Every now and then, I like to challenge myself. Go bungee jumping and skydiving in the same day. Reread every Harry Potter novel in a week. Make it until noon without a cup of coffee. My latest tango with insanity was in honor of Arts Crush, the month-long arts and culture extravaganza across the greater Seattle area. Since next week is Theatre Week (with a launch party on Monday, October 18), I decided to go to four plays in four nights—to preview the local fare in true “arts crush” fashion, and to drive my husband nuts. A few of the shows close soon, so act now to plan your own marathon.

The results (in order of appreciation):

God of Carnage at Seattle Repertory Theatre
Through October 24
Two uptight, upper-class couples meet to discuss a playground dustup between their children, and within 30 minutes, manners are abandoned and a dainty wealth manager is projectile-vomiting across the stage. (Special effects!) Yasmina Reza’s Tony-winning play is already full of smart dialogue (“As soon as a woman starts crying, a man is provoked to excess”), but in this production, director Wilson Milam and his all-star cast milk every pause, every facial twitch, every bite of pastry for a laugh.
Verdict: Hilarious. Prompts large men to guffaw for 90 straight minutes.
Arts Crush deal: Date Night discount every Friday night through October: buy one, get one free.

The Cider House Rules, Part II at Book-it Repertory Theatre
Through October 16
When Book-it Rep puts on its low-tech, faithful adaptation of John Irving’s novel, The Cider House Rules, it’s basically money in the bank. It’s their LeBron James. Jane Jones’s direction set the standard for the company 20 years ago, and it’s still some of the most creative staging I’ve seen; the ensemble makes it rain just by tapping their fingers on the floor. It’s a testament to Book-it that a two-part, seven-hour play that tackles abortion can remain so popular.
Verdict: If you caught Part One, you can’t miss Part Two. And even if you missed Part One, they’re staging the entire play—with a break for dinner—on October 16. Tickets are $125 and include a three-course family-style meal and wine.

Sextet at Washington Ensemble Theatre
Through November 15
Keeping true to WET, this world premiere Tommy Smith play was like nothing I’d seen before. Three tales of infidelity—inspired by the true stories of three composers, Tchaikovsky among them—are told simultaneously; actors share lines and a small stage, and manage to get through their scenes without bumping into each other. And they do it in a standing pool of water. Why? I don’t know. There’s sex and murder, toplessness and soaking wet negligees. It’s inventive, to be sure—a little too inventive. When “six voices speak at once” (a sextet, they say), it’s hard to hear them all clearly.
Verdict: Hit and miss. If you sit in the front row, you may get wet.

In the Heights at 5th Avenue Theatre
Through October 17
I had mile-high hopes for this traveling Broadway show, which won the Tony for best new musical in 2008 with its tender story about dreams built and crushed in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood, feisty Latin rhythms and insanely talented break-dancing ensemble. It was Rent bred with So You Think You Can Dance. … But a mile’s a long way to fall. When a good portion of the dialogue is delivered by a rapping bodega owner (played here by the underwhelming Joseph Morales), and the volume is so loud you can’t understand half of it, it’s hard to care about these young New Yorkers.
Verdict: Shouldn’t have skipped dinner for this one.
Arts Crush deal: Free tour of 5th Avenue Theatre, lobby and house, at noon on Mondays through October. RSVP required. Call 206-625-1900.