In an old Crossroads garage, the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre has staged top-notch shows for a couple of years now. But here's what getting out there and doing the hard work of revitalizing actually gets you: the MET is just one production away from artistic homelessness. It seems that art-district landlords can do much better leasing to non-nonprofits.Sad as it is to lose the MET's unique performance space, the troupe isn't packing up its church pews just yet. The season continues unflagged with Peter Shaffer's passionate Lettice and Lovage, a well-wrought (and very British) comedy about history's presence in everyday life. After Lettice closes, Karen Paisley, the MET's indefatigable artistic director, hopes to mount the rest of the company's season in various venues around town. Still, she knows that stage space in KC is always at a premium. "Nothing we've seen so far comes close to touching the garage in terms of its flexibility and amazing way of shaping itself to hold any play," Paisley says. "It is simply one of the most extraordinary spaces for theater I've ever seen in terms of its natural architecture and ability to lend itself to the art form." Lettice and Lovage premieres at 7:30 tonight at what is still known as METspace at 1824 Walnut. For tickets, call 816-536-9464.
Thu., Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m., 2008
