Chuck's choices for the weekend of October 11, 2013

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 Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University presents Alice in Wonderland Wednesdays through Sundays, October 2-13. Performances take place on the Emerson Studio Theater at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information, call 314-968-7128.

My take: "Dare you dive head-first down a rabbit hole," asks Steve Callahan in his review for 88.1 KDHX.  "Wonders await you if you'll only close your eyes and jump!  No, no, don't close your eyes—keep them wide open lest you miss a morsel of this delightful Alice in Wonderland that the Webster Conservatory now offers you."  This musical version of the classic story has an all student cast and it appears that they're all very accomplished.

Photo: Peter Wochniak

Upstream Theater the St. Louis premiere of Nicolai Gogol's Diary of a Madman, as adapted by David Holman, with Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush, through October 20. The production features live music by Joe Dreyer. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

My take: Once again, Upstream is taking on unusual material, apparently with great success.  "The script," writes Tina Farmer in her review for 88.1 KDHX, "mixes metaphor, language and wordplay with ease, and is clearly understood and delivered with a deft touch by both actors. Director Philip Boehm and Scenic Designer Michael Heil deliver a briskly paced, visually memorable show that does justice to Gogol's original story, considered by many to be a masterpiece of the era."  Joe Dreyer performs his original music live on the keyboard.

Photo: Richard Termine

The Fox Theatre presents the tour of the new Broadway revival of Adrew Lloyd Webber's Evita October 8-20. The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-534-1678.

My take: As I note in my review for 88.1 KDHX, this creatively re-invented revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's unlikely 1976 concept album-turned-musical is innovative, exciting, and worth seeing whether you're familiar with the show or not.  New musical arrangements, lots of new choreography, and an interpretation of Che that goes back to the show's roots all make this unlike any Evita you've probably seen before.

Photo: John Lamb

New Jewish Theater presents Neil Simon's The Good Doctor through October 20. Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

My take: this series of eight short plays—sketches, really—based on the work of Chekov is great fun when done well.  In her review for 88.1 KDHX, Andrea Braun praises the work of the four actors as well as Bobby Miller's "masterful" direction.

Valhalla Cemetery and The Hawthorne Players present Voices Of Valhalla: A Hayride Through Time October 11-19. "Don’t miss out this year when haywagons take you to locations in historic Valhalla Cemetery where actors from Hawthorne Players bring to life the stories of some of the cemetery’s permanent residents.  You’ll hear stories of remarkable triumph over adversity, heroism and intrigue, sacrifice and greed. Not recommended for children.  The hayrides leave every 15 minutes, beginning at 6:30 p.m." Valhalla Cemetery is located at 7600 St. Charles Rock Road. For more information, visit hawthorneplayers.com.

My take: This is one of the most interesting examples of "site specific" theatre that I can think of, and couldn't be more appropriate for the weeks approaching Hallowe'en.  We Americans have a very bad tendency to forget our past, often endangering our future in the process.  Shows like this serve to remind us of who we were and, therefore, who we are.