The Thick House, new home to San Francisco's Thick Description alternative theatre group, makes its debut with the world premiere of Under Western Eyes, an Asian American-themed adaptation of Joseph Conrad's novel. Construction on the new space was expected to be finished in time for that first "We Pay You" preview (at which Thick Description pays the audience $1 to attend) Dec. 3. The show then officially opens Dec. 5 for a run through Dec. 19. Thick Description co-founder Tony Kelly directs.

Adapted by Karen Amano from Conrad's 1911 tale of revolutionaries, unrest and spies that travels from Russia to Switzerland, Under Western Eyes moves the story's action to the near future in America, where Asian American graduate student Alex Razuo is implicated as the assassin in the murder of a right-wing politician.

Harold Byun stars as Alex with Bonnie Akimoto, Michael Ching, Trish Ng, Blancett Reynolds, Sam Sheng and Kelvin Han Yee.

Jazz composer and saxophonist Francis Wong will create an original score for Under Western Eyes. Wong founded the Ming Trio, Desert Flower Ensemble and Asian Improv aRts [sic], a production and recording company that promotes Asian-American jazz musicians.

Tickets are $20-$10 and available by calling (415) 587-4465. The Thick House is located at 1695 18th Street on Potrero Hill. Thick Description is on the web at http://www.thickdescription.org

-- By Christine Ehren