Chuck's Choices for the weekend of July 18, 2014

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

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Photo: Phillip Hamer

The Muny presents the musical The Addams Family nightly at 8:15 PM, July 14-20, in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. "Making its US regional and Muny premiere, The Addams Family puts Charles Addams' classic and beloved characters in a hilarious Broadway musical that has been thrilling audiences worldwide. See what Bloomberg News calls “uproarious!” The Addams Family features a book by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music by Andrew Lippa. Come meet Gomez, Morticia, Lurch and the entire hilariously odd Addams Family." For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900.

My take: As I say in my review for 88.1 KDHX, this is a show with a little too much of everything: too many songs with too many lyrics and too many big dance numbers that run just a little too long. But it's all quality stuff and the show is so often so outrageously funny that I'm willing to forgive its excesses. Some of the jokes may be a bit too adult for the kids, but on the whole it's great fun for the entire family. And it looks like the weather will be pleasant.

Photo: Kim Carlson

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Hamlet through July 20. "Devastated to find that his father’s death was no accident – that, in fact, the late king was murdered by the brother who now wears his crown – Prince Hamlet immediately vows revenge. Yet putting that vow into practice proves agonizingly difficult, and Hamlet – perhaps the most famous tragic hero in all of Western drama, and certainly the most enigmatic – can’t even figure out why. " Performances take place at the 560 Music Center in University City. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

My take: By casting a woman in the role of Hamlet, St. Louis Shakespeare is not being as radical as you might think. Sure, Shakespeare would never have done it for the simple reason that women were barred from the stage in his day. But other prominent directors have done it (Joseph Papp back in 1982, for example). The first female Hamlet that we know of was the great Sarah Siddons in 1775 and, of course, Sarah Bernhardt made quite a splash with the role at the turn of the 19th century. In her review for 88.1 KDHX, Tina Farmer describes this as "a passionate, emotionally layered production...that remains faithful to the script while providing a few unexpected twists, most of which work to great effect."

Held Over:

Photo: Peter Wochniak

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Always..Patsy Cline through August 31. "Jacqueline Petroccia and Zoe Vonder Haar star in the return engagement of the show critics called 'exceptional, must see entertainment.' The touching and true story of Country music legend Patsy Cline and her friendship with Texas housewife Louise Seger returns to STAGES this spring. Combining down home country humor, heartache and 27 of Patsy Cline's unforgettable hits such as 'Crazy,' 'Walkin' After Midnight,' and 'Sweet Dreams,' Always... Patsy Cline endures as a piece of genuine Americana." Performances take place at The Playhouse at Westport Plaza. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.

My take: Call this a qualified recommendation. If you're a lover of Patsy Cline or country music in general, I think you'll have a great time at this show, which is really more of a celebrity impersonation review than a book musical per se. Jacqueline Petroccia captures Cline's voice and manner so accurately it's eerie and Zoe Vonder Haar is a hoot and a half as Louise Seger, the real-life Houston fan who became a close friends and correspondent of Cline. With over two dozen Patsy Cline hits performed to perfection by Ms. Petroccia and a six-piece band, the show is a real feast for fans. See my KDHX review for more information.

Insight Theatre Company presents the comedy Over the River and Through the Woods July 10 - 20. "This comic-drama hit, which ran Off-Broadway for more than two years, introduces the audience to a tight-knit, Italian-American family who share Sunday dinners in New Jersey. When one family member announces he's moving to Seattle to accept a promotion, he sends his grandparents into a tailspin - and they pull out all the stops to convince him to stay." Performances take place in the Heagney Theatre, 530 East Lockwood on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com.

My take: I haven't seen Insight's production, but I played Nunzio in the St. Louis premiere of this show back in 2002 at Act Inc, so I can say from personal experience that it's a very funny and very true to life script about a loving and very loud family. Kind of like my own.

Photo: Ron Lindsey

Union Avenue Opera presents Verdi's La Traviata Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, July 11-18. "La Traviata, one of the most beloved tragedies in opera, tells the story of a worldly courtesan, Violetta, who decides to leave her life of glamour and frivolity behind for the love of one man, Alfredo. Returning to UAO after twelve years, La Traviata depicts the ultimate operatic life, one filled with grand parties, grander sacrifices, and some of Verdi's most memorable music, including the drinking song “Libiamo” and Violetta's virtuosic “Sempre libera.” Both longtime opera lovers and first-timers will be captivated by this irresistible classic. La Traviata will be directed by Tim Ocel, who received rave review for his direction of 2011's Dead Man Walking at UAO. " Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. The opera is sung in Italian with projected English text. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.

My take: As I write in my review for 88.1 KDHX, Union Avenue Opera has opened their 20th anniversary season with a "La Traviata" that's close to perfect. It has a dream cast, wonderfully clear and precise singing by the chorus, impeccable playing by the orchestra under Scott Schoonover, and direction by Tim Ocel which manages to be innovative while still respecting Francesco Maria Piave's text and Verdi's music. Whether you're a long-time opera fan or a total newbie, this is a "must see."