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F R I D A Y

In person, Chris Rock is soft-spoken and childishly shy—almost waiflike. On stage, he seems both older and sharper, pumping up the volume, mischievously stirring things up. He fled the Garrett Morris chair at Saturday Night Live for the more Afro-comedically-centric In Living Color, where his characters, like the absurdly militant Nat-X, can have freer rein. Unhampered by TV constraints, expect the volume to be pumped waaay up. At 8:30 & 10:30 p.m. tonight; 7, 9, & 11 p.m. Saturday; and 8 p.m. Sunday at the Comedy Cafe, 1520 K St. NW. $15. (202) 638-2015. (Dave Nuttycombe)