Chuck's Choices for the weekend of January 31, 2014

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:

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Other Place through February 9. "Brilliant research scientist Juliana Smithton is on the cutting edge in her field, but her life is beginning to come unhinged. While promoting her groundbreaking drug for the treatment of neurological disorders, she experiences a disturbing medical episode of her own and begins to lose her own tenuous grasp on reality. The past blurs with the present and fragmented memories collide in this riveting drama where nothing is as it seems." Performances take place in the studio theatre 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: Once again, the Rep studio theatre has come up with a winner. Sharr White's play is, as I write in my review for 88.1 KDHX, "a compelling drama about what happens when reality, perception, and memory become disconnected from each other." The script is a strong one, with dialog poetic enough to be interesting while still natural enough to sound real. And Mr. White's characters have depth and the story makes sense. Acting and technical aspects of the show are flawless.

Held Over:

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Michael Hollinger's Opus through February 2. "With only four days to rehearse for their most important performance ever, a world-class string quartet takes a chance by hiring a gifted but inexperienced young woman. Onstage the Lazara Quartet is pitch perfect but behind the scenes they're coming unstrung as the four artists battle the sweat, tears and pain that go into making extraordinary music seem effortless. This fascinating play is a passionate look at the delicate and complex relationships between artists' lives and their art." Performances take place 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: I'm on the board of West End Players Guild, the group that did the St. Louis premiere of this play last April. I was a big backer of Opus in the WEPG play reading committee and remain a fan of this funny, literate, dramatic, and informed look at the often less than beautiful reality behind the performance of so much beautiful music. It's easy to be transported by (say) a late Beethoven quartet and lose sight of the fact that the performers are doing their jobs as well as creating art. Opus explores what happens when the worlds of commerce and art collide. "Here is a lovely play," writes Andrea Braun in her review for 88.1 KDHX, "well performed by a talented cast and it deserves an audience".

St. Louis Actors' Studio continues its seventh season, themed Sins of the Father, with Arthur Miller's The Ride Down Mount Morgan through February 2. Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

My take: Fans of Arthur Miller have a rare chance to see two of his less-famous plays on stage this weekend: Kirkwood Theatre Guild's All My Sons and the Actors' Studio production of The Ride Down Mount Morgan. "The tightly wound, well acted production," writes Tina Farmer in her review for 88.1 KDHX, "envelopes the audience in the small theater, delivering a memorable version of a beautifully crafted drama. ..Arthur Miller's The Ride Down Mount Morgan is a wise choice for theatergoers interested in seeing an excellent performance of a seldom seen play by an icon of American theater. "