Chuck's Choices for the weekend of February 19, 2016

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:

And in This Corner...Cassius Clay

Metro Theatre Company and the Missouri History Museum present And in This Corner...Cassius Clay by Idris Goodwin through February 28. "This is the story of young Muhammad Ali as he struggles with racism and segregation in Jim Crow Louisville, Kentucky, how a chance encounter with police officer Joe Morgan (later to become his first coach) sets him on the path toward becoming a legendary boxer and how finally he learns that it is not enough to achieve personal success, one must also work for the good of others." Performances take place in the Lee Auditorium at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information: mohistory.org.

My take: "Goodwin's script is crafted to draw in audience members of all ages," writes Shannon Cothran at KDHX, "and he has succeeded with “In This Corner....” A mixture of poetry and prose, the play manages to tell the story of a boy who becomes a champion despite living within a culture of hate while showing us the flaws that make him human." I've been very impressed with Goodwin's work at the Humana Festival in Louisville in 2012 and in 2014, so I'm not surprised to hear that the playwright has struck gold again.

Disgraced
Photo: Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar through March 6. "Successful corporate lawyer Amir Kapoor comes from a Pakistani family, but he long ago distanced himself from his roots to embrace life as a slick New Yorker. On course to become a partner at his law firm, Amir's carefully constructed world begins to unravel when unexpected events cause him to question his own beliefs. Raw, turbulent and unsettling, this smart drama reveals hidden attitudes toward modern culture and faith. Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama." 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: The playwright who gave us the brilliant Invisible Hand at the Rep Studio back in 2012 it again with a powerful portrayal of the problems immigrants face, especially when they're part of a demonized and poorly understood minority. How much can you assimilate before you lose your own identity? And is it ever enough for people who will always see you as the "other" no mater what you do or say? We learn from history that we do not learn from history, which makes this a very relevant play these days.

The Dispute
Photo: Valerie Goldston

YoungLiars present The Dispute: A Spectacle for Lovers and Fighters running through February 26. "It's 1744 (sort of) and an exasperated playwright with a wicked case of writer's block accidentally launches the world's first reality entertainment. Four self-absorbed teenagers, raised in total isolation, are turned loose on each other to figure out who committed the first infidelity - men or women. Baroque Farce, Euro-Dance, and The Dandy Warhols collide in this new adaptation of Marivaux's classic comedy where Courtship Etiquette turns into Mortal Combat and the only true love is the one in the mirror. The creative team that brought you Whammy! The Seven Secrets to a Sane Self and other HotCity favorites make their debut as YoungLiars. Performances take place in the fourth floor ballroom at the Centene Center for Arts and Education, 3547 Olive Street in Grand Center. For more information: youngliarsdispute.brownpapertickets.com.

My take: Composed largely of young actors who were part of the late HotCity Theatre, YoungLiars is certainly taking risks with this innovative first production, which decants an 18th century comedy into some colorful new bottles. "All in all," writes Steve Callahan at KDHX, "this debut promises great things from The Young Liars. It’s filled with quite wonderful style and artifice. "

Educating Rita
Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 105th season with Willy Russell's comedy Educating Rita Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, February 18-21. "Frank is a tutor of English in his fifties whose disillusioned outlook on life drives him to drink and to bury himself in his books. Enter Rita, a forthright 26-year-old hairdresser who is eager to learn. After weeks of cajoling, Rita slowly wins over the very hesitant Frank with her innate insight and refusal to accept no for an answer. Their relationship as teacher and student blossoms, ultimately giving Frank a new sense of self and Rita the knowledge she so craves." There will also be a show on Thursday, February 18, 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: Looking for something uplifting amidst the vitriol and spite of contemporary politics? West End has a tonic for you in this story about learning and renewal. "Thanks to director Jan Meyer and performers Tom Kopp and Maggie Winninger," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News, "it’s an infectiously delightful study of two people meeting at a point in their lives where one’s ascent coincides with the other’s decline, albeit risking all for a fresh look at life."

Eve Seltzer

The Presenters Dolan present Eve Seltzer: Going Back to Gaslight Square: A History of St. Louis Jazz in Song on Thursday, February 18, at 8 p.m. "Eve makes her St. Louis cabaret debut. She has performed at The Metopolitan Room, Sylvana and Jules in NYC." The performance takes place in The Emerald Room at The Monocle Bar, 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: presentersdolan.com.

My take: Eve has been jazzing it up at the Cabaret Project open mic (which I host) for quite a while now and is also, with her group Franglais, a familiar figure on the local restaurant and bar scene. So you could hardly ask for a better guide to our fair city's rich jazz scene. And the Emerald Room is a very cool cabaret space.

Gidion's Knot
Photo: John Lamb

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Gidion's Knot through February 28 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "Over the course of a parent/teacher conference, a grieving mother and an emotionally overwhelmed primary school teacher have a fraught conversation about the tragic suicide of the mother's son, Gidion. Gidion may have been bullied severely-or he may have been an abuser. As his story is slowly uncovered, the women try to reconstruct a satisfying explanation for Gidion's act and come to terms with excruciating feelings of culpability." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

My take: This appears to be a good weekend for hard-nosed dramatic examinations of big social and political issues, with both this show and the Rep's Disgraced. "Director Lee Anne Mathews has tackled the difficult script with sensitivity and a subdued confrontational approach," writes Steve Allen at Stage Door St. Louis. "It works well in easing the audience into this slippery subject matter and gives the proper amount of tension on stage. Playwright Johanna Adams has fashioned a difficult script that opens a lot of conversation about a problem that is all too often ignored- the high suicide rate among younger people." "Playwright Johnna Adams has written a compelling and riveting if also highly disturbing drama that pushes the two performers in its one act and 75 minutes to emotional exhaustion, along with the audience," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News.

Held Over:

Eleemosynary
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the comedy Eleemosynary Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through February 21. "Both funny and poignant, this play examines the subtle and often perilous relationship between three remarkable women: a young girl, her mother, and her grandmother. Artie abandons her daughter Echo to be raised by Echo's grandmother, Dorothea. But when Dorothea's health begins to fail, can Artie and Echo move beyond the superficiality of words and begin to build a deeper relationship?" 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: Les Blessing's play has been around for a while now and seems to be a perinneal favorite for small theatre companies. Writing for Stage Door St. Louis, Steve Allen says that he's seen several productions and "the current presentation at Mustard Seed Theatre is definitely one of the best. Three powerful actresses manage to energize us, empower us and tug at the old heart strings." At KDHX, Shannon Cothran calls it "solid and moving" while Mark Bretz at Ladue News says it's "a gentle and caring excursion into the magical and sometimes hazardous reaches of the mind and its mysterious powers."

I'll Be Back Before Midnight
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the thriller I'll Be Back Before Midnight Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through February 20. "Having suffered a nervous breakdown, Jan retreats with her husband to an old, country farmhouse where the owner delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. Before long, eerie sounds and visions are tormenting Jan. Is she suffering another breakdown or is someone trying to drive her mad?" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: What could be better for a cold winter night than a tidy thriller? At KDHX, Tina Farmer says this one is "filled with enough twists and dark comedy to hold the attention of even the most jaded of mystery fans. Clues are casually dropped along the way and then neatly tied in a bow, and each character's motivations are called into question as this tale winds its way to a satisfying conclusion." Other local critics are less positive, but since I've generally been impressed by Stray Dog's work over the years, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and include this on the list.

The cast of The Weir

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents The Weir, the award-winning play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, Monday through Thursday at 8:00pm through February 18. It will be the first local production to utilize the new Members' Project Code, under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association. All profits from ticket sales go directly to the artists. Performances will take place at McGurk's Irish Pub and Dressel's in the Central West End. For details on performance times and locatsions, visit CocktailsandCurtainCalls.com.

My take: We saw McPherson's play many years ago in London, and found it a rattling good ghost story: well written with plausible characters. In his review for KDHX, Steve Callahan says that "Cocktails and Curtain Calls company gives us what, to me, must be the definitive production of this beautiful play." At Ladue News, Mark Bretz writes that the company "makes an impressive debut with a grand regaling of Irish playwright Conor McPherson's chilling drama...Setting the production in an actual tavern enhances the atmosphere immensely and, combined with director Kari Ely's careful direction of a top-rate cast, makes The Weir a fanciful tale and a tonic for a deep winter's night."

Symphony Preview, February 19 and 20, 2016: The Shakespeare celebration begins

Shakespeare has inspired an astonishing amount of music over the centuries, and over the next four weeks the St. Louis Symphony, in partnership with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, is giving us a wonderfully varied sampler of it.

The "Chandos Portrait" of Shakespeare
en.wikipedia.org

The orchestra's four-concert Shakespeare series begins this Friday and Saturday with a program that spans over a hundred and fifty years, beginning with the overture to Hector Berlioz's 1862 opera "Béatrice et Bénedict," based on Shakespeare's comedy "Much Ado About Nothing."

Berlioz wrote the libretto himself (even though he neither spoke nor read English all that well), considerably condensing the original "battle of the sexes" comedy in the process. Huge swathes of plot were axed, along with great comic characters like Constable Dogberry. Nevertheless, it's still (to quote NPR's "World of Opera") "an appealing and insightful comedy" that combines "the signature brilliance and bombast" of Berlioz with " the sly, comedic insights" of Shakespeare's play. And while it doesn't make the world-wide top 50 at operabase.com, it does come in at number 32 in France, where both it and Berlioz's other big Shakespeare opera, "Romeo et Juliette," remain fairly popular.

The overture quotes extensively from the opera but, Berlioz being the skilled composer that he was, it's more than just a collection of tunes. "The Overture," writes Michel Austin at The Hector Berlioz web site, "is one of Berlioz's most delicate and subtle orchestral pieces, and its allusiveness constantly teases the listener...Though drawn from no less than six different arias or ensembles, the music is seamlessly fused by Berlioz into a coherent symphonic whole, much as Weber had done in his overtures to Der Freischütz, Euryanthe and Oberon." And it manages all that in just around eight minutes.

Harriet Smithson as Ophelia
en.wikipedia.org

Berlioz, as you may recall, became smitten with both Shakespeare and the Irish Shakespearean actress Harriet Smithson at the same time. He wooed her for years and finally won her after convincing her to attend a performance of the work that she inspired, his titanic "Symphonie Fantastique". They were married after Berlioz threatened to kill himself with an opium overdose if she didn't say "yes". Alas, the marriage, unlike Berlioz's fascination with Shakespeare, did not last.

In addition to operas, Shakespeare has inspired his share of great incidental music to accompany his plays. Probably the best-known Shakespearean score was composed by Mendelssohn for a production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in 1842. The symphony will be performing that next weekend, but this weekend we get selections from Sibelius's far less familiar score for a 1926 Royal Theatre of Copenhagen production of "The Tempest."

Written late in Shakespeare's career (it may, in fact, be the last thing he wrote without a collaborator) "The Tempest" has an autumnal feel to it. As Wikipedia notes, "early critics saw Prospero as a representation of Shakespeare, and his renunciation of magic as signaling Shakespeare's farewell to the stage." In this respect, Prospero's speech in Act IV becomes especially poignant:

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And—like the baseless fabric of this vision—
The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep

Sibelius in 1923
Photo by Henry B. Goodwin
en.wikipeida.org

It seems only fitting, then, that Sibelius's score for "The Tempest" was one of the last things he wrote before the great compositional silence that marked the last three decades of his life. As Prospero put down his books, so Sibelius put down his pen—but not before creating a big, impressive score of 34 pieces (plus an Epilogue written a year later), for vocalists, mixed-voice choir, harmonium, and a large orchestra.

The composer would later reduce the music to two suites, but for this St. Louis premiere performance Maestro Robertson has pulled selections together from both suites and combined them with readings from the play by actors whose names and voices will likely be familiar to St. Louis theatre lovers. St. Louis stage veteran Joneal Joplin will play Prospero, with the versatile Ben Nordstrom and Webster Conservatory student Sigrid Wise and the lovers Ferdinand and Miranda. The sprite Ariel will be played by another Webster Conservatory student,t August Stamper. They'll be directed by Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis Associate Artistic Director Bruce Longworth and dressed by Festival costumer Abby Dorning. Michael B. Perkins, whose work has enhanced local theatre and opera productions, will be providing video design.

After intermission, Shakespeare takes a back seat to the "Thousand and One Nights" as violinist Leila Josefowicz joins the orchestra for John Adams's "Scheherazade.2." First performed last March by Ms. Josefowicz and the New York Philharmonic under Alan Gilbert, this "Dramatic Symphony" was inspired by a visit to an exhibit at the Institute du Monde Arabe in Paris, the theme of which was the history of the Arabian Nights stories.

What Mr. Adams took away from the exhibit, however, was not the exotic orientalism that inspired Rimsky-Korsakov's famous "Scheherazade," but—as he writes on his web site—something much darker:

The casual brutality toward women that lies at the base of many of these tales prodded me to think about the many images of women oppressed or abused or violated that we see today in the news on a daily basis. In the old tale Scheherazade is the lucky one who, through her endless inventiveness, is able to save her life. But there is not much to celebrate here when one thinks that she is spared simply because of her cleverness and ability to keep on entertaining her warped, murderous husband...

So I was suddenly struck by the idea of a "dramatic symphony" in which the principal character role is taken by the solo violin—and she would be Scheherazade. While not having an actual story line or plot, the symphony follows a set of provocative images: a beautiful young woman with grit and personal power; a pursuit by "true believers;" a love scene which is both violent and tender; a scene in which she is tried by a court of religious zealots ("Scheherazade and the Men with Beards"), during which the men argue doctrine among themselves and rage and shout at her only to have her calmly respond to their accusations); and a final "escape, flight and sanctuary" which must be the archetypal dream of any woman importuned by a man or men.

John Adams
Photo: Lambert Orkis, earbox.com

You can find a more detailed description of the work in René Spencer Saller's program notes and a complete performance on YouTube. Mr. Adams's music has become quite challenging lately, so I'd recommend taking the time to read the former and hear the latter. This is a highly dramatic and emotionally charged piece, often quite intense and even disturbing. You will want to be prepared.

Ms. Josefowicz is not the only soloist in " Scheherazade.2," by the way. The work also features a prominent role for the cimbalom, a hammered dulcimer commonly used in Hungary and nearby nations like Poland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Greece. The cimbalom is featured prominently in Zoltán Kodály's "Háry János" suite as well as in works by Stravinsky, Liszt, and Bartók. Adams uses it for a variety of atmospheric effects, including a somewhat delirious duet with the violin in the second movement, "A Long Desire (Love Scene)". The cimbalom soloist this weekend is Chester Englander.

The essentials: David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and violin soloist Leila Josefowicz in music by Sibelius, Berlioz, and John Adams at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m., February 19 and 20. There will also be a special " Tales from Shakespeare" Family Series concert on Sunday at 3 p.m. Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

(New) season's greetings from the St. Louis Symphony

David Robertson

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The St. Louis Symphony announced its 2016/2017 season today and, after skimming through the complete calendar I have to say it looks like a winner.

You'll probably have your own favorites among the wide variety of programs offered, but here are some of my personal highlights:

"The Spirit of St. Louis" (16 and 17 September): David Robertson conducts a celebration of Charles Lindberg's historic trans-Atlantic flight that includes Kurt Weill's "The Flight of Lindbergh" along with music by Boulez and Debussy (he did fly to France, after all).

"Symphonic Dances" (21-23 October): Orli Shaham will perform Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 4" in a program that also includes Rachmaninoff's nocturnal "Symphonic Dances" and Balakirev's "Islamey". Whether that will be the orchestral version or the insanely difficult solo piano original, I have no idea, although I'd love to see Ms. Shaham take a crack at the latter.

Leonard Slatkin
leonardslatkin.com

"Slatkin Conducts Porgy and Bess" (11-13 November): It's always good to see our former music director on the podium; even more so when it's an all-American program like this one, with works by Barber, Copland, Gershwin, and Mr. Slatkin himself.

"Belshazzar's Feast" (24 and 25 February): Opportunities to hear William Walton's vibrant 1931 cantata are not that common, so this is most welcome. So are the other two works on this English-themed program: Elgar's "Falstaff" and the overture to Nicolai's "Merry Wives of Windsor" (an opera based, of course, on the Shakespeare play).

"An Alpine Symphony" (10 and 11 March): I will never pass up an opportunity to hear Richard Strauss's monumental symphonic poem "Eine Alpensinfonie" (complete with wind machine and thunder sheet). Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 1" (with Steven Osborne as soloist) will make for a nice contrast. Stéphane Denève, whose work I have admired in the past, will conduct.

"Rhapsody in Blue" (7-9 April): It's always a pleasure to her the original jazz band version of the Gershwin classic, especially when paired with his exciting "Concerto in F." Kirill Gerstein will be at the keyboard with Maestro Robertson on the podium. The program will include Milhaud's jazzy ballet score "La Création du Monde" ("The Creation of the World").

Alan Held

"The Flying Dutchman" (4 and 6 May): Building on the success of its previous concert presentations of opera classics, the orchestra and chorus are taking on perhaps their most ambitious effort yet with Wagner's "Der Fliegende Holländer" ("The Flying Dutchman"). With its arresting, tempest-tossed overture and themes of redemption through love, this 1843 opera marked Wagner's emergence as a major operatic composer and librettest. "From here begins my career as poet," he would later write, "and my farewell to the mere concoctor of opera-texts." Principal members of this international cast will be American bass-baritone Alan Held in the title role, Irish soprano Orla Boylan as Senta (whose self sacrifice will set the Dutchman free) and New Zealand baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Senta's father Daland

Season tickets are available now at the St. Louis Symphony web site.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of February 15, 2016

[Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out the St. Louis Auditions site.]

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's events web site.

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Act Two Theatre presents the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee through February 21. "An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of [potentially made-up] words hoping to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box" Performances take place in the St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre at 1 St Peters Centre Blvd, St. Peters, MO 63376. For more information: act2theater.com.

Eve Seltzer

The Presenters Dolan present Eve Seltzer: An American Cabaret on Thursday, February 18, at 8 p.m. "Eve makes her St. Louis cabaret debut. She has performed at The Metopolitan Room, Sylvana and Jules in NYC." The performance takes place in The Emerald Room at The Monocle Bar, 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: presentersdolan.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents And Away You Go through March 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Metro Theatre Company and the Missouri History Museum present And in This Corner...Cassius Clay by Idris Goodwin through February 28. "This is the story of young Muhammad Ali as he struggles with racism and segregation in Jim Crow Louisville, Kentucky, how a chance encounter with police officer Joe Morgan (later to become his first coach) sets him on the path toward becoming a legendary boxer and how finally he learns that it is not enough to achieve personal success, one must also work for the good of others." Performances take place in the Lee Auditorium at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information: mohistory.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Chuck Lavazzi
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

The Cabaret Project and 88.1 KDHX present the monthly cabaret open mic night on Wednesday, February 17, from 7 to 10 PM at the Tavern of Fine Arts “Drop by and enjoy a night of great music from St. Louis cabaret artists, backed up by special guest music director Ron McGowan on the baby grand.” The master of ceremonies is Chuck Lavazzi, senior performing arts critic at 88.1 KDHX. If you're planning to sing, be prepared to do one or two songs and bring music, preferably in your key. At least one of your two songs should be a medium-or up-tempo number. We'd also recommend that you have your song memorized. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt at Waterman in the Central West End. There's free parking in the lot right across the street. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

The Emerald Room Cabaret presents Cher the Love Cabaret on Friday and Saturday, February 19 and 20, at 8 p.m. "This February, 'Cher' The Love with this cabaret tribute to the fabulous icon! 'Cher The Love' spans the full and comprehensive songbook of this amazing Diva's career with comedy and a just enough love to send you off with a few butterflies!" The performances take place in The Emerald Room at The Monocle Bar, 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: www.buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Clueless through April 16. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

St. Louis University Theatre presents The Dead, "a charming, intimate musical based on the James Joyce short story," February 19-28. Performances take place in Xavier Hall, 3373 West Pine Mall. For more information, call 314-977-3327 or visit slu.edu/utheatre

Disgraced
Photo: Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar through March 6. “Successful corporate lawyer Amir Kapoor comes from a Pakistani family, but he long ago distanced himself from his roots to embrace life as a slick New Yorker. On course to become a partner at his law firm, Amir's carefully constructed world begins to unravel when unexpected events cause him to question his own beliefs. Raw, turbulent and unsettling, this smart drama reveals hidden attitudes toward modern culture and faith. Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.” 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.

YoungLiars present The Dispute: A Spectacle for Lovers and Fighters running through February 26. "It's 1744 (sort of) and an exasperated playwright with a wicked case of writer's block accidentally launches the world's first reality entertainment. Four self-absorbed teenagers, raised in total isolation, are turned loose on each other to figure out who committed the first infidelity - men or women. Baroque Farce, Euro-Dance, and The Dandy Warhols collide in this new adaptation of Marivaux's classic comedy where Courtship Etiquette turns into Mortal Combat and the only true love is the one in the mirror. The creative team that brought you Whammy! The Seven Secrets to a Sane Self and other HotCity favorites make their debut as YoungLiars."  Performances take place in the fourth floor ballroom at the Centene Center for Arts and Education, 3547 Olive Street in Grand Center. For more information: youngliarsdispute.brownpapertickets.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Educating Rita
Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 105th season with Willy Russell's comedy Educating Rita Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, February 18-21. "Frank is a tutor of English in his fifties whose disillusioned outlook on life drives him to drink and to bury himself in his books. Enter Rita, a forthright 26-year-old hairdresser who is eager to learn. After weeks of cajoling, Rita slowly wins over the very hesitant Frank with her innate insight and refusal to accept no for an answer. Their relationship as teacher and student blossoms, ultimately giving Frank a new sense of self and Rita the knowledge she so craves." There will also be a show on Thursday, February 18, 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.

Eleemosynary
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the comedy Eleemosynary Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through February 21. "Both funny and poignant, this play examines the subtle and often perilous relationship between three remarkable women: a young girl, her mother, and her grandmother. Artie abandons her daughter Echo to be raised by Echo's grandmother, Dorothea. But when Dorothea's health begins to fail, can Artie and Echo move beyond the superficiality of words and begin to build a deeper relationship?" 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

KTK Productions presents Farce of Nature February 19-28. "From the successful writing team of Jones Hope Wooten, comes the Texas premiere of the newest, Southern-fried comedy! Meet the Wilburn family of Mayhew, Arkansas, and spend an outrageously funny day at The Reel 'Em Inn--finest little fishing lodge in the Ozarks. Can the lodge be saved from gangsters, love-starved females, jealous husbands, ruthless corporate executives, bad Swedish accents, a cranky, senior citizen maid packing heat, a jittery man masquerading as a woman, and vicious critters right outside the door? By the delightfully chaotic climax of this one remarkable day, love has blossomed, truths have been revealed and the lives of all - family, guests and gangsters alike - change in incredible and surprising ways in this laugh-'til-your-sides ache comedy!" Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Gidion's Knot through February 28 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "Over the course of a parent/teacher conference, a grieving mother and an emotionally overwhelmed primary school teacher have a fraught conversation about the tragic suicide of the mother's son, Gidion. Gidion may have been bullied severely-or he may have been an abuser. As his story is slowly uncovered, the women try to reconstruct a satisfying explanation for Gidion's act and come to terms with excruciating feelings of culpability." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

The Improv Shop presents Heartbreak running through March 19. "Heartbreak is an improvised serial show where we explore, in depth, the stages of doomed relationships. Watch characters go from strangers to friends, friends to lovers, and from lovers to heartbreakers. Heartbreak. It doesn't happen all at once." The Improv Shop is at 510 North Euclid in the Central West End. For more information on this and other Improv Shop shows: theimprovshop.com.

I'll Be Back Before Midnight
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the thriller I'll Be Back Before Midnight Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through February 20. "Having suffered a nervous breakdown, Jan retreats with her husband to an old, country farmhouse where the owner delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. Before long, eerie sounds and visions are tormenting Jan. Is she suffering another breakdown or is someone trying to drive her mad?" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Ben Nordstrom

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents Ben Nordstrom: Isn't It Romantic on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16 and 17, at 10 a.m. "One of St. Louis' most acclaimed musical theater performers, Ben Nordstrom celebrates Valentine's Day with love songs from the Great White Way. Guest vocalist Julie Hanson Battaglia, who has appeared on Broadway and at theatres around the country, joins Nordstrom for this romantic program of Broadway favorites." The performance takes place at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

COCA presents the musical Three Little Birds Saturday at 2 and 5 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m., February 20 and 21. "Based on the known and loved reggae music of Bob Marley, join the fun of this musical, which has been adapted from the children's book “Three Little Birds” by Cedella Marley. An empowering tale about triumph over anxiety, the musical's young protagonist, Ziggy, must find a way to leave the house despite a fear of hurricanes, mongooses and other things in his native Jamaica. Music and lyrics by Bob Marley himself, mon." COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

Brass Rail Players present Meshuggah Nuns Live through February 21. The performances take place at The Turkey Hill Grange, 1375 Illinois Rte. 15 in Belleville, IL. For more information, visit brassrailplayers.org.

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley presents Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream through February 20. Performances take place in the Fisher Theatre on the campus at 3400 Pershall Road. For more information, call 314-644-5522.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents Molière's comedy The Miser Wednesdays through Sundays, February 17-28. “Molière's classic comedy introduces us to Harpagon, a man so consumed by greed that he is set on sacrificing the happiness of his children in marriages of convenience. But Harpagon's son and daughter, Valère and Mariane, will plot against their father to marry those they love instead. Molière treats the age-old conflict between love and money with unparalleled and sparkling wit.” Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton center on the Webster University campus. For more information, events.webster.edu or call 314-968-7128.

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Mondays from 9:00pm to midnight. "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Belter? Coloratura soprano? Crooner? Student? Teacher? Performer? Fan? Come on down and sing. All are welcome. Ron Bryant is your accompanist. Bring your sheet music"." The monocle is at 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: themonoclestl.com.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents David Auburn's drama Proof Wednesday through Sunday, February 17-21. "On the eve of her 25th birthday, Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father's who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draws Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father's madness - or genius - will she inherit? Winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play, PROOF is a must see." Performances take place in the Dunham Hall Theatre on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siue.edu.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Ayad Akhtar, author of the current mainstage show Disgraced, in a panel discussion on Public Perceptions of Islam in Post-9/11 America on Monday, February 15, at 7:30 pm. Also on the panel will be Faizan Syed, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations - St. Louis and Dr. Ghazala Hayat, Former Board President, Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis. The moderator will be Associate Director of the Rep, Seth Gordon. The event takes place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

Lindenwood University presents the musical Violet February 19-27. “As a girl, Violet was struck by a wayward axe blade when her father was chopping wood, leaving her with a visible scar across her face. With enough money finally saved she's traveling across the 1964 Deep South towards a miracle - the healing touch of a TV evangelist that will make her beautiful. Though she may not succeed in having the scar on her face healed, Violet is able to repair those that are lying deeper than her skin, and on the way she meets a young African-American Soldier whose love for her reaches far past her physical 'imperfections.'” Performances take at the black box theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, call 636-949-4433 or visit lindenwood.edu/center.

The cast of The Weir

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents The Weir, the award-winning play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, Monday through Thursday at 8:00pm, through February 18. It will be the first local production to utilize the new Members' Project Code, under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association. All profits from ticket sales go directly to the artists. Performances will take place at McGurk's Irish Pub and Dressel's in the Central West End. For details on performance times and locatsions, visit CocktailsandCurtainCalls.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review! 

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.

Opera Review: In Chicago, a perfect "Rosenkavalier" revival

Act I
Photo: Andrew Cioffi

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The Lyric Opera of Chicago's revival of its 2006 production of Richard Strauss's bittersweet romantic comedy "Der Rosenkavalier" ("The Cavalier of the Rose"), which runs through March 13, has everything a great night at the opera should have: wonderful music, superior singing, fine acting by a cast who are all just right for their roles, eye-popping sets and costumes, and impeccable playing from a first-class orchestra. Those of us who love opera live for productions like this.

First performed in Dresden in 1911, "Rosenkavalier" was an immediate success with both audiences and critics alike. Productions quickly popped up at La Scala, the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and The Metropolitan in New York. Today it's easily Strauss's most popular opera and a part of the core repertoire. It's certainly no stranger to the Lyric stage, where some notable singers have appeared in it.

Act II
Photo: Andrew Cioffi

Much of the opera's success stems from the depth and intelligence of Hugo von Hofmannsthal's libretto. Working closely with the composer, von Hofmannsthal took what started out as a typical romantic farce about young lovers Sophie and Octavian (the titular cavalier) outwitting the boorish Baron Ochs, who is being forced on Sophie as a husband, and added a worldly-wise depth to it with the character of Octavian's older lover, the noble Marschallin.

In her mid-thirties, the Marschallin is nearly twice Octavian's age and sees all too clearly that their affair must eventually end. Her Act I ruminations on the transitory nature of happiness and her final renunciation of Octavian in the exquisitely beautiful trio at the end of the third act lend her character a richness that makes her immediately appealing. That final trio, along with the duet for Sophie and Octavian that follows, also gives the comedy a rueful edge that contrasts wonderfully with the door-slamming farce that has gone before.

L-R: Amanda Majeski and Sophie Koch
Photo: Cory Weaver

"Rosenkavalier" is, in short, a combination of great drama and great music. And Lyric has given us a production to match.

In the key role of the Marschallin, Lyric is blessed with the presence of soprano Amanda Majeski. An Illinois native, Ms. Majeski has impressed me in the past at Opera Theatre of St. Louis as Musetta in "La Boheme" (2009) and Rosina in "The Marriage of Figaro" (2010). Her work here is sheer perfection. She's no stranger to the part, having sung it in Frankfurt last season, and has clearly mastered the character's many moods, from her flirtatiousness with Octavian following their liebesnacht in her bedroom at the start of the first act to her gracious philosophical resignation in the trio of the last. A lyric soprano, Ms. Majeski has a voice of both warmth and power, enabling her to make herself heard over Strauss's large orchestra while still floating ethereally over more intimate scenes. She simply could not be better in this role.

Matthew Rose
Photo: Cory Weaver

On opening night, the "breeches" role of Octavian, who is appointed to present a silver rose to Sophie on behalf of the loutish Ochs and instead becomes smitten with her, was given vivid and convincing life by French mezzo Sophie Koch (she'll be replaced by Alice Coote beginning of March 4). She has the deep, rich voice the part demands and is strikingly convincing as an awkward and sometimes petulant teenaged boy. When, as part of the comic plotting, Octavian is obliged to disguise himself as the Marschallin's maid, Ms. Koch is completely believable as a young man trying, with mixed success, to pass himself off as a woman. It's the sort of thing that calls for skilled physical acting and she does it well.

German soprano Christina Landshamer rounds out the trio of principal women as the much put-upon Sophie, trying to reconcile her filial duty to her social-climbing father (given vivid comic life by baritone Martin Gantner) with her disgust at the rude an arrogant Ochs and her sudden love for Octavian. She has a transparent, lovely voice and a fine sense of comic timing that serve her well.

L-R: Christina Landshamer and Sophie Koch
Photo: Cory Weaver

Bass Matthew Rose's Ochs is a perfectly pitched bit of ham-fisted comic buffoonery, delivered with a sure and powerful voice. Convinced of his aristocratic bearing and fatal attraction to the opposite sex, Ochs is actually about as subtle as the lumbering bovine after which he is named, and Mr. Rose makes him every bit as comically repulsive as he needs to be. When Ochs is publicly humiliated in the final act and forced to accept the failure of his plans to marry Sophie for her fortune, Mr. Rose seems to physically shrink before our eyes as the character's macho façade crumbles. It's masterful.

In fact, every member of this huge cast is impressive, right down to the smallest roles. That includes tenor Rodel Rosel and mezzo Megan Marino as the wily Italian "intriguers" Valzacchi and Annina, tenor René Barbera as the golden-voiced Singer whose attempts to serenade the Marschallin are constantly disrupted by Ochs's quarrel with her notary, and even child actor Zach Thomas as the Marschallin's mute page Mohammed. Given that there are 27 named roles, that's saying a lot.

Amanda Majeski in Act III
Photo: Cory Weaver

Director Martina Weber shows a good grasp of the dramatic arcs of individual scenes and moves her large forces about skillfully to create appealing stage pictures. She also does an impressive job of keeping focus exactly where it needs to be at all times, even in large crowd scenes like the one in the first act, in which the Marschallin's apartment is overrun with petitioners, entertainers, and even some fatally cute dogs. As someone who has had to share a stage with live animals from time to time, I can assure you that any director who can prevent them from stealing focus clearly knows her stuff.

Strauss wrote a wonderfully lush and engaging score for "Rosenkavalier." The orchestral prelude, with its unabashedly erotic depiction of Octavian and the Marschallin's night of passion (complete with orgasmic whoops from the horns) is a neat bit of tongue-in-cheek comedy, and the big waltz theme from the second act is irresistible. It's lavish, complex, and delivered with consistent assurance and polish by conductor Edward Gardner and his musicians.

L-R: Christian Landshamer, Sophie Koch, and
Amanda Majeski in Act III
Photo: Andrew Cioffi

Thierry Bosquet's sets and costumes perfectly capture the mid-18th century setting of the opera, with elegantly coiffed women, dashing men, and imposing, richly appointed rooms. The Marschallin's bedroom, in particular, looks stunningly realistic, especially when illuminated by Duane Schuler's lighting. The opulent look of the opera neatly matches its lavish sound.

If you go, by the way, make sure you stay in your seat for the first five minutes or so of the first intermission, when Stage Manger John W. Coleman narrates the massive set change from the Marschallin's bedroom to the reception hall of the grandiose town house of Sophie's father. It's a fascinating look at the backstage magic that usually occurs behind the Lyric's massive curtain.

Lyric Opera's flawless production of "Der Rosenkavalier" continues through March 13 at the Civic Opera House in Chicago; visit the company web site for ticket information. Maestro Gardner and Director Weber have made a number of minor cuts, but even so "Rosenkavalier" clocks in at just over four hours, including two 25-minute intermissions. For any other romantic comedy that might be too long, but for Strauss and von Hofmannsthal's elegant and bittersweet confection, it's just right. I recommend it without reservation.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of February 15, 2016

Dr. Jeannine Jordan

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Music at St. Paul's presents Dr. Jeannine Jordan, organist, and David Jordan, media artist, in From Sea to Shining Sea, a multimedia organ concert, on Sunday, February 21, 7:00 P.M. Experience the story through narration, music, and pictures. Live streaming video will give you a close-up view of Dr. Jordan performing on St. Paul's recently expanded Martin Ott pipe organ. The concert takes place at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 2345 Manchester Road in Des Peres. For more information: stpaulsdesperes.org.

The St. Louis Symphony's Crescendo Circle presents Sips and Symphonies, featuring a discussion/presentation on Prokofiev's ballet "Romeo and Juliet", on Thursday, February 18 at 7:00 PM. "What is Sips and Symphonies? It is a great way to learn about music in a fun, casual environment." A special cocktail is created for each event to accompany the music. The event takes place at The Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Leila Josefowicz

David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and violin soloist Leila Josefowicz in music by Sibelius, Berlioz, and John Adams at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m., February 19 and 20. "David Robertson opens the four-week Shakespeare Festival with dramatic selections from Sibelius' The Tempest, featuring actors from Shakespeare Festival Saint Louis and incorporating dreamlike and magical colors conjuring a violent storm at sea. Violinist Leila Josefowicz returns with her "gleaming sound and supple technique" (New York Times) performing John Adams' Symphony for Violin and Orchestra, Scheherazade.2." Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand.For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents Tales from Shakespeare on Sunday, February 21, at 3 p.m. "Take a journey through the eyes of a few of Shakespeare's most adventurous characters. Magic and mischief will follow you as his exciting stories unfold before your eyes and ears. Through music and the ancient art of storytelling, children and families will connect with the language and themes of some of Shakespeare's most popular plays in an immersive, theatrical celebration! Featuring Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream and more!" The performance takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand.For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents The Mizzou Guitar Studio Showcase on Friday, February 19, at 8 p.m. "From the University of Missouri-Columbia, The MU Guitar Department presents a guitar showcase." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of February 12, 2016

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:

As You Like It
Photo: Joey Rumpell

Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble presents Shakespeare's As You Like It Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. through February 13. " SATE adapts Shakespeare's beloved pastoral comedy As You Like It to Depression-era Ozark forests, complete with original, Old-Time tunes played live by the cast and Jason Scroggins, of the local band, The Foggy Memory Boys. Old-Time music features playing styles that pre-date bluegrass, emerging from the string band tradition stretching back to the early years of United States history. SATE's adaptation takes place in 1929 when the Union Electric Company began to buy-out farm property to create what is now the Lake of the Ozarks. Duke Senior, one of the usurped land owners now lives in the forest with her farm hands. Duke's daughter, Rosalind, has determined to find and live with her mother in the forest along with her cousin, Celia and friend, Touchstone. Along the way and disguised as a boy, leading to her mistaken identity as Ganymede, she meets and falls in love with Orlando, another usurped land-owner. Learning the Ozark ways of life from the locals, Rosalind, Orlando, Celia, and Duke find love, music, and a home among the trees of an Ozark forest." Performances take place at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

My take: Directors never seem to tire of comin up with new twists on The Bard's plays, especially the comedies. Those approaches don't always work, but apparently moving the rustic action to the Ozark hills hits the right note (so to speak). "Director Ellie Schwetye focuses on the romance in this adaptation," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "complementing it with authentic bluegrass melodies by Jason Scroggins that transform many of the play's best known speeches and poems. The entire cast sings, stomps, and plays a variety of instruments throughout the fast-paced show, keeping the audience enthralled and eagerly awaiting the next scene."

Eleemosynary
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the comedy Eleemosynary Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through February 21. "Both funny and poignant, this play examines the subtle and often perilous relationship between three remarkable women: a young girl, her mother, and her grandmother. Artie abandons her daughter Echo to be raised by Echo's grandmother, Dorothea. But when Dorothea's health begins to fail, can Artie and Echo move beyond the superficiality of words and begin to build a deeper relationship?" 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: Les Blessing's play has been around for a while now and seems to be a perinneal favorite for small theatre companies. Writing for Stage Door St. Louis, Steve Allen says that he's seen several productions and "the current presentation at Mustard Seed Theatre is definitely one of the best. Three powerful actresses manage to energize us, empower us and tug at the old heart strings." At KDHX, Shannon Cothran calls it "solid and moving" while Mark Bretz at Ladue News says it's "a gentle and caring excursion into the magical and sometimes hazardous reaches of the mind and its mysterious powers."

I'll Be Back Before Midnight
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the thriller I'll Be Back Before Midnight Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through February 20. "Having suffered a nervous breakdown, Jan retreats with her husband to an old, country farmhouse where the owner delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. Before long, eerie sounds and visions are tormenting Jan. Is she suffering another breakdown or is someone trying to drive her mad?" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: What could be better for a cold winter night than a tidy thriller? At KDHX, Tina Farmer says this one is "filled with enough twists and dark comedy to hold the attention of even the most jaded of mystery fans. Clues are casually dropped along the way and then neatly tied in a bow, and each character's motivations are called into question as this tale winds its way to a satisfying conclusion." Other local critics are less positive, but since I've generally been impressed by Stray Dog's work over the years, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and include this on the list.

Riverdance
Photo: Jack Hartin

The Fox Theatre presents Riverdance - The 20th Anniversary World Tour Friday through Sunday, February 12-14. Riverdance - The 20th Anniversary World Tour is an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song. Drawing on Irish traditions, the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music into the present day, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures. Riverdance - The 20th Anniversary World Tour has set design by Robert Ballagh, lighting design by John Comiskey, costume design by Joan Bergin and sound design by Michael O'Gorman. The Fox is on North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

My take: Yeah, I know. It has been around for so long it has become something of a cliche. But unless it has changed over the years since I first saw it, you can still depend on this high-gloss tribute to Irish step dancing to deliver plenty of high-decibel thrills. Go and enjoy, already.

Craig Pomranz

Topper Productions presents Craig Pomranz in Spend the Night With Craig, a special Valentine's Day cabaret show on Sunday, February 14, at 7 p.m. "Romance is in the air when one of the dreamiest voices in music', international cabaret star, Craig Pomranz, comes back home for Valentine's Day." Michel Roberts is pianist and music director for the show, which takes place at the Boom-Boom Room, 500 North 14th Street downtown. For more information: craigpomranz.brownpapertickets.com.

My take: St. Louis's own Craig Pomranz has made a nice career for himself on the international theater and cabaret stage, but that doesn't mean he neglects the home town crowd, as his repeated visits to local stages attest. When he played the Kranzberg Center back in 2011 I wrote that he had "impressive vocal technique with an enviable head voice, easy falsetto, and solid breath control " along with the theatrical skill necessary to convincingly act a song. I have yet to make it over to the Boom Boom Room but I hear from those who have that it's a pretty cool space in the Washington Avenue nightclub district.

Held Over:

Shining City
ProPhotoSTL

Upstream Theater presents Shining City by Connor McPherson, with live music by Farshid Soltanshahi, through February 14. "In 2003 in a modest Dublin office, a young ex-priest-turned-therapist is consulted by a well-off businessman with a terrible secret. How these characters change, and how they change each other, is the story-a story that will grip you and move you and make you laugh and send shivers down your spine." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

My take: Lovers of Irish theatre get not one but two shows by noted Irish playwright Conor McPherson. An site-specific production of The Weir is running at two local pubs through February 11 (see below) and now Upstream has opened Shining City. In his review for KDHX, Steve Callahan calls this "a splendid evening of moving theatre."

Underneath the Lintel
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents the one-character play Underneath the Lintel by Glenn Berger through February 13. "A haunting, beautifully constructed one-person meditation on time and devotion. A returned library book, 113 years overdue with a clue scribbled in the margin and an unclaimed dry-cleaning ticket take the Dutch librarian on a life-changing quest with an obsession to find its owner. Our protagonist follows multiple clues- tickets to the Peking Opera, a love letter written in Yiddish - on a world-wide search that ultimately decodes the meaning of life. A metaphysical detective story that is funny and fierce, quirky and smart." 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: As I noted in my review of the St. Lou Fringe presentation of this play in 2014 (which featured a bravura performance by Pat O'Brien), this is a terrific script. It's a fantasy, a mystery, and a wonderfully human story about the pursuit of someone who is no longer human at all. New Jewish is doing a revised version of the script in which the character is female rather than male, and Glynis Bell turns in a performance which, while very different from Mr. O'Brien's, is no less accomplished. As I write in my review for OnSTL, this .compelling and literate script offers plenty of food for thought, including implications about the nature of God that not everyone will find comfortable, and Ms. Bell's performance is a genuine gem. Don't miss it.

The cast of The Weir

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents The Weir, the award-winning play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, Monday through Thursday at 8:00pm through February 18. It will be the first local production to utilize the new Members' Project Code, under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association. All profits from ticket sales go directly to the artists. Performances will take place at McGurk's Irish Pub and Dressel's in the Central West End. For details on performance times and locatsions, visit CocktailsandCurtainCalls.com.

My take: We saw McPherson's play many years ago in London, and found it a rattling good ghost story: well written with plausible characters. In his review for KDHX, Steve Callahan says that "Cocktails and Curtain Calls company gives us what, to me, must be the definitive production of this beautiful play." At Ladue News, Mark Bretz writes that the company "makes an impressive debut with a grand regaling of Irish playwright Conor McPherson's chilling drama...Setting the production in an actual tavern enhances the atmosphere immensely and, combined with director Kari Ely's careful direction of a top-rate cast, makes The Weir a fanciful tale and a tonic for a deep winter's night."