The Oiler Boiler

The Oil Boiler — a one-act dramatic fantasy about a hit man chatting up God about killing his lover, while a jazz band plays in a nightclub for assassins — sounds dark, daring and just maybe a touch ridiculous. But that’s how we like our local, scared-up-from-nowhere, collaborative First Friday theatrical happenings. A mob of artists, musicians, actors and what have you labored to mount this unlikely affair. Artist Tyson Schroeder and musician Christian Hankel wrote the script and also act, design and, with Jeff Freling, make fresh music. Directing first-tier performers Walter Coppage, Katie Gilchrist and Alacartoona’s Erin McGrane is Scott Cordes. Meanwhile, that jazz band, a four-piece featuring the pipes of Shay Estes, does what it does. Schroeder and architect James Pastin designed the set. Really, everyone who has ever done anything of aesthetic significance in Kansas City seems to be involved in this. The show runs at 7 and 9 tonight and Saturday in the Living Room at the Pearl (1818 McGee). Tickets cost $12 in advance or $15 at the door and can be purchased at theoilboiler.com.

Fri., May 7; Sat., May 8; Sun., May 9, 2010