Chuck's Choices for the weekend of February 20, 2015

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:

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Edward Albee's dark comedy Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? through March 1 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "George, a professor at a small college, and his wife, Martha, have just returned home, drunk from a Saturday night party. Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple-an opportunistic new professor at the college and his shatteringly naïve new bride-to stop by for a nightcap. When they arrive the charade begins. The drinks flow and suddenly inhibitions melt. It becomes clear that Martha is determined to seduce the young professor, and George couldn't care less. But underneath the edgy banter, which is crossfired between both couples, lurks an undercurrent of tragedy and despair. George and Martha's inhuman bitterness toward one another is provoked by the enormous personal sadness that they have pledged to keep to themselves: a secret that has seemingly been the foundation for their relationship. In the end, the mystery in which the distressed George and Martha have taken refuge is exposed, once and for all revealing the degrading mess they have made of their lives." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

My take: This is a script that surely needs little introduction from me. Albee's play has become a modern classic and a corrosive commentary on the dark side of American life. "Over the course of a long, alcohol-fueled night, the script expertly cuts, saws and chews its way through secrets, insecurities, accusations and infidelities until, worn out by the explosive force of its final battle, the show finds a comfortable, if not necessarily stable, resting place," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX. "Director John Contini clearly understands the nuances and shades in the script and leads the actors at a relentless pace. The dialogue is sharply crafted and expertly delivered by the cast – the tension never ceases and the stakes are never high enough until they come crashing down."

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Terrence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy through March 8. "When young Ronnie Winslow is expelled from military school for stealing a five-shilling postal order, his father wages an exhaustive fight to clear his son's name. What begins as a private matter quickly becomes a larger question of the rights of the individual against the power of the state. Though the legal battle jeopardizes his health and the reputation of the entire family, Arthur Winslow is determined that right will prevail, no matter what the sacrifice." Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

My take: Terrence Rattigan's work seems to have fallen into obscurity in the decades since his death in 1977. Which is a pity, as his better-known works are very well-constructed pieces, filled with subtle touches and well-rounded characters. Appearing in Separate Tables several years ago at Act Inc reminded me of what great dialog and situations he wrote. The Rep appears to be doing Rattigan justice. "A splendid cast and keenly sharpened direction," writes Chris Gibson at broadwayworld.com, "combine to provide a very compelling piece of theatre." "The show is thoughtfully directed by Steven Woolf," says Tina Farmer at KDHX, "and features fully engaged, well-developed performances by a strong ensemble."

Held Over:

God of Carnage
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through February 21. "A comedy of manners ... without the manners. Two married couples meet to sort out a playground fight between their sons. At first, niceties are observed but as the evening progresses and the rum flows, the gloves come off and the night becomes a side-splitting free-for-all." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: I'm not a great fan of this script myself, but I appear to be in the minority. In her review for KDHX, Tina Farmer calls it "a wickedly funny, sharply pointed play that questions just how civilized we really are, as a society...Gary F. Bell knows his way around smart, funny material and this thoroughly compelling show keeps to his high standards." I know and/or have acted with most of the cast at one time or another and can attest to their talent.

Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 104th season with the comedy Mr. Marmalade Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, February 13-22. "Growing up isn't easy these days. Little Lucy is spending her childhood doing all the things little girls like to do - playing house, having tea parties and playing with friends both real and imaginary. But even as a tot, Lucy seems to have learned most of what she knows about life from reality TV and her childhood is chock-full of very odd, very adult stuff - the oddest of which may be Mr. Marmalade. He's the imaginary friend who rarely has time for Lucy because he's way too busy dealing with the demands of his day planner, anger management issues and some very adult naughty habits." There will also be a show on Thursday, February February 19, at 8 PM. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

My take: OK, I'll admit that I'm on the play reading committee at West End as well as the sound designer for this show, so I'm not a disinterested party. And I have worked with director Steve Callahan many time in the past. That said, one of the reasons I voted for this play was that it's a very funny and very twisted comedy. Mr. Marmalade is definitely not your average imaginary friend. In fact, with imaginary friends like him, you probably don't need enemies. Consider this an antidote to Valentine's Day saccharine. "Featuring top-notch performances by Kimberly Byrnes as the precocious Lucy, Todd Schaefer as the manic title character and Michael Brightman as the best servant this side of Batman's Alfred," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News, "Mr. Marmalade offers an abundance of laughs in its one spirited act." "It all reminds me of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at the Disney amusement parks," says Richard Green at talkinbroadway.com, "where you careen through the dark in a fun-car, nearly crashing every ten seconds or so, but end up laughing in spite of everything. And, somehow, a lot of the rocky points of childhood become beautiful and touching, even if you've never suffered them all yourself."

White to Gray
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents White to Gray through February 22. "Mustard Seed Theatre is proud to offer the world premiere of local playwright Rob Maesaka’s White to Gray-the story of a young couple, one white and one Japanese-American, en route to the mainland from Hawaii on a cruise ship when bombs drop on Pearl Harbor. Amidst fear and uncertainty and caught in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, loyalties are tested and love comes under suspicion." Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com.

My take: The shabby treatment of Japanese Americans during World War II is one of the bits of American history that the far right would like to erase from history books, which makes it that much more important to remember it. "In many ways," says Tina Farmer at KDHX, ""White to Gray" provides a micro view of diverse American reactions to the attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent internment of more than one hundred thousand Japanese citizens. In other ways, it is a love story, one that seems filled with promise until history turned it tragic. The story is compelling and provides a fictional but nonetheless thoughtful and heartfelt retelling of an important historical event." At Broadwayworld.com, Chris Gibson says the show is "an entertaining show that features a number of good performances...and Mustard Seed's production of it is definitely worthy of your time and attention." At the Stage Door STL blog, Steve Allen says "Director Deanna Jent has brought a quiet sensitivity to the situation including the somewhat schmaltzy yet highly effective ending to a story that is fraught with tension and even a bit of rage."