New productions by the Muny and Max and Louie join the Grand Center Theatre Crawl on an already crowded list of recommendations.
New This Week:
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1776
Photo courtesy of The Muny |
The Muny presents the musical
1776 opening on Thursday, June 27, at 8:15 p.m. and running through July 3rd. "With the American Revolution underway, a nation's independence is ready to be claimed. The three-time Tony Award-winning 1776 sets ablaze the historic signing of the Declaration of Independence and illuminates the personalities, passions and compromises that created a nation. Featuring a telling score that includes "Sit Down, John," "He Plays the Violin" and "Momma Look Sharp," this Muny production will mesmerize, delight and inspire you." Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information:
muny.org.
My take: While
1776 is unquestionably fictional and compresses and rearranges history in order to create viable theatre, there's no doubt that it is, at heart true to the story of the political and personal conflicts that eventuall led to American independence. It's entirely unlike a conventional musical and, in fact, it holds the record for the longest scene in a musical without any music, with over a half-hour passing between the fourth and fifth songs during the first act. There's no singing or dancing chorus and nearly all of the 28 named characters are well-drawn individuals. It's a remarkable piece of musical theatre and the Muny's production is first rate.
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Fire Shut Up In My Bones
Photo by Eric Woolsey |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents
Fire Shut Up In My Bones by Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmons, based on the memoir by columnist Charles Blow, through June 29. "One moment can change everything. When Charles discovers that his cousin has returned to his Louisiana hometown, he races home from college to confront his past. Memories and shadows surround Charles as he strives to move beyond a cycle of violence and forge a brave new path. Terence Blanchard, composer of OTSL's sold-out hit Champion, teams up with screenwriter Kasi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou) for a haunting, powerful, and tender coming-of age story inspired by a memoir celebrated as "stunning" (Essence), "riveting" (Chicago Tribune), and "exquisite" (The New York Times)." The opera runs approximately two hours and 25 minutes with one intermission and is performed in English with English supertitles. 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:
opera-stl.org call 314-961-0644.
My take: A world premiere is always important, and while I
was not as impressed by this work as others have been, there's no doubt that it gets an excellent production by Opera Theatre.
St. Louis Public Radio presents the
Grand Center Theatre Crawl on Friday from 7-10 pm. and Saturday at from 2-5 and 7-10 pm, June 28 and 29, at various locations in the Grand Center Arts District. Join St. Louis Public Radio for the finest offerings of the bustling St. Louis theatre scene at the Grand Center Theatre Crawl. Rotate through venues in Grand Center to get free access to 24 local theatre groups in short performances." Featured theatre companies Equally Represented Arts, Insight Theatre Company, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble, Prison Performing Arts, R-S Theatrics, The Midnight Company, and West End Players Guild. For more information:
stlpublicradio.org
My take: Here's a chance to get sneak previews of some of what's coming up on local stages. Think of it as a kind of theatrical tasting menu. And for free, no less.
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Indecent
Photo courtesy of Max and Louie |
Max and Louie Productions presents
Indecent Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm through June 30. "Winner of numerous awards including an acclaimed Tony-winning run on Broadway, "Indecent" by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, is the true story of a groundbreaking scandalous play and the courageous artists who risked their careers and lives to perform it. " Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square in Grand Center. For more information:
maxandlouie.com.
My take: Probably the most succinct summary of this production comes
from Ann Lemmons Pollack: "
Indecent is a beautiful, heavy-going drama. Paula Vogel’s play...tackles censorship, homophobia and antisemitism in an utterly seductive manner. It’s themes are serious-to-downright-grim, but it’s mesmerizing. The Max and Louie production of it at the Grandel gives it all they’ve got and does it proud." Other critics have been equally quick to praise the show.
Held Over:
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The Boy from Oz
Photo by Peter Wochniak |
Stages St. Louis presents the musical
The Boy From Oz through June 30. "Dazzling and hilarious as the legendary Peter Allen himself, THE BOY FROM OZ follows the Australian singer-songwriter from his humble beginnings performing in backcountry pubs to his international stardom beside such Hollywood icons as Judy Garland and her daughter Liza Minnelli. " 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: Peter Allen's many fine songs have been a real blessing to cabaret artists over the years. This is a show I very much wanted to see but just couldn't because of our travels. Here's your last chance to enjoy it before it closes.
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| The Caper on Aisle 6 |
Circus Flora presents its new show,
The Caper on Aisle 6 through June 30 under the air-conditioned, red-and-white, big top tent in Grand Center. "A trip to the grocery store is not usually the most exciting part of our day. But the market is a place of intrigue and excitement in "The Caper in Aisle 6." An ancient and powerful substance, long thought to be gone from the Earth, is found in the unlikeliest of places: aisle six of the local grocery store. What secrets does aisle six hold, and what adventures will it set in motion?" For more information:
circusflora.org.
My take: If it's summer, it must be time for Circus Flora. Although I was born and have spent most of my life in St. Louis, there are some local traditions and institutions that I never have and probably never will understand. (White Castle, for example, or the business about asking where you went to high school. What's THAT all about, anyway?) Circus Flora, though, is a St. Louis tradition that anyone can embrace. And it's nice that they now have a permanent home instead of temporary quarters on the Powell Hall lot.
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The Coronation of Poppea
Photo by Eric Woolsey |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Monteverdi's
The Coronation of Poppea through June 28. "The fight for the throne is never dignified. Poppea will stop at nothing to become Empress, no matter who she has to blackmail, betray, or kill. And Emperor Nero, who is infatuated with Poppea, is not thinking with his head. Separately, they're bad enough. Together, they will turn Rome upside down. Sexy, bloodthirsty, and unapologetic, this opera is the best kind of political thriller." The opera runs approximately two hours and 50 minutes with one intermission and is performed in English with English supertitles. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. For more information:
experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.
My take: Virtue punished. Wisdom dismissed out of hand. Just another day with
Fox and Friends. Or maybe an opera written in 1643 that's sadly relevant today. I think
this production jumps the shark a bit in the final act, but it's wickedly entertaining up to that point.
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The Marriage of Figaro
Photo by Eric Woolsey |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Mozart's comedy
The Marriage of Figaro running through June 29. "Life at court is about to get complicated. The maid Susanna is determined to wed her fiancé, Figaro, while the Count is equally determined to add her to his list of conquests. But Susanna and Figaro won't allow one self-entitled nobleman to ruin their happy ending! They each hatch their own plots to teach their master a lesson. What follows is a whirlwind day of romantic intrigue, cunning schemes, and uproarious fun. One of Mozart's most beloved masterpieces,
The Marriage of Figaro reminds us all that love will always prevail, and forgiveness is always within reach." The opera runs three hours and ten minutes with one intermission and is sung in English with English supertitles. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. For more information:
opera-stl.org call 314-961-0644.
My take: Mozart's opera is over 230 years old but (as I wrote
in my review) the new Opera Theatre of Saint Louis production is as fresh as (to quote W.S. Gilbert) “the flowers that bloom in the spring, tra-la.” Credit director Mark Lamos, whose theatrical resume is substantial, for keeping the pace tight and respecting both the material and his audience enough to make sure the comic business is all based on the characters, the text, and the music.
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Rigoletto
Photo by Eric Woolsey |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Verdi's
Rigoletto running through June 30. "There is no purer love than that of a father for his daughter - and no more impossible task than protecting her from the world. Rigoletto is a bitter court jester who serves the Duke of Mantua, a lecherous womanizer. Together, they are despised throughout the city. But alone, Rigoletto is all tenderness when it comes to his innocent young daughter, Gilda. Little does he know that an ominous curse is about to take its toll. When the Duke seduces Gilda, only to then abandon her, the enraged father swears vengeance. Set to some of Verdi's most powerful music, this tale of innocence lost is wrenchingly poignant and all too human." The opera runs approximately two hours with one intermission and is performed in English with English supertitles. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. For more information:
experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.
My take: Rigoletto is dark and disturbing stuff, especially in
this menacing production. Not all of the director's decisions make sense, but most of them work very well. And the singing and acting could hardly be better.
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