What curse?

It looked Tuesday as if the famous "Macbeth" curse would keep Steve Pellegrino's "22 Drywall Macbeth" from opening last night in a house in Oakland. Alerted by Monday's PG story, the city threatened large fines unless proper licenses were obtained. But an outpouring of community support ensued, and, as I write, the opening is on as planned. Of course, that "Macbeth" curse works in many ways ...

'Spamalot'

On opening night, the seat where King Arthur found the grail was occupied by a genial gent named Arthur, who happily told the cast, which had been looking for a Jew to complete their musical, that he was Jewish. Has there been such a neat audience participant since?

In an interview, John DuPrez told me that at the Pythons' 25th anniversary bash in L.A., Richard Pryor, then in a wheel chair, told him that the "Galaxy Song" (co-written by DuPrez and Eric Idle) from "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life" was his favorite song. Since it's certainly one of mine and Pryor is also an idol, I was delighted.

GET THIS: The cast of "Spamalot" will perform at the CLO Late Night Cabaret on Sept. 28, with proceeds to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Deana Muro will do the pre-show, beginning around 9:30. They promise singing, dancing, general silliness and an auction of "Spamalot" memorabilia. Tickets ($8; students $5) are available only at the door.

Banned Books

Speaking of personal favorites, I'm one of the readers at the ACLU's 11th Banned Books Week celebration. I've chosen passages from Ovid and Shakespeare -- "The Art of Love" and "King Lear" have run into censorship for obscenity and political radicalism! The program is Monday, 7 p.m., at Oakland's Carnegie Library Lecture Hall.

Kenley at 100

Karen Prunczik was one of 150 former Kenley Players performers who recently gathered in Cleveland to honor the irrepressible impresario, John Kenley, who turned 100 in February. A veteran of nine Kenley seasons, Prunczik tickled him with her tap dance magic and also by saying, "I'm just so glad you outlived my ex-husband." More about this in my online On Stage Journal.

'Off the Record'

Called "Place Your Bets!," this year's stage satire of Pittsburgh newsmakers takes place Oct. 5 at the Byham to benefit the Pittsburgh Food Bank -- tickets ($20, $40, $60) are selling now at 412-456-6666.

Added to the nine cast members I listed last week (Chuck Aber, Lenora Nemetz, Tim Hartman, Billy Hartung et al) are David Flick, Michael Moats, Kimberly Ginyard, Dereck Walton, Mark Southers, Tim Carryer, Bobby Zinsmeister, Hugh McGough and Jeff Pollock. (More names next week.) The totally fictional characters they play include Ed Rendell, Lynn Swann, Ben Roethlisberger, Twanda Carlisle, Mario Lemieux, Cyril Wecht and the Santorums, Ricky and Karen -- plus Eenie. Meenie, Minie and Moe, a k a the Gaming Control Board.

Here and there

A group of 46 Pittsburghers will be on Broadway tomorrow to see one of the first previews of "A Chorus Line," which includes young Pittsburgher Paul McGill.

Billy Porter was here last week to sing at a Kresge Theater memorial for the seven CMU alumni lost on 9/11 and to do a master class for the music theater students.

Theater listings

Last week's theater preview included at least one howling error: Playhouse Rep's second show will be David Mamet's "American Buffalo," not the other Mamet play listed. And I have word that Pittsburgh native Bob Koch (film name, Robert Turano), who played Teach in Fine Line Theatre's brilliant "American Buffalo" in 1980, will reprise the role opposite John Shepard and Jarrod DiGiorgi.

The bottom line

Paid admissions, city's pro theaters, week ending Sept. 17:

Spam./Ben. (74%) ....... 16,358

Forb.Bway/CLO (26%) ....... 482

RealThing/PHRep (33%)......412

Catechism2/City (50%)...... 368