• Hello from London, where the biggest shock this year is that the dollar is so low it feels almost like a third-world currency, with the exchange bureaus posting the day's rate as "inquire within," because it's so volatile. Less shocking, we have rain and wind. But we hear you have had snow, there. Here, of course, we also have London.

I've seen two shows so far, both very entertaining. "Much Ado About Nothing" is the big National Theatre hit starring Simon Russell Beale and Zoe Wanamaker. "God of Carnage" is a crisp new comic drama by Yasmina Reza ("Art," "Life X 3"), in which she continues her gratifying expertise as the moral archaeologist of small human interactions that swell to cosmic implication. It's in early previews and thus not yet reviewable, but get this to-die-for cast: Ralph Fiennes, Janet McTeer, Ken Stott and Tamsin Grieg!

• Marlene Dietrich comes to life this weekend in a one-woman show starring Croatian actress Ksenija Prohaska. Called "Marlene Dietrich," it's Saturday at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at The Cabaret at Theatre Square; $15 at 412-456-6666. Doors open at 10 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday, so you can make use of the full food and beverage service.

We are told Prohaska has performed Dietrich more than 200 times in three languages and 12 countries on three continents, to great audience approval. She also played Dietrich in Barry Levinson's film "Bugsy." I believe she must be remarkable because my friend, Tony-winning playwright Mario Fratti ("Nine"), produced the show at La Mama. Check out Prohaska at www.ksenijaprohaska.com.

• Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Pittsburgh City Council legislative session, council prez Doug Shields will issue a proclamation recognizing the Public Theater's Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest. "As a former thespian who occasionally has the chance to flex his performance muscles," Shields says (he's bragging discreetly about his stint in last fall's "Off the Record"), "I applaud the dedication, commitment and hard work that every young actor must make." The 2008 contest drew more than 1,000 students from 101 schools, and for the Feb. 18 finals, 25 monologues and scenes were performed. The winners were Blake Stadnik (Lincoln Park Charter School), Emily Gup and Nomi Leasure (CAPA), Emma Somers and Meggie Booth (Liberty Elementary) and Alex Roth (Chartiers Valley Elementary).

I've long said that the Public's SM&SC joins with City Theatre's Young Playwrights Festival and CLO's Gene Kelly Awards to form a trio of showcases of young talent of which any city could be proud. And have you made your plans to attend the May 24 Kelly Awards, yet? Soon it will be sold out, if it isn't already.

• Marcie Metelsky wrote Tuesday: "Tonight I start my journey with August in March at the Kennedy Center, seeing 'Ma Rainey,' then 'Piano Lesson,' with 'Two Trains' and 'Jitney' on March 25-26. I will try to see 'Fences' next week using the well-tested Tere Johns Rule, i.e. 'no show is ever sold out.' ... I'm booked in NYC for the 'Gypsy' opening, March 27 (and the rest of that weekend) to cheer on Lenora (and that LuPone gal). I guess I'm starting my spring by cleansing my soul with theater classics. It beats shoveling snow."

Way to go! But I like my version of the Tere Johns Rule better: "There's always a ticket. The only question is who's going to get it."

• Pittsburgh's and Ireland's Michael Ramsay recently met Britain's David Hare in Katowice, Poland, where both were attending the opening of Hare's "Stuff Happens," directed by PICT's Andrew Paul. But there was a previous connection between the Pittsburgh doctor and British playwright over his other play, "The Vertical Hour," which just played at Playhouse Rep.

In November, Ramsay had seen a very early preview of its New York production starring Julianne Moore and Bill Nighy. Nighy's character was identified as a surgeon and nephrologist, but in a note to him afterward, Ramsay explained that wasn't quite right, adding, "Oliver as portrayed in the play should not be a surgeon but a physician, as physicians tend to be more cerebral than surgeons."

Nighy replied in part, "Thank you for setting us right. David Hare is grateful and has amended the play."

How does the saying go? A cat can look at a king? Here, an Irish doc can talk to a British bard.

• The 2008 North Pittsburgh Musical Showcase will be 8 p.m. May 3 at Seneca Valley High School. Five schools are scheduled so far (Pine-Richland, Western Beaver, Portersville Christian, Hopewell and Hampton), but others can still sign up until the end of March. Organizer is the Strand Theater Initiative; info at www.thestrandtheater.org.

• Every year when my first high school musical review articles appear (last week the PG ran two, West Mifflin's "Wiz" and Ambridge's "All Shook Up," with videos of each), I get a letter like this:

"I was just wondering how you decide which schools get a larger profile in the Post-Gazette. I so enjoyed the feature on 'The Wiz' and wanted to invite you to come and enjoy [write your school's name here] ... The kids are working so very hard through all of the obstacles."

Another letter said, "I am a fan of the arts and so enjoy when those kids get a little press. I consider this time of year as 'March Madness' for musical theater. I try to see as many shows as possible but can't possibly see them all."

Nor can I. So here's my policy: I limit myself to four or five high school musicals each spring, choosing according to when I'm free, which schools I can judge for the Kelly Awards and which schools I've never been to before (or I've been to least recently). This year's plan is to go to West Mifflin, Ambridge, Carrick, Hampton and McKeesport, which will bring my all-time record to 52 different high schools.

• Paid admissions at city's pro theaters for the week ending March 10: