In celebration of their 10th anniversary season and the beginning of a new decade of quality theater, Jobsite Theater presents a mobster musical based on Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Although the adaptation stays true to the play’s original plot and structure, the geniuses at Jobsite constructed their version for a modern audience: theocratic royalty is replaced with the underworld mafia; exotic locations like Tarsus and Mytilene are replaced with more familiar locales like New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts; and the Grecian Pericles becomes New Jersey Perry. Another modern twist: Perry’s treacherous adventures are accompanied by composer Joe Popp’s power-punk music. But never fear! After dodging mob hits and losing his wife and daughter, Perry learns the value of love, loyalty and honor — how sweet. This play has it all, folks: raucous tunes, love, laughs, mobsters, incest, intrigue and more. (Pictured, left to right: Amy Gray, Chris Perez, Ami Sallee Corley, Spencer Meyers, Katie Castonguay, Stephen Ray and Jason Vaughan Evans in Jobsite's Pericles. Photo by Brian Smallheer) Aug. 6-23, 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 4 p.m. Sun., Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Shimberg Playhouse, $24.50 general admission; $10 Students, seniors and military, 30 minutes prior to curtain; a $10 preview is on Wed., Aug 5, 8 p.m., www.jobsitetheater.org. —Lily Reisman
This article appears in Jul 15-21, 2009.