Chuck's Choices for the weekend of March 21, 2013

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

Share on Google+:

New this week:

The Bistro at Grand Center presents A Cabaret Evening featuring Shirely Aschinger, Kevin Cherry, Kari Donovan, Erica Perlow and Charlene Reimann with music direction by Carol Schmidt on Saturday, March 23, at 8 PM. ”This original evening of songs - some you will know, some that will be new to you - will entertain and touch you.” Tim Schall directs. The Bistro is at 3536 Washington Blvd in Grand Center. The showcase is the finale of an eight-week cabaret performance workshop taught by Tim and Carol, so you know it's going to be polished. For more information: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/351510.

Peabody Opera House presents A Chorus Line Thursday through Sunday, March 21-23. Well, who doesn't like A Chorus Line? And, as I have said before, the Peabody is one of the best places in town for musical theatre. For more information, visit peabodyoperahouse.com or call 314-622-5420.

Union Avenue Opera presents La Vie de Bohème on Saturday, March 24, at 7 PM. It's an evening of dinner, drinks, and entertainment by UAO artists and takes place at Dressel's Pub, 419 N. Euclid in the Central West End. Union Avenue has an impressive track record of producing quality opera in a difficult space. They deserve our support. For more information: unionavenueopera.org.

Held over:

Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the musical Next to Normal Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through March 23. "From the composer of High Fidelity comes the most adult, most mature rock musical to hit Broadway in decades, an unrelentingly intense, brutally honest – and often, darkly funny – story about a bipolar woman and the family that grapples with her illness, all set to a hard driving rock and roll score that explodes with raw, searing emotion. Rolling Stone called it 'the best new musical of the season – by a mile.'” I saw the national tour of this show at the Fox in April of 2011 and was very much taken with it. In her review for 88.1 KDHX, Laura Kyro praises "the amazing acting and singing by all members of the cast." Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. For more information, call 314-534-1111.

©Photo by Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Venus in Fur through March 24. “Vanda is determined to land the lead in Venus in Fur, a new play based on a classic erotic novel. Her emotionally charged audition for the playwright/director unexpectedly becomes an electrifying and dangerous game of cat and mouse that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, seduction and power, love and sex.” 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. As I note in my review for 88.1 KDHX, the script could do with a bit of trimming but "overall it's a classic example of the 'well-made play' a la Terrence Rattigan or J.B. Priestly." Performances and direction are first-rate.

The Fox Theatre presents the drama War Horse through March 24. "A heartwarming drama about the unlikely bond between a hoarse and his young master, War Horse also boasts itself with its marvelous horse puppets intricately crafted by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company. No play in Broadway has ever roused audiences’ emotions with such vivid and lifelike imagery and stimulating scenic designs and a story that reminds us that unwavering dedication, bravery and friendship is timeless and universal other than this modern theatrical masterpiece." The show is also a powerful indictment of the insanity and brutality of mechanized warfare. We saw this in London last fall and were very much impressed. In his review for 88.1 KDHX, Steve Callahan describes War Horse as "visually and aurally stunning." The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.