Chuck's Choices for the weekend of July 25, 2014

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

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Photo: Peter Wochniak

Stages St. Louis presents the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying through August 17. "Big business means big laughs in this delightfully clever lampoon of life on the corporate ladder. A tune-filled comic gem that took Broadway by storm winning both the Tony Award for Best Musical and a Pulitzer Prize, How to Succeed...boasts an exhilarating score by Frank Loesser including “I Believe in You,” “Brotherhood of Man,” and “The Company Way.” Bustling with humor, romance and song, this swingin' 60s send-up of Madison Avenue charts the spectacular rise (in record time!) of an ambitious young window washer to VP of Advertising!" Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.

My take: It's a sad commentary on the state of the nation that the cheerfully cynical satire of the mendacity, mediocrity, and Machiavellian backstabbing of corporate America that makes up the book of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" is as relevant now as it was when the show opened back in 1961. The Stages production is a big, bright, hilarious technicolor cartoon that keeps the action firmly in the "Mad Men" era, so its sexism feels funny rather than creepy. The cast is wonderful, headed by Ben Nordstrom as perhaps the ideal J. Pierpont Finch.

COCA Theatre Company presents the musical Ragtime Friday at 7 PM and Saturday at 2 and 7 PM, July 25 and 26. “COCA Theatre Company (CTC) presents Ragtime, with book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow. The COCA Summer Musical celebrates its 10th anniversary with this powerful portrait of life in turn-of-the-century America. Ragtime draws upon the era's rich and varied music to tell the story of three extraordinary families struggling to make sense of life in America. In honor of the anniversary, the cast includes students chosen by area-wide audition as well as CTC alumni from the last 10 years of COCA Summer Musicals. This CTC production is directed by Grace Austin, with musical direction by Adaron Jackson and choreography by Lee Nolting and Chris Page. Recommended for teens and adults.” COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

My take: As I note in my review of the other big Flaherty and Ahrens show in town, "Seussical," these folks are the dynamic duo of musical theatre. They're versatile and eclectic songwriters, and their score for "Ragtime" is one of their best. The show distills the essence of Doctorow's novel and serves as a reminder that the alleged "good old days" were nothing of the sort.

Photo: Phillip Hamer

The Muny presents the musical Seussical the Musical nightly at 8:15 PM through Monday, July 29, in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. "Making its Muny premiere, Seussical^TM brings fantasy to magical life on the Muny stage. Based on the classic children's books of Dr. Seuss and narrated by the mischievous Cat in the Hat, this delightful musical follows Horton the elephant in his quest to protect the people of Who-ville. Seussical^TM is the timeless story of being true to your word...not living in fear...and the power of believing in yourself. Don't miss it." For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900.

My take: As I note in my review for KDHX, both this show and this production of it are, as Horton the elephant might say, faithful to Seuss, one hundred percent. There may be a more whimsical, charming, and funny show out there right now, but if so I don't know what it might be.

Family Musical Theater presents Sondheim's Sweeney Todd Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, July 25-27, at the Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan. For more information, visit familymusical.org or call 314-571-9579.

My take: I'm second to none in my admiration of what is probably Sondheim's greatest work. In his review for KDHX, Bob Wilcox describes this production as "imaginative and intelligent" and heaps praise on everyone in the cast.

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.