Chuck's Choices for the weekend of October 19, 2018

New items include cabaret shows from Mariposa Artists and the Gaslight Cabaret Festival as well as a provocative drama at Mustard Seed and a look a what might have happened after that final scene in Ibsen's A Doll's House.

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New This Week:

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Lianne Marie Dobbs and
William Michals

The Gaslight Cabaret Festival presents Lianne Marie Dobbs and William Michals in Broadway's Greatest Hits of All Time on Friday and Saturday, October 19 and 20, at 8 p.m. "The show that every musical-theater lover has been waiting for. The songs that made Broadway great, that made your heart soar, that you sing leaving the theatre and in the shower! You will hear many of the greatest Broadway songs of all time performed by two of Broadway's most acclaimed voices." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: When I see shows like this in the lineup, I wish I could be in more than one place at the same time. If I weren't already committed to other events both nights, I would definitely be at the Gaslight for this show. It looks like sheer heaven for musical theatre fans like me. Go and enjoy, and consider coming early for dinner at the West End Grill next door.

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A Doll's House, Part 2
Photo by Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath through November 4. "Hnath's audacious sequel, written more than 135 years after Henrik Ibsen's original, hit Broadway in 2017 like a sneak attack. Ibsen's familial drama remains a foundational piece of theatre, with a still-controversial ending in which a married woman chooses to walk out on her family. But Hnath took the themes and characters of that familiar classic and flipped them on their heads, imagining what would happen if protagonist Nora Helmer returned home 15 years after her dramatic exit." 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: I'm a great admirer of the work of playwright Lucas Hnath. His plays Death Tax and The Christians (both of which had their world premiere's at the Humana Festival in Louisville) are very strong and very different, so I'm interested to see what his revisionist take on Ibsen's classic looks like. Reviews have been very favorable. "Re-imagining a character such as Nora... is illuminating," writes Andrea Braun at STL Limelight. "A Doll’s House, Part 2 provides a deeper examination of what’s going on with her, shows how her actions may have affected one of her children, and, at long last, lets us hear from Torvald. The play got a slew of awards and nominations; it deserves them." "Director Timothy Near," writes Ann Lemmons Pollack, "gives us a play that is both period and modern. It balances both sides beautifully." I'm looking forward to seeing this on Saturday.

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Nina Gabinelli

Mariposa Productions presents Here I Am, An Evening of Song With Nina Gabinelli on Saturday, October 20, at 8 pm. "Here I Am is a beautifully crafted mix of songs and storytelling. As Nina tells us about her childhood dream, then years as an actress/singer in NYC, and the struggle to reignite her passion, after leaving the city 20 years ago, we witness both her pains and her successes. Following several sold out performances in NYC and Aspen, help welcome this St. Louis native home to where it all began. David Dyer, musical director, arranger and accompanist has played for singers from Aspen to Mykonos. His talents continue to astound. Creative direction is credited to the always amazing, and overly talented Lina Koutrakos. The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com

My take: I have never seen Ms. Gabinelli perform, but Robert Breig's Mariposa Artists has brought so many great cabaret acts to local stages that I'm inclined to just take his word for it that she's worth seeing. Besides, she's originally a local gal and her director, Lina Koutrakos, is one of the best int he business.

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The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

Mustard Seed Theatre presents The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, through October 28. “In this irreverent exploration of the afterlife of Judas Iscariot, will sin or grief or grace prevail? This brutal dark comedy puts love and justice on trial. Adult language and situations, not appropriate for children.” 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: How can you not like the concept of this show? Still consumed with guilt, Judas has had enough of Hell and wants a new trial. Witnesses include Freud, Mother Teresa, Pilate and, of course, Satan himself. In his review for STL Today, Calvin Wilson says that the script "is a droll, poignant and surreally intriguing meditation on nothing less than the meaning of life. And this production is outstanding." At STL Limelight, Lynn Venhaus says the production "is an extraordinary achievement for all involved. It’s tough, tender, edgy and above all, heartfelt." This is another one of those shows I'd see if only I had one of those time turners that J.K. Rowling describes in her Harry Potter books.

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Held Over:

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Clayton Community Theatre presents the drama The Laramie Project Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through October 21. "Based on the true story of the death of Matthew Shepard, the 21-year-old victim of an anti-gay hate crime in 1998 in Laramie, Wyoming, The Laramie Project unfolds through the words of people in Laramie who were interviewed by members of Tectonic Theater Company in the 18 months following Matthew Shepard's death, creating a portrait of the community and key individuals in the aftermath of the event and as the victim's killers were brought to trial and convicted." Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre. For more information, call 314-721-9228 or visit placeseveryone.org.

My take: While crime in general continues to decrease in the USA, hate crime is on the rise. The story of Matthew Shepard's murder may be two decades old, but the ugly thinking that prompted it is, if anything, more prevalent now than it was then.

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Raging Skillet
Photo by Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents Raging Skillet by Jacques Lemarre Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm, through October 21. New Jewish Theatre serves up the opening entrée to its 21st season with a tasty adaptation of celebrity Chef Rossi's autobiographical memoir, Raging Skillet - equal parts book launch, cooking demonstration, heaping helping of comedy and a side of Jewish mother guilt. When Rossi's Jewish mother discovers the microwave, home-cooked meals become a thing of the past. What starts as a rebellion against her Orthodox parents, chauvinism in the kitchen and the pressures of conformity ends with Rossi becoming New York's #1 punk-rock, Jewish, Lesbian caterer. This hilarious and heartfelt new comedy is based on her true-life story." 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: With the opening of Raging Skillet, we now have two plays in town in which food is a central theme. Upstream's Chef (see below) closes this weekend but the New Jewish show is only in its second weekend. In his review for Ladue News, Mark Bretz writes that this "humorous, pleasant skirmish between an iron-willed mother and her equally defiant daughter, who have more in common than they might think...All three of the performers are top-notch in their portrayals, keeping their audience transfixed with the over-the-top comedy as well as some surprising moments of poignancy. "