More than 30 musicians, writers, performers and directors will gather here, ready to form five groups, and each will have five days to whip up a short play powered by rock music and dramatic surprise.

Fri., Feb. 9, 8:30 p.m., $5-$10, Asian Arts Initiative, 1315 Cherry St.

Forget, for a second, his preserved flesh wrapped in fabric; it's the appeal of King Tut and his attendant treasures that's showing some unexpected longevity.

When we're first introduced to the unnamed Russian narrator of House of Meetings, the new novel by British author Martin Amis, he's telling us about a boat trim the crew calls the "gulag tour."

The book, when it is revealed and lifted out of its protective box, is bound in burnt orange. The pages are uneven along their upper edges, of two different heights, but every leaf wriggles with crosshatched figures in black pen.

"Jim Christy says I'm the closest thing to working with a dead man."

Through Jan. 21, Pageant: Soloveev Gallery, 607 Bainbridge St.

"Where's Sophie?" Aaron Cromie has broken off a thought about his papier-mache recipe to bound across the deserted Arden stage in search of his female lead.

It's late, you've had a skinful, and la belle ferronière is eyeing you up.