Chuck's Choices for the weekend of January 11, 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:

Upstream Theater presents Café Chanson, a “ballet in song” created and directed by Broadway star and native St. Louisan Ken Page, Thursdays through Sundays, January 11-27. The show “includes World War II period songs from some of France's most renowned singers and songwriters.” Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. I'm a great fan of the classic French pop songs, so I'm looking forward to this one with considerable interest. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

Metro Theatre Company and the The Edison Theatre at Washington University present the St. Louis premiere of Jackie and Me by Steven Dietz, adapted from the book by Dan Gutman, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 8-27. There will also be special school matinees Tuesdays through Fridays at 10:00 AM. “An exciting play that illuminates Jackie Robinson's courage and dignity in the face of cruel racial prejudice, Jackie and Me will have you on the edge of your seat as we all root for the man who changed the face of the game.” Each performance will be immediately followed by a discussion exploring questions raised by the story. The play is recommended for adults and young people 10 and over. I'm not going to get to see this one, but I'm recommending it because Metro has such a good track record and becuase Robinson's story a reminder of both how far we have come in race relations and how far we still have to go. For more information, call the Edison Theatre Box Office at (314) 935-6543.

The Fox Theatre presents the “international percussion sensation” Stomp Friday through Sunday, January 11-13. The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. One of these days I really must get to see this show; everyone who has covered it for me at KDHX has been pretty much bowled over by the high energy of the cast and the ingenuity of the choreography. To quote from the press release: "Synchronized stiff-bristle brooms become a sweeping orchestra, eight Zippo lighters flip open and closed to create a fiery fugue; wooden poles thump and clack in a rhythmic explosion.  Stomp uses everything but conventional percussion instruments - dustbins, tea chests, radiator hoses, boots, hub caps - to fill the stage with a compelling and unique act that is often imitated but never duplicated."  For more information: fabulousfox.com.

Held over:

©Photo by Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Good People through January 27. “You can't keep a good woman down - unless that woman is from Southie, the gritty, blue-collar Boston neighborhood that Margie Walsh has always called home. Down on her luck and facing eviction, Margie turns to Mikey, an old fling who made good and secured himself a new life in the ritzy suburbs. But is he strong enough to face his humble beginnings and give Margie a hand? Laughter is never far from heartache in this poignant look at the "haves" and "have-nots".” Read the 88.1 KDHX review! Performances take place at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.