McManus, Behrens reunite

After 1,200 performances over 16 years, the Patrick J. McManus-Tim Behrens partnership has proven to be popular and enduring.

Now this comic collaboration begins a new stage with “Poor Again … Dagnabbit!” – the premiere of the first new McManus show in 12 years.

The popular formula remains intact: McManus, the best-selling humorist famous for “A Fine and Pleasant Misery,” supplies the words. Behrens, alone on the stage, portrays McManus and all of his well-loved characters, including Retch Sweeney and Olga Bonemarrow.

The subject, fittingly for our times, is financial woe. McManus creates rollicking tales about his poor childhood in Sandpoint during the Great Depression and a few stories about the current recession as well.

Behrens said the economy continues to increase “the spread of laughlessness across the land and we aim to do our part to combat this situation.”

The format is similar to the previous four McManus-Behrens comedies, but the venue is new this time around.

The show premieres today at 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St. Tickets are $21 for show-only, or $47 for a pre-show buffet wild-game dinner package, prepared by chef Marty Hogberg.

It runs again on Saturday at 8 p.m., $21 for show-only or $85 for a small-group VIP gourmet wild-game dinner prepared by Hogberg, with McManus in attendance.

Call (509) 327-8000 for tickets or go to www.thelincolncenter spokane.com. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Lands Council.

“Poor Again … Dagnabbit!” then heads to Sandpoint next week for a performance at the Panida Theatre, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for youth, available at Eichardt’s Pub, Pack River Potions and Eve’s Leaves in Sandpoint.

McManus will be present at all performances to sign his new Sheriff Bo Tully murder mystery novel, “The Double Jack Murders” (Simon & Schuster, $24).