Chuck's Choices for the weekend of November 8, 2012

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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New this week:

The Hawthorne Players present August Wilson's Fences through November 11. The performance takes place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. Community theatre groups don't often take on challenging material like this, but Hawthorne is an exception to the rule. I appeared in An Inspector Calls with them around ten years ago and again a few years later in Stoppard's Arcadia. This is a group that isn't afraid to do the tough stuff, and I think they deserve our support. In his review for 88.1 KDHX, Bob Wilcox says that "this splendid production...rewards in every way." For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit hawthorneplayers.com.

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, November 9 and 11. Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. This is in the list because I love Gilbert and Sullivan and because I think it's cool that we now have three regular opera companies in town. These guys are the newest, but they have already done some impressive work. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

R-S Theatrics presents Suicide, Incorporated November 9 - 18. "Jason leaves Hallmark to write for Legacy Letters  a company that believes that your suicide note is the most important letter you'll ever write. What unfolds over the next 80 minutes involves side-splitting laughter, brilliant writing, Krispy Kremes, and incredible performances by an unforgettable ensemble." R-S is one of a small number of groups bringin us new works by local playwrights. The cast includes some fine local actors, including Andrew Keller, Charlie Barron, and the ubiquitous B. Weller. Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. For more information: r-stheatrics.com or 314-968-8070.

The West End Players Guild continues their 102nd season with the St. Louis premiere of This Wide Night by Chloë Moss Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, November 9 - 18. There will also be a show on Thursday, November 15, at 8 PM. "As the play begins, Lorraine arrives at the squalid flat that is now home to Marie. Lorraine is in her fifties and newly-released from 12 years in prison. Her cell mate and prison best friend Marie is a younger woman who served a shorter sentence and has been out for some time. As their tense and tentative reunion quickly makes clear, much more has changed in their lives than simply being able to look out an unbarred window. This Wide Night is the story of Lorraine and Marie’s struggle to determine whether the friendship they treasured in prison is even possible in the outside world, and if so to learn how to trust each other again." Here's another St. Louis premiere by a company that is starting to specialize in them. And, yes, I am on the board of West End, but I think this is an important production regardless. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

Held over:

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Clybourne Park through November 18. “Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and 2012 Tony Award for Best Play, Clybourne Park is a wickedly funny and provocative new play about the volatile intersection of race and real estate.” As I write in my review for 88.1 KDHX, "I just can't praise this script and the Rep's splendid production of it highly enough. It's entertaining, thought provoking, and complex enough to encourage repeated viewing". Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.