The Thespian Shat

William Shatner has bravely gone where no man (except George Hamilton) has gone before — beyond parody, beyond self-parody, into the farthest realm of self-defined cool. Whether his singular career reps an immortal contribution to popular culture is a matter of opinion, but he’s one guy you can say is laughing all the way to the bank. Laughing at the old Shatner never gets old, however, as B-movie maven Will “The Thrill” Viharo has proven through countless East Bay shows. The current unsettled situations at the Parkway and El Cerrito Speakeasy Theaters impel him to bring his one-of-a-kind act to our side of the bridge for the first time, and he’s starting with one of his greatest hits. The main attraction of Thrillville’s Shatfest, in a manner of speaking, is a pair of hokey mid-’70s flicks, Impulse and Kingdom of the Spiders, starring Mr. Square Jaw in Serious Actor mode. Dedicated to giving Shatner every ounce of respect he’s due, the Thrill has booked the burlesque stylings of the Twilight Vixen Revue and the comic shenanigans of the Shatner Butt Girls. Remember: In space, no one can hear you mock.
Thu., July 23, 7:30 p.m., 2009