Two classics from opposite ends of the Earth and a new late-night entry spice up the theater scene this weekend.

'MACBETH'

Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth" gets a new setting (a netherworld three generations after a global catastrophe) and a multicultural/multilingual spin as characters speak in a mixture of English, Japanese, Spanish and Russian.

Paul T. Mitri directs the tale of ambition, murder and madness.

Pre-show chats are scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday and Nov. 22. See box on this page about two free "Macbeth" lectures.

Premieres at 8 p.m. today, repeats 8 p.m. Saturday, and Thursday, and Nov. 21-22; 2 p.m. Nov. 23 at Kennedy Theatre, University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Tickets are $18 general; $16 UH faculty and staff, seniors, military; $12 children and students; $5 UH-Manoa students. 956-7655, www.etickethawaii.com.

'JOURNEY TO THE WEST'

Demons! Traps! A brash and clever Monkey King! All these and more are found in "Journey to the West," the classic Chinese tale of a Buddhist monk's efforts to retrieve a holy sutra from India and his companion the Monkey King.

The play, adapted by Mary Zimmerman, is directed by Paul Cravath.

Premieres at 8 p.m. today, repeats at 8 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Thursday and Nov. 21-22 at Leeward Community College Theatre. Tickets are $18 general; $15 students, seniors and military. 455-0385, www.etickethawaii.com.

'WHAT!'

A young couple's relationship turns dysfunctional in "WHAT!" a one-act Late Night Theatre production written and directed by MFA acting student Rikki Jo Hickey. Also on the program: "Learning to Walk," a short, silent one-act written by absurdist Eugene Ionesco.

A post-show discussion with the cast and director happens Nov. 21.

Premieres at 11 p.m. Saturday, repeating at 8 p.m. Sunday and 11 p.m. Nov. 21-22 at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre, University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Tickets are $10 general; $8 UH faculty and staff, seniors, military and students; $4 UHM students; available one hour before showtime. 956-7655, www.hawaii.edu/kennedy.