There are few comedians who can keep my attention for more than about half an hour. Robin Williams, for example, is one funny dude in short spurts, but his high-energy, scatterbrained shtick gets older than Nina Hartley flicks after about 20 minutes. Sure, he gets flashed in the limelight much like she does in her recent role of Hillary Rodham Clinton in the adult film parody Who’s Nailin’ Paylin?, but ultimately both are forgettable.

The few exceptions to that rule — at least in the comedic world — are folks such as Richard Pryor, Jon Stewart and two dudes who are visiting the South Sound this week, Martin Short and Ryan Stiles.

Broadway Center for the Performing Arts is presenting “An Evening with Martin Short“ on Saturday, Nov. 8. Short will bring his particularly funny brand of comedy, dashed with a gaggle of musical and dance bits as he parades through the characters that have made him a wealthy man. He also will have special guest comedian Ryan Stiles, a former Bellingham resident, along for the show.

Short is an alumnus of Saturday Night Live from a generation ago, when he parodied Jerry Lewis and Katherine Hepburn. He then jumped ship and went to the big screen with roles in Clifford, Three Amigos, Captain Ron, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, Pure Luck, and Father of the Bride among many others.  He also has a Best Actor Tony award for his role in Little Me.

One of his most famous roles is that of Jiminy Glick, a parody of late-night television hosts that leaves folks with busted guts because he is so funny.

Stiles is equally hilarious, particularly when he gets going with his off-the-cuff comments that were made famous by the British and then American version of Whose Line is it Anyway?

The duo will appear at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Pantages Theater. Tickets are $59 to $99 and available at the Broadway Center Box Office, located at Ninth and Broadway, by calling 253.591.5894 or visiting www.broadwaycenter.org.

The collection of Martins also includes the Two Martins on Friday, Nov. 7, in Olympia.

Englishmen Martin Taylor and Martin Simpson are two of the finest living guitarists available. This tour marks the first time they have taken the stage together. They will each play solo and will perform collaborative pieces as well. The melding of Taylor’s classic jazz stylings with Simpson’s folksy, rough-hewn approach will make for a fascinating evening of great guitar music.

The Two Martins play at Washington Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7. Tickets are $13.75 to $31.50. Washington Center, 512 Washington St., Olympia; 360.753. 8585, www.washingtoncenter.org.

Shakespeare In the Parking Lot will present Proofs of Holy Writ at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Embellish MultiSpace Salon, 1121 Court D, #A in Tacoma. This local adaptation of the Bard’s classic works takes an insider’s look at the dynamics surrounding the combative Ben Jonson, a retiring William Shakespeare, and a spirited visit by Christopher Marlowe. The show is free. For details, go online to: www.sitpl.org.

Whatever you think, this opera is not about a singing rat. Pacific Lutheran University will present Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss. The show will be performed in English with the University Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jonathan Pasternack and feature performers from Dance Theatre Northwest. The show runs at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 7 to Nov. 9; Eastvold Auditorium, PLU Campus, Tacoma; 253.535.7614; www.dancetheatrenorthwest.org.

Tacoma Opera opens its season with the comedy Le Comte Ory. Rarely performed in the United States, this escapade tells of an amorous young count pursuing an innocent countess, complete with multiple deceptions, sparkling music, and a chorus line of men disguised as nuns. Sung in French with projected English translation, it has two performances at the Rialto Theater in Tacoma at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9; 310 S. Ninth St., $25 to $62; 253.627.7789; www.tacomaopera.com.

The Tacoma Children’s Musical Theater is staging the first show of its season — Bunnicula, a comedy about a dark and stormy night when Chester, a cat, and Harold, a dog, wait for their owners to return home from the movies.  When their owners finally arrive home, they come bearing a surprise; they have another pet. They found a bunny in the movie theater and decided to take it home. But this rabbit has a secret life. Originally premiered at the Seattle Children’s Theater, Bunnicula is a clever stage rendering of the classic first installment of James Howe’s much beloved series. The show runs at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8 and Nov. 9; 7116 Sixth Ave.; $10 to $15; 253.565.6867, www.tmp.org.