Caryl Churchill’s scathing social satire “Cloud 9” — being staged at Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Studio Theatre space Oct. 23 through Nov. 2 — has many things in common with Tom Stoppard’s play “Arcadia,” which is playing through Oct. 25 at the Yale Repertory Theatre. Both show how British society has changed from the 19th century until now. Both veer brilliantly from high comedy to thoughtful philosophy to burning romance. Churchill’s play preceded Stoppard’s by about a decade, with a hit Off Broadway run in the early 1980s. It’s become a staple of college theaters for its challenging roles; actors switch ages, attitudes and in some cases genders between the first act (set in 1880s Africa, when the region was still a British colony) and the second (set in London in the late 1970s). Churchill makes strong statements about race, sex, politics and rapidly changing times, and the actors have a wild time delivering those pithy political pronouncements. The Studio Theatre is on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs. Performances of “Cloud 9” are Oct. 23, 29 & 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 24, 23, 31 and Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.; and Nov. 1 & 2 at 2 p.m. $7-$30. (860) 486-2113, http://www.crt.uconn.edu.
CLOUD 9 will be performed Oct. 23, 29 & 30 at 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 24, 23, 31 and Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.; and Nov. 1 & 2 at 2 p.m. at The Studio Theatre on the University of Connecticut campus, Storrs $7-$30. 860-486-2113, crt.uconn.edu.
