• It's been a week for odd sexual perversions, one in the No Name Players' "Wonder of the World" (review today), another in Playhouse Rep's "The Goat" (review still to come). Each is the kind of thing that might well disgust some audience members, but critical tact prohibits describing them, so as not to spoil the plays' surprises. (And you thought it was easy being a critic?)

• Thanks for the handful of e-mails and a few phone calls about your preferences for best theater evenings and performances of the year. Keep them coming!

• Older than the CLO's "Musical Christmas Carol" by a year is Ken Gargaro's "A Lyrical Christmas Carol" (New Hazlett Theater, Dec. 18-21), staged originally by the pros of Pittsburgh Musical Theater and recently by the students of PMT's Richard E. Rauh Conservatory. For years, PMT's Scrooge was played by Jim Critchfield, but he now has his own company, Actors Civic Theater, for which he's reprising his signature role in "A Christmas Carol -- A Ghost Story" (Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks, Dec. 12-21). Replacing Critchfield at PMT is Tony Marino of Stage Right, a veteran of PMT musicals. Tickets ($10-$20) at 412-539-0900, ext. 232.

• "When Robots Rule!," the Oct. 2 eighth edition of the musical spoof of Pittsburgh news and newsmakers, has balanced its books. Ticket sales were down because of the competition of the vice presidential debate and other events that night, but the bottom line raised $28,480 for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (minus their fund-raising costs), $2,000 each for the scholarship funds of the two producing unions (the Newspaper Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and $720 for Pittsburgh Promise.

Early warning: "Off the Record IX: [sub-title TBA on the basis of future follies]" is set for Oct. 1, 2009. Save that date!

• David Rambo, playwright of "The Lady With All the Answers" at the Public, wrote tonight's CSI episode, titled "Young Man With a Horn" (CBS-TV, 9 p.m.). He writes: "The show has some fantastic guest stars, including Tippi Hedren, Robert Guillaume and Ralph Waite. It culminates two years of research into 1950s Las Vegas and boasts fantastic production value, with a few musical numbers as well!"

• Paid admissions at city's pro theaters, week ending Nov. 23:

Spamalot Benedum (51%) ............. 11,380

LadyAnswers/Public (61%) .............. 2,589

Love,Perfect/CLO Cab. (50%) ............. 699

BrothersSize/City (99%) ..................... 654

Chicks With/Bricolage .......................... NA