Pig Vomit Live

I was recently asked whether I thought Paul Giamatti would ever slum -- that is participate -- in something noble like a play or a literary series.

Not a chance, was my rejoinder. The guy's too famous. He just won an Emmy for playing Pres. John Adams, and is a pretty reliable movie second -- and occasionally first -- banana. I give you "Sideways," "Cinderella Man," "American Splendor" and about 50 others. And, of course once you play a character named Pig Vomit in a Howard Stern movie, well you can pretty much write your own ticket.

But recall, the query-er reminded me, Giamatti's got stage roots. He went to Yale undergrad and grad, and acted in several Broadway plays, the most recent of which was the 1999 revival of "The Iceman Cometh."

Even so, we both agreed, you've a better chance of rounding up P.G.'s older bro, Marcus Giamatti who _ while a reputable working actor and a longtime "Judging Amy" player -- never played Pig Vomit.

Well, one shouldn't make assumptions.

It ain't a long run, and the scenery won't be spectacular, but beginning next Wednesday, Paul Giamatti will join David Strathairn in L.A. Theatre Works live for radio broadcast of "The Rivalry." Strathairn will play Abe Lincoln, Giamatti is Sen. Stephen Douglas, the Democratic States rights advocate who famously debated Lincoln on the subject of slavery. Lily Rabe plays Douglas's wife.

Trivia seekers take note, Giamatti and Strathairn -- another stage vet -- appeared in a revival or Chekhov's "Three Sisters" in 1997 at the Roundabout.

"The Rivalry" plays Wednesday-Friday at 8 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Skirball Cultural Center. Wednesday's performance has a separate 6 p.m. dinner salon during which attendees can watch the 3rd Obama/McCain debate.

Those who miss it will be able to hear it broadcast on KPCC's The Play's the Thing" series. But it would be pretty cool to see Giamatti live. Who knows when he'll do that again, especially anywhere nearby.

Tix are $20-$48. (310) 827-0889, www.latw.org.