Three to See: An Invisible Man, A Genius Composer, and a Group of Outlaws

Tired of spending your weekends waiting in line at the hot new brunch spot? Why not add some zip to your downtime with a little arts and culture? Jared Bowen shares his film and theater picks.

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Credit T. Charles Erickson / Huntington Theatre Company

Teagle F. Bougere and Brian D. Coats in the Huntington Theatre Company's production of Invisible Man.

INVISIBLE MAN

Presented by the Huntington Theatre Company, playing at the BU Theatre through February 3.

Like Salinger’s famed opposition to adaptation, many Ellison fans assumed they would never see his novel on the stage or screen. But 60 years after the publication of “Invisible Man,” the work’s admirers can finally see “Invisible Man” in a new medium — in a production presented by the Huntington Theatre Company.

The moving production follows an unnamed, idealistic, African American protagonist, played by Teagle F. Bougere, as he struggles to understand the duplicitous definitions of race and identity in 1930s America.

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Credit Mark S. Howard / Lyric Stage Company

James Andreassi, Victor L. Shopov, Will McGarrahan in 33 Variations at The Lyric Stage.

33 VARIATIONS

Playing at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston through February 2.

In telling the story of both a mother-daughter relationship and a brilliant composer, the newest production from playwright Moisés Kaufman, the author of “The Laramie Project” and “Gross Indecency,” draws parallels between present day New York and 19th century Austria.

The script for the play is flawed, but it contains many fascinating elements, such as the integrated live performance of Beethoven’s “Diabelli Variations.” The Lyric Stage production, however, is fantastic — it features an incredibly strong cast, terrific staging, and beautiful music.

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Credit Warner Bros.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in the film Gangster Squad, in theaters Friday Jan. 11.

Gangster Squad

In theaters Friday, Jan. 11.

Gangster Squad transports audiences to a Los Angeles unrecognizable from today’s pristine beaches, taco carts and Grauman’s Theater. In 1949, mob boss Mickey Cohen ran the town — including it’s political and law enforcement systems. But Cohen’s domination doesn’t a clandestine group of LAPD outsiders from trying to take back control of the city.

With an all-star cast including Josh Brolin, Sean Penn, Ryan Gosling, Nick Nolte and Emma Stone (to name a few), the film’s true stars are it’s visuals, which will take the viewer straight back to the 40s.