PORT TOWNSEND — PT Shorts, Key City Public Theatre’s free literary reading series, will start the new year with a bunch of quirky, off-kilter stories, announced Don White, director of this weekend’s offering.
The Key City Playhouse, 419 Washington St., is the place for Saturday’s free 7:30 p.m. readings by White, Ian Keith and Charles Duncan, all seasoned local actors.
Their trio of stories comes from Percival Everett, a writer White relishes for his humor and sharp satire.
First up is “The Fix,” White’s reading of the tale of a mysterious man who takes a job at a sandwich shop.
There, as if possessed with magical powers, he fixes anything broken that’s brought to him — including people. Soon it gets out of hand as everyone demands to be fixed.
Then comes “The Weather and Women Treat Me Fair.” This is Keith’s rendition of a story about a cowboy who, while in an ambivalent relationship, struggles with the idea of commitment.
“The Appropriation of Cultures” finishes off the program.
Read by Duncan, the story introduces listeners to a young African-American in South Carolina. Embracing traditional Southern Confederate symbols, the man turns racism on its head. He confuses the local white folks, shakes up the status quo and brings about real change.
Saturday night’s reading, which coincides with the Gallery Walk in downtown Port Townsend, also comes with free apple cider and doughnuts, White promised. It’ll be a celebration of the new year as well as some juicy writing.
