STAGE

Rock star Sting, who is playing Mack the Knife in a new production of “Threepenny Opera,” is taking it on the chin from critics in Washington, where the show is warming up for Broadway. After his opening-night performance at the National Theatre, the Washington Post critic said Sting looked sufficiently lean and mean as Mack the Knife, but his acting lacked animation and his singing voice sounded thin. The Washington Times’ review warned those who were thinking about seeing Sting to “prepare to be stung.” President and Mrs. Bush enjoyed the performance, however, and so did Soviet Ambassador Yuri Dubinin. He told the Associated Press that “Threepenny Opera” is often performed in the U.S.S.R. “It’s the truth about life,” he said.