St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 2, 2017

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Lindenwood University presents the musical Avenue Q Wednesday through Sunday, October 4 - 8. "This laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. Filled with gut-busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention puppets, Avenue Q is a truly unique show that has quickly become a favorite for audiences everywhere."  The performances take place at The Lindenwood 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 www.lindenwood.edu/center.

The Fox Theatre presents the musical The Bodyguard, opening on Tuesday, October 3, at 7:30 p.m. and running through October 15th.  "Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A breathtakingly romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including Queen of the Night, So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest selling songs of all time – I Will Always Love You."  The Fox in at 527 North Grand in Grand Center.  For more information: fabulousfox.com.

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Cardenio by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., October 6 - 15.  "Based on an episode from Miguel de Cervantes DON QUIXOTE and lost since 1612, Shakespeare's CARDENIO is set in 16th century Spain. Cardenio loves Luscinda, but before they can marry, he is called to Court to be the companion of Fernando, the Duke's wild younger son. Fernando is obsessed with a wealthy farmer's daughter, Dorotea, but he has a roving eye. St. Louis Shakespeare is proud to present the regional premiere of Shakespeare's lost tragicomic romance, rich with passion, disguise, madness and betrayal! " Performances take place at the Ivory Theatre, 7620 Michigan in the Carondelet neighborhood.  For more information, call 314-361-56 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents The Feast through October 8. "Matt and Anna's relationship is going swimmingly, until the sewers under their apartment open up and begin to speak. Matt's paintings are getting stranger and every one he meets seems to know why. It could be about Anna, and it could be something much darker. An eerie comedy about what is real, what is not, and who knows the difference." Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

St. Louis Community College at Meramec presents Lanford Wilson's drama Fifth of July, Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 p.m., October 4 - 8.  Set in a sprawling farmhouse in rural Missouri, home to Ken, a legless Vietnam veteran, and his lover, Jed, a horticulturist. Along with Ken’s Aunt, sister and niece, Ken and Jed are visited by Gwen and John—the former a hard-drinking, pill-popping heiress who aspires to be a rock star, the latter her wary-eyed husband and manager. All are old friends from college days, and former activists who agitated for what they hoped would be a better world. Their talk, as the play progresses, is sharp and funny and, in the final essence, deeply revealing of lost hopes and dreams and of the bitterness that must be fought back if one is to perceive the good that life can offer." Performances take place in the theatre on the campus at 11333 Big Bend Road.  For more information, stlcc.edu/MC or call 314-984-7500.

Mustard Seed Theatre presents Girls in Boys Pants opening on Saturday, October 7, at 8 p.m. and running through October 15th.   The show is an exploration of gender identity through articles of clothing and media material. Performances take place in the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre on Wydown and Big Bend.  For more information: www.fontbonne.edu/academics/departments/fine-arts-department/theatre-productions.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Haunted Hunter through October 27. "The rumor is true! Word on the street? This place is Haunted! That's right! ...and lots of famous sleuths, detectives and ghost hunters from around the world will be there to catch a glimpse of our famous, (and elusive), ghost "Billy", (better known as "Billy, the Spook"). Gee! If someone gets "Whacked", we'll have plenty of detectives to solve the crime, won't we! Everyone plays a part! You could be "Sherlock Homes", "Miss Garble", or even "The Hardly Boys". Call today for tickets to this "hauntingly silly" dinner theater." The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Lizzie

Photo: Jill Ritten Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the rock musical Lizzie Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 21. "A prominent businessman and his wife are brutally axed to death in their home. Their daughter Lizzie Borden is the prime suspect. Lizzie's trial is a coast-to-coast media sensation, and her story becomes an American legend." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

Emery Entertainment presents The Naked Magicians on Thursday, October 5, at 8 p.m. "The Naked Magicians, the world’s naughtiest and funniest magic show strips away the top hats and capes to promise full-frontal illusions. Starring the clever and seductive Mike Tyler and Christopher Wayne, two of Australia’s most famous magicians, The Naked Magicians combine magic and muscles with riotous laughs that take magic to a whole new level. “Good magicians don't need sleeves and great magicians don't need pants,” says Tyler."  The performance takes place at the Grandel Theatre across from Powell Hall in Grand Center.  For more information: nakedmagicians.com.

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents Neil Simon's comedy Plaza Suite October 6 - 14. Performances will be held at the Highland Elementary School Auditorium, 12760 Troxler Ave, Highland IL.  For more information: www.hardroad.org   

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Shotspeare Thursday through Saturday, October 5 - 7. "Shotspeare is equal parts bacchanal and classical theater. Harkening back to the actual time of Shakespeare where audience members (groundlings) were boisterous and partook in the show. Think Drunk History meets The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, hosted by the Gazillionaires English major nephew."  The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza.  For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Smoking Gun through October 29. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

South Pacific

Photo: Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL

Stages St. Louis presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific through October 8. "One of the most powerful musicals of all time, this multi-award- winning classic from Rodgers and Hammerstein will sweep you away with its tale of love and loss in the SOUTH PACIFIC. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by James Michener and featuring some of the finest music ever written for the American stage, SOUTH PACIFIC spins a dangerously romantic tale centered around young American soldiers and nurses stationed on a tropical naval base during the Second World War. Seeking respite from the battles around them, they find refuge in the two groups as romance blooms in this lush tropical paradise." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

Stray Dog Theatre presents the rock musical Spring Awakening Thursdays through Saturdays, October 5 - 21. "Spring Awakening explores the journey from adolescence to adulthood with poignancy and passion that is illuminating and unforgettable. This landmark musical is an electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality, and rock & roll that since its premiere has been exhilarating audiences like no other musical in years. A heart-rendering story that follows a group of teenage friends as they travel the fraught and rocky path of adolescence and find themselves along the way." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee.  For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

Upstream Theater presents the St. Louis premiere of Sweet Revenge Fridays through Sundays, October 6 - 22.  "Considered the finest Polish comedy ever written, this 19th century verse drama uses Molière-like wit to poke fun of human follies. Upstream takes the hijinks to another level by presenting the play as performed by an actual amateur Polish immigrant theater from the 1930s. A sympathetic satire with a focus on tolerance." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center.  For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents the musical [title of show] Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through October 8. "Jeff and Hunter, two self-confessed nobodies in New York, make a pact: They will write an original musical and submit it to a festival. The only catch? The deadline is in three weeks! They gather their friends, Susan and Heidi, and their trusted accompanist and set off. With the team assembled, Jeff and Hunter hit another roadblock-- what should they write about? Jeff and Hunter decide to follow the old saying, “write what you know,” and set off on a unique musical adventure: writing a musical about writing a musical. As the deadline looms, insecurities creep in and jealousies flare. Will the team succeed with their musical? Could it even win a Tony?! Frequently hilarious, occasionally heartbreaking, and thoroughly inspiring, [title of show] is a love story celebrating individuality and creativity." Performances take place on the Browning Mainstage Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information, www.webster.edu/conservatory/season or call 314-968-7128.

New Jewish Theater presents Tuesdays With Morrie October 4 - 22.   "In this adaptation of the dearly loved book by Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie explores the ever-deepening relationship of journalist Albom with his Brandeis University professor and mentor, Morrie Schwartz. 16 years after graduation from college, Mitch catches Morrie on a television news program and discovers he is battling Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). What begins as a one-time visit to his former professor turns into a weekly pilgrimage where Mitch is schooled in life lessons and ultimately discovers the meaning of life." 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.

Valhalla Cemetery and The Hawthorne Players present Voices Of Valhalla: A Hayride Through History October 6 - 14.  Hayrides through Valhalla Cemetery depart every fifteen minutes beginning at 6:30 each evening as members of the Hawthorne Players portray some of the noted locals buried in Valhalla.  Valhalla Cemetery is located at 7600 St. Charles Rock Road.  For more information, visit hawthorneplayers.com.

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents Zoe Vonder Haar and Friends: It's a Musical on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 3 and 4, at 10 a.m.  Zoe Vonder Haar is one of St. Louis’ most acclaimed musical theatre performers. She is joined by fellow local favorites Ben Nordstrom, John Flack, Alicia Like and Steve Neale for a fun-filled morning of Broadway favorites – from West Side Story to Dreamgirls and many more!" The performances take place at the Sheldon Concert Hall, 3658 Washington in Grand Center.  For more information: sheldonconcerthall.org.

The West End Players Guild opens its 107th season with the drama A Walk in the Woods Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, October 6 - 8.  There will also be a show on Thursday, October 5, at 8 PM.  Lee Blessing’s tale of how superpower negotiations sometimes work – and often fail – was nominated for a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize." 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. 

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 Calendar.

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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of October 2, 2017

The Pulitzer Arts Foundation presents members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m.  The performance takes place in the newly renovated space at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington.  For more information: pulitzerarts.org/program/st-louis-symphony-concert-series.

The St. Louis Classical Guitar Society presents a Great Artist Guitar Series concert with Xavier Jara on Saturday, October 7, at 8 p.m.  "Born in Arlington, Minnesota of an American mother and Chilean father, Xavier Jara studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris in the class of Olivier Chassain. He is winner of four international competitions, most recently at the Guitar Foundation of America in 2016. Just 24 years old, Xavier is yet another stunning new talent in his St. Louis debut!" The performance takes at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road.  For more information: guitarstlouis.net.

Leonard Slatkin conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, with pianist Garrick Ohlsson, in muisic by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Christopher Rouse on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., October 6 and 7. The performances takes place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Washington University Department of Music presents a Department of Music Lecture by trombonist, composer, and improviser Steve Swell on Thursday, October 6th, at 4 p.m.  "Steve Swell, born in Newark, New Jersey, has been living, working and performing in New York City his entire adult life. In the mid-seventies he studied with Roswell Rudd, Grachan Moncur III and Jimmy Knepper after attending Jersey City State Teacher’s College. He's toured and recorded with such diverse jazz personalities as mainstreamers Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich, to so-called outsiders like Anthony Braxton and Jemeel Moondoc. Swell has 40 recordings as a leader or co-leader and is a featured artist on more than 100 other releases. His CD, "Suite For Players, Listeners and Other Dreamers", recorded on the CIMP label, was ranked number 2 in the 2004 Cadence Readers Poll." The ecent takes place in room 102 of the Music Classroom Building on the Washington University campus.  For more information, music.wustl.edu or call 314-935-5566.

The Washington University Department of Music presents Songs and Rhythms of Spain, featuring Nerea Berraondo, mezzo-soprano and the Kingsbury Ensemble on Sunday, October 8, at 7 p.m.  "Since the Baroque era, Spanish music has exhibited a well-defined national style, due to its popular dance rhythms, and its melodies full of emotion and spontaneity. This program will highlight hidden treasures of the Spanish Baroque, including works by Jose de Torres, Sebastian Duron, Santiago de Murcia, and Diego Ortiz. Through their music, Nerea Berraondo and the Kingsbury Ensemble musicians will bring to life this repertoire sparkling with the warmth and colors of Spain." The program takes place at the 560 Music Center at 560 Trinity in University City.  For more information, music.wustl.edu or call 314-935-5566.

Review: Merry Mozart with Emanuel Ax and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Friday, September 23, 2017

This review originally appeared at 88.1 KDHX, where Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic.

Emanuel Ax
Photo: Lisa Marie Mazzucco

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In a new biography, John Suchet calls Mozart "surely the happiest composer who ever lived." We got a great demonstration of that this past weekend as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra opened its new season with the first in a series of three all-Mozart programs.

That happiness was most apparent in the first half of the concert, which opened with a spirited and elegant dash through the overture to the 1789 comic masterpiece Le nozze di Figaro. Although it includes no music from the opera itself, the overture nevertheless perfectly captures the freewheeling spirit of the work, and maestro David Robertson honored that spirit of fun.

Up next was the Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, written two years earlier when Mozart was trying to make a living as a composer/pianist in Vienna. One of six that the composer produced that year in a never-ending struggle to engage the attention of the notoriously fickle Viennese public, it's engaging, tuneful, and just sophisticated enough to display Mozart's fine hand at counterpoint.

Soloist Emanuel Ax delivered a performance of crystalline perfection that allowed all of the joy and ingenuity of this piece to come through. Mr. Robertson and the orchestra supported him beautifully with playing that was light, precise, and classically pristine. Contemporary orchestras are bigger and contemporary pianos far more powerful than was the case in Mozart's day, but Mr. Ax and the orchestra still managed to convey that incredible lightness of being that you don't always experience in "big band" Mozart.

The second half of the concert was devoted to works that represented Mozart's last thoughts on the subject of the piano concerto and the symphony: the Concerto No. 27 (premiered the year of Mozart's death, although likely written a few years earlier) and the monumental Symphony No. 41 ("Jupiter," a title Mozart never used for it) from 1788. The contrast between the two is striking.

Back when everyone thought the Concerto No. 27 was produced in the final year of Mozart's life, it was not uncommon to read a kind of end-of-life resignation into this music. It's certainly lyrical and sometimes pensively sad, but it still sounds like the work of the happiest composer who ever lived. It got, in any case, a warm and engaging interpretation from Mr. Ax and Mr. Robertson that brought out peaceful autumnal reflection of this remarkable work.

The Symphony No. 41, on the other hand, bristles with the confidence and self-assertion of a man who had completely mastered symphonic form and was ready, in the words of The Guardian's Tom Service, to see "just how many different expressive and compositional contrasts he can cram into a single symphony." There's a little bit of everything in this music, and Mr. Robertson and his forces brought out all of its kaleidoscopic variety.

I was particularly struck by the simple charm of the Andante cantabile second movement and the "gotta dance" energy of the third movement Menuetto. But it was the propulsive energy of the concluding Molto allegro in all its complex glory that really brought down the house and led to a well-deserved standing ovation. Mr. Robertson and Concertmaster David Halen began the symphony immaculately groomed and ended it with ties slightly askew; that's how much they threw themselves into this performance, and it showed.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's Mozart festival continues on Friday at 10:30 a.m., Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m., September 29 - October 1. The Friday concert features the Piano Concertos Nos. 14 and 20 and the Symphony No. 39. Saturday and Sunday the program will feature the Concertos Nos. 16 and 17 and the Symphony No. 40. Emanuel Ax will once again be the soloist and David Robertson will conduct.

The musicians might not be decked out quite as festively as they were for opening night, when many of the orchestra's women wore colorful evening gowns and Concertmaster David Halen sported a sparkly red vest and tie, but if this opening weekend's concert was any indication, the music will still be celebratory.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of September 29, 2017

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:

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The Department of Music at Washington University and Winter Opera present the world premiere of Harold Blumenfeld's opera Borgia Infami Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., September 30 and October 1. " Borgia Infami depicts the lives, loves and crimes of the notorious Borgia family. The opera focuses upon Rodrigo, who becomes the brilliant and corrupt Pope Alexander VI; his son Cesare, whose ruthless pursuit of power is immortalized in Machiavelli's writings; and, finally, Lucrezia, the Duchess of Ferrara, Rodrigo's beautiful daughter, and alleged poisoner of the family's enemies. The action unfolds on dual levels, alternating historical fact with Victor Hugo's hyper melodramatic portrayal of Lucrezia." Performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: edison.wustl.edu.

My take: I haven't seen this and won't have the opportunity to do so, but I would if I could. Winter Opera does good work and it's always worthwhile to see a new work by a local composer.

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Kyle Dean Massey

Jazz St. Louis and The Cabaret Project present Kyle Dean Massey on Wednesday and Thursday, September 27 and 28, at 7:30 p.m. "Kyle Dean Massey is an American actor best known for his work on Broadway in Pippin, Next to Normal, Wicked and Xanadu and to television audiences as Kevin Bicks from ABC's Nashville. As a vocalist Kyle Dean has performed across the country in pops concerts with symphony orchestras and in more intimate cabaret settings with his one man show. He also tours with his concert group The Broadway Tenors." Performances take place at the Ferring Jazz Bistro on Washington just east of the Fox in Grand Center. For more information: jazzstl.org.

My take: If you haven't had a chance to check out the remodeled bistro in Grand Center, now is your chance. It's a great music venue and an excellent size for cabaret. As for Mr. Massey, the Cabaret Scenes review of his 2015 appearance at Feinstein's noted that he "succeeded on every level in this well-crafted, charming show." Sounds like a winner to me.

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Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents the musical [title of show] Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., September 27 - October 8. "Jeff and Hunter, two self-confessed nobodies in New York, make a pact: They will write an original musical and submit it to a festival. The only catch? The deadline is in three weeks! They gather their friends, Susan and Heidi, and their trusted accompanist and set off. With the team assembled, Jeff and Hunter hit another roadblock-- what should they write about? Jeff and Hunter decide to follow the old saying, “write what you know,” and set off on a unique musical adventure: writing a musical about writing a musical. As the deadline looms, insecurities creep in and jealousies flare. Will the team succeed with their musical? Could it even win a Tony?! Frequently hilarious, occasionally heartbreaking, and thoroughly inspiring, [title of show] is a love story celebrating individuality and creativity." Performances take place on the Browning Mainstage Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information, www.webster.edu/conservatory/season or call 314-968-7128.

My take: True confession: I'm a musical theatre geek. I love performing in musicals and I love seeing a good one. [title of show] is a massive musical theatre in joke. On paper and CD, the concept looks a bit flimsy: a talented songwriter and author want to write a new, completely original musical but can’t come up with a topic, so they decide (in the song “Two Nobodies from New York”) to write a new musical about a talented songwriter and author trying to write a new musical. The result is a show that’s about only itself and its creators – “talking to a mirror talking to himself”, to quote A Neil Innes lyric. It’s a potentially deadly idea if not handled with skill. But skill, happily, is something creators Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell clearly have in abundance, along with talent, a self-deprecating sense of humor, and a true love of musical theatre. If you love musical theatre—heck, if you just love theatre—go and enjoy.

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Held Over:

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The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-Time
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time throiugh October 1. "The 2015 Tony Award winner for Best Play, The Curious Incident is an immersive adventure that puts audiences in the shoes of 15-year-old sleuth Christopher. He's a brilliant young man, but struggles to process everyday information. Suspected of killing his neighbor's dog, Christopher journeys into London to track down the true culprit. But can he withstand the sensory overload of the big city?" Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

My take: Critics have been mining their stock of superlatives for this show. At KDHX, for example, Tina Farmer calls it "a spectacular theatre experience." Steve Allen at Stage Door St. Louis says it's a "beautiful, powerful and heart-wrenching experience," while Judy Newmark at the Post-Dispatch praises the "fluid, crystal-clear production." I could go on, but you get the idea. We saw it last weekend and were completely captivated. The title, FYI, comes from the Sherlock Homes story Silver Blaze, and refers to the importance of something that didn't happen as a clue in a murder case.

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South Pacific
Photo: Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL

Stages St. Louis presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific through October 8. "One of the most powerful musicals of all time, this multi-award- winning classic from Rodgers and Hammerstein will sweep you away with its tale of love and loss in the SOUTH PACIFIC. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by James Michener and featuring some of the finest music ever written for the American stage, SOUTH PACIFIC spins a dangerously romantic tale centered around young American soldiers and nurses stationed on a tropical naval base during the Second World War. Seeking respite from the battles around them, they find refuge in the two groups as romance blooms in this lush tropical paradise." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

My take: It is, I think, easy to forget that this theatrical classic is not just a musical, but a drama as well. In South Pacific, boy gets girl, boy abandons girl, boy dies and everybody else goes off to war. For audiences that know South Pacific largely as a high-gloss widescreen musical from 1958, the show's occasionally trenchant commentary on the folly and futility of war, issues of racism, and what Emile De Becque, in a moment of despair, refers to as "a mean little world / Of mean little men" might come as a surprise. Sadly, current events are reminding us of just how right he was. The Stages production is being lauded by darn near everybody. A good example is Chris Gibson at Broadwayworld. "Sparked by an excellent cast," he writes, "this is an incredibly touching testament to the power this work still wields." Similarly glowing reviews can be found at Ladue News and the Post-Dispatch. We saw it last weekend and loved it.

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Unsuspecting Susan

Inevitable Theatre Company makes its St. Louis performance debut with the regional premiere of Stewart Permutt's one-woman play Unsuspecting Susan, through September 30. "Unsuspecting Susan portrays the tranquil village life of upper-class Hampshire divorcée Susan Chester, whose hobbies include amateur dramatics, raising Sealyham Terriers, and collecting the juiciest gossip about her neighbors. After Susan's troubled son, Simon, moves to London, her seemingly perfect world is rocked by an unspeakable act of violence." Performances take place at The Chapel on Alexander Drive in Clayton. For more information: inevitabletheatre.org.

My take: I have known this show's star, Donna Weinsting, for many years now. She's a warm, funny person and a tremendously talented actress. Local directors obviously think so as well since they keep casting her, and this one-woman show appears to be a real triumph for her. At Ladue News, for example, Mark Bretz praises the "touching and revelatory performance by Donna Weinsting in this affecting, one-character drama." Other critics have been equally positive.

Symphony Preview: Mozart in sunshine and shadow

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David Robertson

It's another big all-Mozart weekend at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, with two completely different programs: one for the 10:30 a.m. "Coffee Concert" (with Krispy Kreme doughnuts!) on Friday the 29th and another for Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m., September 30th and October 1st.

David Robertson will conduct both programs, which will feature the same soloist as last weekend, the redoubtable Emanuel Ax. That means that piano concertos will again be prominently featured.. Expect four of them this time: No. 14 in E-flat major, K. 449 on Friday; No. 16 in D major, K. 45 and No. 17 in G major, K. 453 on Saturday and Sunday; and No. 20 in D minor, K. 466 on Friday.

The first three, like the last week's Concerto No. 19, date from 1784, an immensely productive year in Mozart's life when he was celebrated and a rising young composer and pianist in Vienna, while No. 20 was written the following year. He knocked out the 14th through 17th concertos in two months, in fact-between February 9th and April 10th. Even for a composer who famously dashed off music as though (to cite an image from Peter Shaffer's Amadeus) he were taking dictation from God, that's pretty impressive. "Composing," as John Suchet notes in a new Mozart biography, "was Mozart's way of breathing."

And they're really, really good concertos to boot. "While no man can accurately be referred to as the inventor of a musical form," write Brockway and Weinstock in Men of Music, "Mozart did such a perfect job of fusing and adapting certain elements he found at hand that the classical concerto for piano and orchestra may be regarded as his achievement." He created works that were simultaneously entertaining and insightful, despite the fact the only two years earlier he had dismissed the entire genre a letter to his father as requiring music that was "either so simple a coachman could sing it, or so unintelligible that audiences like it simply because no sane person could understand it."

For me, the giant among these four concertos is No. 20. It's gripping, menacing, and filled with the kind of high drama that audiences would come to love so much in the ensuing decades of the 19th century. Beethoven loved this concerto, performing it often and composing two cadenzas for it, Mozart's own having been lost to history. It is, in fact, sufficiently "modern" for its time that Viennese audiences might have been put off by it, had it not been the work of a man who was at the peak of popularity. "The composer-pianist was at the time still the idol of Viennese society," writes former Los Angeles Times music critic Herbert Glass, "his audiences willing to accept anything that flew from his pen, even so uncharacteristic a score as the Concerto in D minor-if Mozart were also the performer."

The final work on the Friday's program-Mozart's Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K. 543-is the first of a set of three that the composer dashed off in the summer of 1788. Nobody is really certain of the source of what Arthur V. Berger (in a New York City Symphony program note) called the "sudden efflorescence of inspiration" that produced Mozart's last and, in the estimation of many writers, greatest symphonies, but the results speak (or rather sing) for themselves.

K. 543 gets less attention than the other two, much as a normal human being would be less noticed standing next to a pair of NFL linebackers, but that doesn't make it any less a great composition. "This symphony," writes musicologist Andrew Firmer, "is...a prime example of the composer's genius that he is not only able to conjure up melodies, but weave them with apparent contradictions that seem to connect with impossible ease." Those contradictions include Mozart's assimilation of the contrapuntal techniques he got from the music of Bach and Handel. "It was this synthesis of 'learned' style with the clean clarity of classicism," writes Brian Robins at allmusic.com, "that caused so much trouble for Mozart's contemporaries, to whom his late style became increasingly 'difficult.'" Today, with over two centuries of hindsight, it's clear that this "difficult" music is both ingeniously complex and wonderfully clear.

Concluding the Saturday concert is the second member of that titanic trio, the Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550. Like the Concerto No. 20, it's urgent and forward-looking, which may be one reason why it's one of the composer's most popular works. It has also produced a wide variety of responses from critics and Mozart biographers. Some, like Charles Rosen in his legendary tome The Classical Style, have emphasized its obvious dark and brooding moods while, others have noted what Robert Schumann called its “Grecian lightness and grace.” Personally, I tend to come down on the “dark and brooding” side. Like Mr. Rosen, I see it as "a work of passion, violence, and grief."

Interestingly, the noted early music authority Nikolas Harnoncourt is of the opinion that Mozart ultimately intended his last three symphonies to be heard as a single, twelve-movement work. He recorded them that way in 2014, in a two-disc set that The Guardian's Andrew Clements describes as "thrillingly well played." Hearing all three over the course of two weekends (the orchestra did No. 41 last weekend) might not be quite the same as encountering them back to back, but it's something to consider when you go to Powell Hall this weekend.

Each of the upcoming programs opens with an opera overture. Friday it's the lively opener for the 1790 comedy Così fan tutte (an idiomatic phrase that roughly translates as "they're all like that") about a pair of soldiers who decide to test their fiancées' fidelity, with embarrassing results all the way around. Saturday and Sunday it's the more weighty overture to Don Giovanni from three years earlier. Mozart supposedly dashed it off at the last minute, but you'd hardly know that from the neat way it shifts the mood from portentous drama to skipping comedy in its seven-minute length.

The Essentials: David Robertson conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, with pianist Emanuel Ax, in an all-Mozart program Friday at 10:30 a.m., Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m., September 29 - October 1. The Friday concert features the Piano Concertos Nos. 14 and 20 and the Symphony No. 39. Saturday and Sunday the program will feature the Concertos Nos. 16 and 17 and the Symphony No. 40. The Performance takes place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of September 25, 2017

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St. Louis Cathedral Concerts presents a free chamber music concert on Friday, September 22, at 7:30 p.m. Performers Kristin Ahlstrom, violin; Bjorn Ranheim, cello; Tzuying Huang, clarinet; and Matthew Mazzoni, piano will perform works by Beethoven, Khachaturian, and Mendelssohn. The performance takes place at St. Gabriel the Archangel church, 6303 Nottingham in south St. Louis city. For more information: cathedralconcerts.org.

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus presents Concert One: Tonight I Dance Alone on Sunday, October 1, at 3 p.m. The concert "will feature two pieces commissioned for the Chamber Chorus. In the first, Australian Clare Maclean completes the early musical drama, "Lamento d'Arianna" by 17th century Italian, Claudio Monteverdi, by contributing a new conclusion to the work.The second commission is a world premiere composed by Sweden's Mårten Jansson. "Tonight I Dance Alone" tells a poignant story written expressly for the occasion by American poet, Charles Anthony Silvestri. Each concert in the 62nd Season features collaborative work between the Chamber Chorus and an artist from a different creative medium. The poetry of Silvestri marks the first such collaboration. Both artists, Jansson and Silvestri, will travel to St. Louis for the premiere - Jansson from Uppsala, Sweden and Silvestri from Topeka, Kansas." The concert takes place at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 12345 Manchester Road in Des Peres. For more information: www.chamberchorus.org.

Emanuel Ax
Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzuco

David Robertson conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, with pianist Emanuel Ax, in an all-Mozart program Friday at 10:30 a.m., Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m., September 29 - October 1. The Friday concert features the Piano Concertos Nos. 14 and 20 and the Symphony No. 39. Saturday and Sunday the program will feature the Concertos Nos. 16 and 17 and the Symphony No. 40. The Performance takes place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The University City Symphony Orchestra presents From Russia With Love on Sunday, October 1, at 3 p.m. "The UCSO proudly presents the 2017-2018 Season: The Compleat Cultural Tourist II. The concert "From Russia, With Love" continues our series focused on several different world cultures. The concert will open with the energetic Overture from Mikhail Glinka's epic fairy tale opera, "Ruslan and Ludmilla," followed by the St. Louis premiere of Piano Concerto No. 4 by Anton Rubenstein, for which we welcome back pianist Richard Alston. The concert will close with Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky's wonderful Symphony No. 2, "Little Russian," which highlights Ukrainian folktunes throughout." There will be a pre-concert talk at 2:15 p.m. The performance takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information: ucso.org.

Monday, September 25, at 5:30 pm, Washington University presents a concert by the Washington University Jazz Ensemble and members of the St. Louis Symphony. The performance takes place just outside the Bear's Den on the South 40 on the Washington University campus. For more information: music.wustl.edu.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 25, 2017

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The Department of Music at Washington University and Winter Opera present the world premiere of Harold Blumenfeld's opera Borgia Infami Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., September 30 and October 1. " Borgia Infami depicts the lives, loves and crimes of the notorious Borgia family. The opera focuses upon Rodrigo, who becomes the brilliant and corrupt Pope Alexander VI; his son Cesare, whose ruthless pursuit of power is immortalized in Machiavelli's writings; and, finally, Lucrezia, the Duchess of Ferrara, Rodrigo's beautiful daughter, and alleged poisoner of the family's enemies. The action unfolds on dual levels, alternating historical fact with Victor Hugo's hyper melodramatic portrayal of Lucrezia." Performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: edison.wustl.edu.

Church Basement Ladies

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Church Basement Ladies Thursdays through Sundays through October 1. "Church Basement Ladies, a celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who work there, features four distinct characters and their relationships as they organize the food and the problems of a rural Minnesota church. From the elderly matriarch of the kitchen to the young bride-to-be learning the proper order of things, the book and music give us a touching, funny look at their lives as we see them handle a record breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter Fundraiser, and a steaming hot July wedding. They stave off potential disasters, share and debate recipes, instruct the young, and keep the Pastor on due course while thoroughly enjoying, (and tolerating) each other." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-Time
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time throiugh October 1. "The 2015 Tony Award winner for Best Play, The Curious Incident is an immersive adventure that puts audiences in the shoes of 15-year-old sleuth Christopher. He's a brilliant young man, but struggles to process everyday information. Suspected of killing his neighbor's dog, Christopher journeys into London to track down the true culprit. But can he withstand the sensory overload of the big city?" Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents The Feast through October 8. "Matt and Anna's relationship is going swimmingly, until the sewers under their apartment open up and begin to speak. Matt's paintings are getting stranger and every one he meets seems to know why. It could be about Anna, and it could be something much darker. An eerie comedy about what is real, what is not, and who knows the difference." Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Haunted Hunter through October 27. "The rumor is true! Word on the street? This place is Haunted! That's right! ...and lots of famous sleuths, detectives and ghost hunters from around the world will be there to catch a glimpse of our famous, (and elusive), ghost "Billy", (better known as "Billy, the Spook"). Gee! If someone gets "Whacked", we'll have plenty of detectives to solve the crime, won't we! Everyone plays a part! You could be "Sherlock Homes", "Miss Garble", or even "The Hardly Boys". Call today for tickets to this "hauntingly silly" dinner theater." The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through October 1. "Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showcases the film's Academy Award-nominated score, as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell's new book embraces story theatre and features verbatim passages from Hugo's gothic novel. The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenth-century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be “Out There,” observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn't the only one captivated by her free spirit, though - the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the gypsies - and it's up to Quasimodo to save them all." Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

Lizzie
Photo: Jill Ritten Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the rock musical Lizzie Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, September 28 - October 21. "A prominent businessman and his wife are brutally axed to death in their home. Their daughter Lizzie Borden is the prime suspect. Lizzie's trial is a coast-to-coast media sensation, and her story becomes an American legend." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

Jazz St. Louis and The Cabaret Project present Kyle Dean Massey on Wednesday and Thursday, September 27 and 28, at 7:30 p.m. "Kyle Dean Massey is an American actor best known for his work on Broadway in Pippin, Next to Normal, Wicked and Xanadu and to television audiences as Kevin Bicks from ABC's Nashville. As a vocalist Kyle Dean has performed across the country in pops concerts with symphony orchestras and in more intimate cabaret settings with his one man show. He also tours with his concert group The Broadway Tenors." Performances take place at the Ferring Jazz Bistro on Washington just east of the Fox in Grand Center. For more information: jazzstl.org.

St. Charles Community College presents the musical Night of the Living Dead Wednesday through Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m, and Sunday at 2 p.m., September 27 - 30. Performances take place in the FAB Theater in the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building on the campus at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville, MO. For more information, call 636-922-8050 or visit stchas.edu.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Smoking Gun through October 29. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

South Pacific
Photo: Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL

Stages St. Louis presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific through October 8. "One of the most powerful musicals of all time, this multi-award- winning classic from Rodgers and Hammerstein will sweep you away with its tale of love and loss in the SOUTH PACIFIC. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by James Michener and featuring some of the finest music ever written for the American stage, SOUTH PACIFIC spins a dangerously romantic tale centered around young American soldiers and nurses stationed on a tropical naval base during the Second World War. Seeking respite from the battles around them, they find refuge in the two groups as romance blooms in this lush tropical paradise." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents the musical [title of show] Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., September 27 - October 8. "Jeff and Hunter, two self-confessed nobodies in New York, make a pact: They will write an original musical and submit it to a festival. The only catch? The deadline is in three weeks! They gather their friends, Susan and Heidi, and their trusted accompanist and set off. With the team assembled, Jeff and Hunter hit another roadblock-- what should they write about? Jeff and Hunter decide to follow the old saying, “write what you know,” and set off on a unique musical adventure: writing a musical about writing a musical. As the deadline looms, insecurities creep in and jealousies flare. Will the team succeed with their musical? Could it even win a Tony?! Frequently hilarious, occasionally heartbreaking, and thoroughly inspiring, [title of show] is a love story celebrating individuality and creativity." Performances take place on the Browning Mainstage Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information, www.webster.edu/conservatory/season or call 314-968-7128.

The Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents Twisted Improv on Friday, September 21, at 8 p.m. at The Steamboat Room, 314 S. Clay in Kirkwood, MO. "Join Adam and his crew for an interactive night of fun and laughter.Beer, wine and food available from Kirkwood Station Brewery." For more information: ktg-onstage.org.

Unsuspecting Susan

Inevitable Theatre Company makes its St. Louis performance debut with the regional premiere of Stewart Permutt's one-woman play Unsuspecting Susan, through September 30. "Unsuspecting Susan portrays the tranquil village life of upper-class Hampshire divorcée Susan Chester, whose hobbies include amateur dramatics, raising Sealyham Terriers, and collecting the juiciest gossip about her neighbors. After Susan's troubled son, Simon, moves to London, her seemingly perfect world is rocked by an unspeakable act of violence." Performances take place at The Chapel on Alexander Drive in Clayton. For more information: inevitabletheatre.org.

The West End Players Guild opens its 107th season with the drama A Walk in the Woods Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, September 29 - October 8. There will also be a show on Thursday, October 5, at 8 PM. Lee Blessing's tale of how superpower negotiations sometimes work - and often fail - was nominated for a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize." 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.

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 Calendar.

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.

Review: "South Pacific" at Stages is an enchanted evening

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To close their 2017 season, Stages St. Louis is giving us enchanted evenings with a very strong production of South Pacific. Using the slightly revised version of the original script prepared for the 2008 Broadway revival, director Michael Hamilton honors both the comedy and tragedy of the show.

Leah Berry and the company
Photo by Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL

If you only know Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic as a high-gloss widescreen musical from 1958, the show's occasionally trenchant commentary on the folly and futility of war, issues of racism, and what Emile De Becque, in a moment of despair, refers to as "a mean little world / Of mean little men" might come as a surprise. We need to remember that when the show opened in 1949, the aftermath of the horror that was the war in the Pacific was still very much on everyone's minds.

We need to remember, as well, that less than a year before that opening, President Truman had issued Executive Order 9981 desegregating the armed forces—provoking a violent backlash that continues to this day. "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught," Lt. Cable's bitter commentary on racism, provoked anger and accusations of indecency and Communism when South Pacific arrived in the southern USA. Rodgers and Hammerstein, to their credit, refused to cut the song.

The Stages cast is a great one, headed by Leah Berry as a captivating Nellie Forbush and Michael Halling, radiating gravitas as Emile De Becque. Matthew Hydzik is compelling as the conflicted Lt. Cable and Mark DiConzo could illuminate a small city with the comic energy he brings to role of the conniving Luther Billis.

Matthew Hudzik and Sydney Jones
Photo by Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL

Joanne Javien's Bloody Mary is a ball of comic ferocity and Muny Teen Troupe member Sydney Jones is the epitome of wordless grace as Mary's daughter Liat. There is, in fact, not a single performance here that isn't on target. Simple, evocative sets and atmospheric lighting add to the overall polish of the production.

So if you haven't seen South Pacific in a while, now is a good time to renew your acquaintance. Its condemnation of racist folly remains, I'm sorry to say, as relevant now as it was in 1949. Apparently we learn from history that we learn nothing from history.

The show got an enthusiastic reception from a sold out house when we saw it, so you'll want to visit the Stages web site soon to order tickets. Performances continue through October 8th.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of September 22, 2017

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:

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Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits

KTK Productions presents Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through September 24. "The show is a cabaret revue sharply spoofing show tunes, characters and plots of contemporary and current Broadway musicals. Forbidden Broadway has mocked popular shows like The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Les Misérables, The Lion King, Spamalot, Annie, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Rent, Newsies, to name a few. It also targets famous Broadway actors, writers, composers, directors, choreographers and producers, including Julie Andrews, Mel Brooks, Carol Channing, Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Crawford, Harvey Fierstein, Bob Fosse, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert Goulet, Jerry Herman, Dustin Hoffman, Elton John, Angela Lansbury, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Patti LuPone, Cameron Mackintosh, Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Rita Moreno, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Chita Rivera, Stephen Sondheim, Barbra Streisand, Julie Taymor and Gwen Verdon. " Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

My take: I saw one of the early editions of Forbidden Broadway many years ago in New York and laughed hysterically all the way through. Creator Gerard Allesandrini brilliantly skewered the musicals then running on the Great White Way which, at the time, included the famous dark revival of Cabaret and Titanic. The cast at KTK seems to be doing a decent job with this collection of the more memorable moments from the various editions of FB. "Musical theater aficionados will especially love it," writes Steve Callahan at KDHX, "as familiarity with the great shows being spoofed lets one catch every joke and feel like an insider. But it's really a show for everybody." Yes, it's a community theatre production, but it appears to be a good one and sounds like great fun.

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South Pacific
Photo: Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL

Stages St. Louis presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific through October 8. "One of the most powerful musicals of all time, this multi-award- winning classic from Rodgers and Hammerstein will sweep you away with its tale of love and loss in the SOUTH PACIFIC. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by James Michener and featuring some of the finest music ever written for the American stage, SOUTH PACIFIC spins a dangerously romantic tale centered around young American soldiers and nurses stationed on a tropical naval base during the Second World War. Seeking respite from the battles around them, they find refuge in the two groups as romance blooms in this lush tropical paradise." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

My take: It is, I think, easy to forget that this theatrical classic is not just a musical, but a drama as well. In South Pacific, boy gets girl, boy abandons girl, boy dies and everybody else goes off to war. For audiences that know South Pacific largely as a high-gloss widescreen musical from 1958, the show's occasionally trenchant commentary on the folly and futility of war, issues of racism, and what Emile De Becque, in a moment of despair, refers to as "a mean little world / Of mean little men" might come as a surprise. Sadly, current events are reminding us of just how right he was. The Stages production is being lauded by darn near everybody. A good example is Chris Gibson at Broadwayworld. "Sparked by an excellent cast," he writes, "this is an incredibly touching testament to the power this work still wields." Similarly glowing reviews can be found at Ladue News and the Post-Dispatch. I'm seeing it this weekend and am looking forward to it.

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Unsuspecting Susan

Inevitable Theatre Company makes its St. Louis performance debut with the regional premiere of Stewart Permutt's one-woman play Unsuspecting Susan, through September 30. "Unsuspecting Susan portrays the tranquil village life of upper-class Hampshire divorcée Susan Chester, whose hobbies include amateur dramatics, raising Sealyham Terriers, and collecting the juiciest gossip about her neighbors. After Susan's troubled son, Simon, moves to London, her seemingly perfect world is rocked by an unspeakable act of violence." Performances take place at The Chapel on Alexander Drive in Clayton. For more information: inevitabletheatre.org.

My take: I have known this show's star, Donna Weinsting, for many years now. She's a warm, funny person and a tremendously talented actress. Local directors obviously think so as well since they keep casting her, and this one-woman show appears to be a real triumph for her. At Ladue News, for example, Mark Bretz praises the "touching and revelatory performance by Donna Weinsting in this affecting, one-character drama." Other critics have been equally positive.

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Held Over:

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The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-Time
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time throiugh October 1. "The 2015 Tony Award winner for Best Play, The Curious Incident is an immersive adventure that puts audiences in the shoes of 15-year-old sleuth Christopher. He's a brilliant young man, but struggles to process everyday information. Suspected of killing his neighbor's dog, Christopher journeys into London to track down the true culprit. But can he withstand the sensory overload of the big city?" Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

My take: Critics have been mining their stock of superlatives for this show. At KDHX, for example, Tina Farmer calls it "a spectacular theatre experience." Steve Allen at Stage Door St. Louis says it's a "beautiful, powerful and heart-wrenching experience," while Judy Newmark at the Post-Dispatch praises the "fluid, crystal-clear production." I could go on, but you get the idea. We saw it last weekend and were completely captivated. The title, FYI, comes from the Sherlock Homes story Silver Blaze, and refers to the importance of something that didn't happen as a clue in a murder case.

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Dot
Photo: Phil Hamer

The Black Rep presents the St. Louis premiere of the comedy/drama Dot through September 24. "In DOT, Dotty Shealey and her three grown children are gathering once more for the holidays at the Shealey house (always a wild affair there.) But this year, there's more to deal with than exchanging gifts. Dotty is struggling to hold onto her memory, while her children are fighting to balance care for their mother and for themselves. Warm, funny and touching, DOT grapples unflinchingly with aging parents and midlife crises in the heart of a West Philly neighborhood." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org.

My take: When I first saw this play in the spring of 2015 at the Humana Festival, I wrote that the combination of script, acting, and direction was so perfect that it just blew me away. The Black Rep's production appears to be doing it justice. "Ron Himes directs the show with compassion and finesse as well as a keen sense of comedy," writes Tina Farme at KDHX, "mining every line for every layer of meaning. The cast responds marvelously, keeping pace with the constantly shifting tone and building tension." This is a plays that deals with a serious issue in a funny and yet compassionate manner. Playwright Colman Domingo's characters are all fully fleshed out and his portrayal of the effects of dementia on both Dotty and her family is vividly real. As someone who had a parent that went through this, I speak from experience. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in Dot, as well as many that call for a hanky. Be prepared.

Symphony Preview: Merry Mozart, September 23 and 24, 2017

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In a new biography of Mozart, English author and Classic FM presenter John Suchet notes that, despite a life with its share of personal, professional, and financial trials, Mozart was "surely the happiest composer who ever lived."

Mozart, as drawn by Doris Stock, 1789

If you doubt that, just listen to the overture to Mozart's 1786 comic opera Le nozze di Figaro, the work that opens this weekend's (September 23 and 24) St. Louis Symphony concerts-the first in an all-Mozart series of three programs. From the racing eighth notes of its jovial opening to its exuberant coda around four minutes later, this is music that, as René Spencer Saller writes in her program notes, perfectly "conjures up the opera's mood of zany brilliance and pell-mell seduction."

The opera itself was a popular and artistic success but, like far too many of Mozart's projects, a commercial flop. Still, the overture-which was written after the opera was completed and which uses no tunes from the opera itself-never fails to delight.

Up next will be Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, written towards the end of 1784 when Mozart was in his late 20s. He had just abandoned a secure but unsatisfying gig in Salzburg to make his mark in Vienna, then the musical capital of the Germanic music world. In a not entirely successful attempt to raise funds, the composer wrote and performed a number of piano concertos, including this one, for the public and the court.

In notes for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, John Mangum points out that Mozart "had initially found great success" in Vienna but "[h]e soon discovered that the city's audiences were capricious and fickle, and that no one composer could keep their ears for long." Still, this concerto was a great showcase for Mozart's talent as both a composer and a pianist. "Pitched between exuberance and elegance," writes Ms. Saller, "it requires both technical prowess and a light touch." It also uses counterpoint in a way that reminds us of the fact that Mozart was spending his Saturday afternoons playing Bach scores at the home of Baron van Swieten.

The Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat major that comes next in the program was first performed in the last year of Mozart's life, when the composer's physical and fiscal health were both at a low ebb. You wouldn't know that from the music, though. Yes, the opening movement is more lyrical than exuberant and the music does take what the BBCs Linsday Kemp calls "frequent turns to the minor," but overall this doesn't really sound like the resigned farewell commentators thought it was before they found out that it was mostly written three years earlier in 1888.

Emanuel Ax
Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzucco

At the keyboard for this mini-Mozart series will be the renowned Emanuel Ax. As I have noted in the past, Mr. Ax is a musician who can make the piano dance as well as sing, both of which he'll need to do for this weekend's concertos. He has displayed a good rapport with maestro David Robertson on his previous appearances here, which is all to the good.

This first concert in the Mozart mini-festival will conclude with the composer's last and, as far as I'm concerned, his greatest symphony. "I believe it is the mark of true genius," writes Mr. Suchet, "that when external circumstances are bleak, creativity may not only continue, but soar," and soar is what the Symphony No. 41 in C major (known as the "Jupiter" symphony, although nobody is sure why) certainly does. But don't take my word for it; here's Tom Service, writing for The Guardian in 2014:

For me, this C major symphony is written at the furthest edges of the possible for Mozart, in terms of seeing just how many different expressive and compositional contrasts he can cram into a single symphony. And he's not doing that for the sake of reconciling these opposites or to create a greater unity (the kind of thing that we like to imagine Mozart was up to, because we prefer to think of him as a romantic idealist rather than an 18th century humanist). Rather, I think he's trying to achieve a complexity of emotional experience and richness of invention that is poised - sometimes on this side, sometimes on the other! - of a musical cliff-edge of coherence. A bit like the mixed metaphors of that sentence; what I mean is that this is a symphony of extremes, something that's symbolised in the juxtaposition of the martial and the plangent in the two ideas you hear in the symphony's very first four bars.

Actually, you need not even take his word for it. René Jacobs and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra have a corker of a recording recommended by Mr. Service that you can hear on that great repository of copyright violations, YouTube. If you haven't had a chance to become acquainted with the remarkable music already, this is a darned good way to do it.

The essentials: David Robertson conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, with pianist Emanuel Ax, in an all-Mozart program Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., September 23 and 24. Performances take place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.