Chuck's Choices for the weekend of June 27, 2014

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

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Photo: Phillip Hamer

The Muny presents the musical Tarzan nightly at 8:15 PM, June 25 - July 2, in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. "Featuring music and lyrics by Phil Collins, the award-winning Tarzan is based on the smash-hit Disney film. The story follows an infant boy, orphaned and left alone to be raised by a tribe of apes. As an adult, Tarzan's two worlds collide when the sudden arrival of humans, forces him to choose between a “civilized” life with the beautiful Jane and the life he knows and loves." For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900.

My take: It's doubtful that the Phil Collins / David Henry Hwang adaptation of Disney's "Tarzan" will ever make anybody's list of Great Musicals, but it's a pleasant diversion with a good message about the importance of familly (biological and, as Anna Madrigal would say, logical) and The Muny is putting on an engaging production with a good cast and inventive choreography and sets. It's a "family friendly" show in the best sense of the term.

Held Over:

Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon and Royce Vavrek's 27 in rotating repertory with three other operas through June 29. "Paris roared in the 1920s, inspiring the art and literature of a Lost Generation of expatriates. At the epicenter of this creative explosion was Gertrude Stein, whose salon at 27 Rue de Fleurus became a second home for such luminaries as Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Picasso. International sensation Stephanie Blythe makes her OTSL debut as Stein, with Elizabeth Futral joining her as Alice B. Toklas, in this next chapter in Opera Theatre's New Works, Bold Voices series." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information, visit experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644.

My take: As I wrote in my review for KDHX, this is a mostly charming and touching chamber opera (only five performers) that focuses on the lives and loves of two women who were at the heart of the American expatriate arts scene in Paris during the first half of the 20th century: Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Ricky Ian Gordon's score and Royce Vavrek's libretto are innovative and accessible, and the roles of Stein and Toklas are beautifully sung and acted by Stephanie Blythe and Elizabeth Futral.

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.

Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Terrence McNally's Love! Valour! Compassion! Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through June 28, with a 2 PM matinee on Saturday, June 28, in addition to the evening performance. " Eight gay men gather at a summer vacation home in upstate New York over three holiday weekends. Flirtations, infidelity, love, death, and the nature of friendship are explored against the idyllic country lakeside setting where the drama of the real world is never far from mind. A beautifully haunting comedy that unfolds like a dream." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: McNally's 1994 play has been something of a favorite with small professional companies over the years. After two decades, the male nudity probably has lost some of its capacity to surprise but, as Tina Farmer writes in her review for 88.1 KDHX, director Gary Bell "has a clear vision for the play, allowing the scenes to languish and the characters to unfold in a way that felt quite organic....The result is an engaging, touching show that realistically portrays twenty-first century relationships while relaying an ages-old tale of fidelity, friendship and love."

Photo: Peter Wochniak

Stages St. Louis presents the musical They're Playing Our Song through June 29. "Meet Vernon, a neurotic, witty composer and Sonia, a wacky, free spirited lyricist who form an unlikely partnership to write the next great love song. A rocky and hilarious start leaves them struggling to find their creative harmony - and romance was definitely not what they were expecting! But a series of unlikely events lead to a match made in musical comedy heaven. They're Playing Our Song is inspired by the real life love story of Academy Award-winning composer, Marvin Hamlisch (The Way We Were, The Sting) and Grammy Award-winning lyricist Carole Bayer Sager (“That's What Friends Are For”, “Nobody Does It Better” ). Topping off the jazzy score is a laugh-a-minute book by America's leading funny man, Tony Award Winner Neil Simon (Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple). A sweet and sophisticated musical romp, They're Playing Our Song will have you singing along from curtain up to curtain down!" 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: I wouldn't call it a must see, but this unusual comedy—almost more of a play with musical interludes rather than a conventional musical—is a charming period piece from the disco era (if opened in 1979 and ran for over 1000 performances) that's definitely worth a look. The production is smartly directed and choreographed.  See my review for KDHX for more information.