Friday 21
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Jerker–the two-man show subtitled The Helping Hand, a Pornographic Elegy With Redeeming Social Value and a Hymn to the Queer Men of San Francisco in Twenty Phone Calls, Many of Them Dirty–is returning for its third season at Bailiwick Repertory. Back onstage is Darren Stephens with newcomer Brad Boehmke as men looking for love and redemption across the phone-sex lines. Director Timothy Lynch returns too. It plays at 11 PM Fridays and Saturdays for the next six weeks, except for July 12 and 13. Tickets are $15; reserve them at 883-1090. The theater is at 3212 N. Broadway.
Saturday 22
ACT UP, the coolest political group around, has its sights set this week on the American Medical Association, which is holding its national convention here through Thursday. The radical gay action group (the acronym stands for “AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power”) is upset about the AMA’s position in favor of involuntary AIDS testing and obligatory notification of sex partners and its longstanding opposition to national health insurance. You can act up with ACT UP this morning at 7:30 at State and Wacker. It’s free. Call 509-6802 for details.
“History shows again and again / How nature points up the folly of man.” Marcus Aurelius? Santayana? No, just a philosophical tidbit from Buck Dharma and the gang in Blue Oyster Cult, from their baroque heavy-metal paean to the rather unhistorical figure of Godzilla. The Long Island band was “heavy” back when heavy meant something; aided by a bunch of pop hooks and lyrics from rock-critic-to-be Richard Meltzer, they coursed through the 70s as one of the decade’s signal hard-rock bands. Re-formed with most of the original members, including fab guitarist Dharma, keyboardist Allen Lanier, and singer Eric Bloom, they play at Biddy Mulligan’s, 7644 N. Sheridan, at 8:30 tonight. Tix are $15. Call 761-6532.
