Stage Fog: the Romantic-Industrial Complex Edition

SFist would like to take a moment of silence for Arthur Miller, who passed away last night. Without question, Miller was one of the great American playwrights. We regret that we'd only read three of his plays, but we did get to see a fantastic production of The Crucible at UC Berkeley about ten years ago. Though we never saw Death of a Salesman on stage, the 1985 made-for-television version starring Dustin Hoffman is one of our favorite movies. The atmosphere of that film is almost like seeing it on stage. Typically we like a play to be a play and a film to be a film, but this one is a notable exception. Rest in peace, Mr. Miller.

And now, on to love. As Valentine's Day is just around the corner, we thought we'd give you a little love. Well, give you a few stage options about love, anyway. Read on for this week's theater picks:

How We First Met at the Magic
We've never really been a V-Day hater, even during our single years (and even that one year when the relationship we had imploded that night). Then again, neither are we suckers for sap. So when we heard about this show, we thought it sounded like a decent way to spend the reddest, chocolateyest night of the year. Real-live couples from the audience get up and tell how they met, while highly trained improv professionals act it out. Presumably they also mine the stories for laughs, as there's nothing quite so good as having sentimental stories getting the piss taken out of them, all in good fun, of course. One night only, Monday night.

Othello at La Val's Subterranean
Full disclosure: this contributor works for Impact Theatre. But if you like your romance tinged with tragedy and presented in the form of an action movie, then this is the production for you: Impact's Othello has been reimagined as a lesbian general in the present-day U.S. Army, adding an explosive sexual-politics dimension to Shakespeare's classic. Impact's previous takes on the Bard have been smash successes, even catching the eye of the Chronicle in last week's Pink Pages. Through March 19.

A View from the Bridge at Actor's Theatre Second Stage
And if you like your romance really difficult, let us turn to the work of the aforementioned master. Actors Theatre is already in the middle of a run of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. Here's the info from their website: "Brooklyn longshoreman Eddie Carbone is devoted to his wife, Beatrice and his teenage niece, Catherine. The arrival of Beatrice's illegal immigrant cousins forces Eddy to face his obsessive feelings for Catherine. Arthur Miller beautifully explores the tragic fate of the Everyman against the backdrop of a tight-knit community bound by codes of justice and vengeance." Dear lord, that sounds difficult. Through February 26.

For more stage options, check out the listings at the Guardian, the Express, the SF Weekly, and the calendar on Theatre Bay Area's website.