as male bonding, Anaïs Nin and her mother's illness. But as unconventional and heavy as Gomez may be, she always manages to keep people laughing. Laughing through their tears, maybe, but in stitches nonetheless. Her current show, Marga Gomez Is Pretty, Witty and Gay, is based more on her sexuality and relationships than past works, and is more akin to stand-up comedy than her shows about deeper family issues. While she may seem like she can handle anything with a caustic joke, Gomez isn't fond of the rules and, like most artists, she avoids writing material at any cost--cleaning her apartment, rearranging her CDs, even tweezing her eyebrows to put off the dreaded deadline just a little bit longer. But performing--well, that's another story. On Saturday, Marga Gomez will be punctual and eagerly awaiting her Santa Cruz audience. Tickets for the 8pm show at UCSC cost $15/$12/$7.50. For more info, call 459-2159. Silents Please The folks at MAH begin a silent journey on Friday night, when they kick off Silent Screen Classics: Silent Films of the 1920s, a series revisiting some of the best silents the early decade had to offer. The first film on the docket is G.W. Pabst's 1928 classic Pandora's Box, starring Louise Brooks in her most famous role as Lulu, seductress extraordinaire. The series is curated by UCSC film and video professor Shelley Stamp Lindsey, who will provide a brief insider's peek at the movie. Future screenings will be held each month and will include The Phantom of the Opera and Metropolis. All films will be screened at MAH, 705 Front St., SC, and begin at 7pm. Tickets cost $5/$4. For more info, call 429-1964. Oh--and the whole thing is presented by Metro Santa Cruz. FutureThink UCSC's Theater Arts Department presents Random with a Purpose VI, a showcase of new student choreography Feb. 13-15. ... The unique comedy duo Dos Fallopia performs a special Valentine's treat at Kuumbwa on Feb. 14. ... Michael McGushin, Leta Miller and Patrice Maginnis present an evening of 20th-century music on Feb. 18 at UCSC. [ Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]