Weekend outlook: farcical

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Luverne Seifert (the house maid) and Sarah Agnew (the corpse) are two of the four actors taking on 150 roles in "The 39 Steps" at the Guthrie Theater

Looking for spy thriller filled with comedy, hat tricks and over the top camp? Get thee to the Guthrie! The 39 Steps is a fast-paced whodunit featuring four great actors playing more than 150 characters. The hijinks of Jim Lichtscheidl and Luverne Seifert steal the show.

The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul and Minnesota Film Arts present an Asian Film Festival, showing 36 films, including "Open Season," a look at the 2005 homicide conviction of Hmong refugee Chai Vang for the shooting of eight hunters in Wisconsin. The festival runs through November 13 at St. Anthony Main.

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Northrup King Studios in Minneapolis present their annual Art Attack, presenting the work of 200 artists in one building. This year includes the exhibition "Nature of Ice," artwork exploring the ephemeral beauty of ice in nature. The studio open house runs Friday, November 5, 2010 5:00-10:00 PM, Saturday, November 6, 2010 Noon - 8:00 PM and Sunday, November 7, 2010 Noon - 5:00 PM.

If the world told you you were destined to fail, would you be able to rise above it and succeed? That's the question posed by the play Life's A Dream, presented by Ten Thousand Things theater company. A young prince is born, but the stars predict he will grow up to be a monster. But "a dream" teaches him to be more. Performances run at MN Opera Center November 5-7, and at Open Book November 12-14 and 19-21.

May I take your reservation? Nathan Keepers reprises his role - roles, actually - in "Fully Committed" at the Jungle Theater in Minneapolis. In the course of an evening he takes on 40 different personalities, from scheming socialites and name-dropping wannabes, to fickle celebrities and egomaniacal bosses, all demanding a table at Manhatten's hottest restaurant. Through December 19.

It's not easy raising a kid with autism. Stacy-Dinner Levin shares the story of her struggle, and the rewards that come with it, in "Autistic License." The twist? In this production, her son Geordy plays himself. Performances run through November 14 at Gremlin Theater.

Cabinet of Wonders explores a family's story, navigating a grand and ruined legacy as it unearths an ever-shifting past of betrayals, performance and lies. Song, movement, puppet and objects combine in a powerful examination of life that is both alternately wicked and mordantly funny. Featuring Vera Mariner and Twin Cities' newcomer Pearce Bunting as the play's protagonists, sister and brother Christina and Leopold. Performances run through November 14 at Open Eye Figure Theatre.

What would have happened if Romeo and Juliet were brother and sister? The Classical Actors Ensemble presents "'Tis Pity She's a Whore," a story of forbidden love that dates back to 1633. Performances run through November 20 at the Walker Community Church.

So what are you doing this weekend?