GOINGS ON / SANTA BARBARA : Updated Message : The words of 19th-Century abolitionist Frederick Douglass are examined in a 20th-Century context.

Frederick Douglass talks on the telephone with Harriet Tubman.

Douglass uses a Dictaphone to record a message to his former slave master.

Not only did these events never happen, but they also were technologically impossible in the early- to mid-1800s, when Douglass was first a slave and then, upon escaping to freedom, an outspoken abolitionist.

But they make sense on stage, as part of Roger Guenveur Smith’s one-man show, “Frederick Douglass Now.” The performance, which Smith will bring to UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday, looks at Douglass’ 19th-Century life in a 20th-Century context.

“It uses modern sounds and technology, but it uses 19th-Century texts of Frederick Douglass that I pulled together, edited from his speeches, his letters, his diaries,” Smith said. “It’s basically all in Douglass’ words, except for a rap epilogue.”

That rap piece is based on a well-known statement made by Douglass: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress,” amended to include the line, “That was the rap of brother Frederick Douglass.”

Smith said that modernizing Douglass’ story makes it more accessible to today’s audiences, particularly for the younger generation that has grown up on MTV. “Hopefully, the message of Frederick Douglass will remain as strong and powerful and relevant in this century as it was last century,” he said.

“Frederick Douglass Now” debuted in New York in 1990. The presentation in Santa Barbara launches a national tour. Smith said the play has traditionally been booked during Black History Month (February) and he’s glad to see it being performed in January for a change.

“I try to emphasize that Douglass is a greatly neglected American hero whose work should be seen not only during the month of February, but throughout the year,” he said. “Traditionally, our history has neglected people such as Douglass who have considered themselves great American patriots, but who have chosen to speak out against the hypocrisy of America.”

Smith’s other work includes his portrayal of Christopher Columbus as a Third World tour promoter in the one-man show “Christopher Columbus 1992.” He also played the character Smiley in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” and Rudy in “Malcolm X.”

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Last week marked the start of UCSB’s International Cinema series at Campbell Hall. Today, the curtain will rise on the university’s Shakespeare on Film series at the same location.

The first installment will be the 1968 movie version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by Peter Hall and starring members of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The rest of the seven-film series, to be shown each Thursday (except Feb. 4), includes “Los Tarantos,” “As You Like It,” “Hamlet,” “Othello,” “King Lear,” and “Prospero’s Books.” Movies will be shown at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Admission is $5 for individual movies, $20 for the series. For information call 893-3535.

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The Missoula Children’s Theatre group of Missoula, Mont., will be visiting Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre on Saturday for a performance of “The Pied Piper.” Much of the cast will be made up of local children and adults who auditioned last week for the roles. Look for familiar faces portraying the townsfolk, the rats and the Pied Piper himself.

There will be two performances, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $4.50 for children. The Lobero is at 33 E. Canon Perdido. Call the Lobero box office at 963-0761.

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First pipers, then bassoonists.

Michelle Grego, principal bassoonist with the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, will be the featured soloist at the group’s concerts, Sunday at 4 p.m. and Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the Lobero Theatre.

The program for both concerts will include Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto in B flat, K. 191, Milhaud’s “La Creation du Monde” (a piece dealing with African folk legends about the creation of the world) and Haydn’s Symphony No. 100, also known as the “Military.” Admission is $16, $14, and $12 (general) and $10 (students and seniors) for Sunday’s concert; and $20, $16 and $15 (general) and $13 (students and seniors) for Tuesday. Call 963-0761.

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The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s “Chumash Artways” series will resume Saturday with a presentation by the Maidu Dancers of Northern California. The program will begin with a slide show/discussion of the history of Maidu dance, traditionally performed with musical accompaniment inside a ceremonial roundhouse, by dancers dressed in exotic regalia. Following the introduction, 10 Maidu dancers will perform the Toto Dance, traditionally performed at the start of a new year in honor of the Earth Mother.

The program will get under way at 2 p.m. Admission is free with general admission to the museum--$3 for adults, $2 for seniors and children age 13-17 and $1 for children age 12 and younger. The museum is at 2559 Puesta del Sol Road. Call 682-4711 for more information.