Chuck's Choices for the weekend of October 18, 2012

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

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The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the musical Daddy Long Legs through November 4. Performances take place on the main stage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. Praise has been pouring for this one, so I'm listing it even though I won't see it until this Saturday. In her review for 88.1 KDHX Connie Bollinger recommends this "unique treatment of an old favorite." For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

The Fox Theatre presents the 25th anniversary production of Les Miserables through October 28. The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. As I note in my review for 88.1 KDHX, Les Misérables is not only one of the best pieces of musical theatre to emerge from the late 20th century, it's also a powerful refutation of the gospel of greed and arrogance currently being preached in this country. The new production retains all the virtues of the original and adds a few novel ones. For more information, visit fabulousfox.com or call 314-534-1678.

Held over:

New Line Theatre presents the rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM. Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. Once again, New Line brings St. Louis the local permiere of a much-praised cutting edge musical.  In his review for 881. KDHX, Robert Mitchell describes it as "a bloodty good history lesson." For more information, newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

St. Louis Actors Studio presents the drama Good through Sunday at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. “C.P. Taylor's Good examines Germany's descent into Nazism through the story of John Halder, a literature professor who is initially reluctant to accept the philosophy of the Nazi Party.” Not to put too fine a point on it, but given the way domestic politics seem to be going these days, a reminder of the seductiveness of fascism could not be more timely. In her review for 88.1 KDHX, Andrea Braun describes it as a "worthwhile and intriguing evening of theatre." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

Upstream Theater presents Eugene O'Neill's The Hairy Ape Thursday through Sunday at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand. This is, to say the least, a show that has not suffered from over-exposure locally, so any production is a cause for celebration. That's especially true when, as Andrea Braun notes in her review for 88.1 KDHX, the production is such a fine one. For more information, call (314) 863-4999 or visit www.upstreamtheater.org.

The Showboat Community Theatre and The Wine Country Follies present Ron Youngman in Songs from Vaudeville, The Silver Screen and The Musical Stage Thursdays at 3 PM through October 25 and Friday, October 19, at 7:30 PM. "Ron has performed in various venues from St. Louis to Beijing, China and New York." I saw Ron's vaudeville show a couple years ago at the Kranzberg Center and was very much impressed with both his performance and his affection for a period of American musical history for which I also have considerable fondness. He also does one heck of an Eddie Cantor impersonation. Performances take place at The Showboat Theatre in Hermann, Mo. For more information: 1-573-486-2744 or 1-800-932-8687.