Don't get us wrong, we love elaborate theater sets and admire the craftwork and imagination that go into creating them -- there's something oddly sweet about an intricately built space that will be demolished within four or five weeks of its birth. But down at the other end of the spectrum, SFist simply adores black-box theater -- that is, theater on small stages where the presenting company is forced to do something creative to make you believe the elaborate sets are there, just invisible. There's just something awe-inspiring about an actor making you believe that an empty space is something that needs navigating, you know?

at the Magic
It's always fun to go see a show at the Magic. It's way the fuck out there at Fort Mason, and even so, at times it can be ridiculously hard to find parking -- and there's a huge parking lot! But once you do find parking -- and have eaten somewhere in the Marina district beforehand, if you managed to leave yourself enough time for that -- then you get to make your way through the old army buildings. They smell old, and they're a little cold, but frankly, it kind of makes us nostalgic for elementary school. Whatever. Then you get up to the third floor and you see how the Magic has transformed their space, and it's really delightful. This weekend they're closing Pugilist Specialist, a well-received play about a group of Marines assigned to kill a Middle Eastern leader. It's by an outfit called The Riot Group.

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.

Pugilist Specialist