New territory: Men on Boats tells the story of four explorers’ heroic quest to chart the whitewater rivers that make up the Grand Canyon. Set in 1869, the play calls itself the “true(ish)” story of Civil War Captain John Wesley Powell and his brave crew’s attempt to map out one of our most magnificent national parks. From this description you might expect a serious, Ken Burns-style celebration of manifest destiny, possibly an all-male lineup. Probably all white men. This play turns those expectations upside down in an adventure-comedy with a diverse cast. The rollicking tale takes you through the unknown American West, but it doesn’t leave you feeling stuck in the past.
Through 3/28. $22-26, Live Arts, 123 E. Water St. 977-4177.