The creators of the play The Intergalactic Nemesis like to raid the kitchen. ย“When we originally did the show, it literally was like going through our kitchens to find stuff to make noises with,ย” says Jason Neulander, a founding member of Salvage Vanguard Theater. ย“A lot of those original sounds are still part of the production.ย” The Austin-based theater companyย’s sci-fi tale, presented in the style of a 1930s radio show, has been around since 1996, and Neulander says he never stops trying to find new sound-effects props. ย“Iย’ll be cooking in the kitchen and Iย’ll accidentally bang a spatula against a pan and go, ย‘Oh my God, thatย’s the clanking-ship-falling-apart sound that weย’ve been looking for!ย’ย” he says.

The sounds add to a story about Molly Sloan, a reporter who travels to the ends of the universe to find a story full of danger and intrigue. Along the way, Sloan and her assistant Timmy Mendez meet a myriad of characters, including a mysterious stranger who comes to the rescue just as Molly and Timmy take on an army of sludge monsters (brought to you by a bucket of mud and a plunger) trying to take over the world.

The audience sees all of this unfold in the format of old-timey radio play. ย“The premise of the experience is that you are a person in the 1930s coming to watch the live broadcast ย— youย’re the live studio audience,ย” says Neulander. ย“One way to experience the show ย— and audience members have told me theyย’ve done this ย— is to just kick back, close your eyes and let yourself get completely sucked into that world.ย” However, thereย’s more than enough visual stimulation to keep audiencesย’ eyes wide open. Some of the characters play multiple roles, which makes for some interestingly quick, onstage costume changes, not to mention, the sound effects are brought to you care of one man: Buzz Moran. Thatย’s right; they even found a sound man with a sound for a name. You know this has gotta be good. 8 p.m. Wortham Center, 501 Texas. For information, call 713-227-4772 or visit www.spahouston.org. $22-$47

Fri., Nov. 16, 8 p.m., 2007

This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2007.