New productions by the Muny and Union Avenue Opera are on the list this weekend.
New This Week:
 |
Candide
Photo by Dan Donovan |
Union Avenue Opera presents Leonard Bernstein's
Candide Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, through July 13. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. The opera is sung in English with projected English text. For more information, visit
unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.
My take: It has been 25 years since Opera Theatre did their production of the often-revised Bernstein classic—which is, as it happens, exactly as long as Union Avenue Opera has been in existence. As I note
in my review, this version of the show is a worth successor to the excellent one OTSL offered us all those years ago. I can't recommend it strongly enough.
 |
Cinderella
Photo courtesy of The Muny |
The Muny presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's
Cinderalla opening on Monday, July 8, at 8:15 p.m. and running through Tuesday, July 16. "A magical evening awaits, but we mustn't be late! This Rodgers and Hammerstein treasure began as one of the most-watched television programs in history and was finally produced on Broadway in 2013, receiving nine Tony Award nominations. With winsome charm and irresistible fantasy, the score features shoe-in favorites, including "In My Own Little Corner," "The Prince is Giving a Ball" and "Ten Minutes Ago." "It's Possible" this timeless tale will have your heart soaring and prove, once and for all, dreams really can come true." Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information:
muny.org.
My take: I'm usually suspicious of re-writes of classical musicals, but this 2013 makeover of the 1957 made-for-TV classic (which starred Julie Andrews, fresh from her Broadway success in
My Fair Lady) was nominated for nine Tony Awards when it appeared on the Great White Way (despite very mixed reviews), and the Muny's new production has gotten high marks for the strength of its cast and it innovative look. Not everyone is impressed here either, but it looks like fun, and you have to give playwright Douglas Carter Beane credit for giving the show a contemporary spin. Plus, all the hit tunes from the original are still there (although some have new lyrics).
No comments:
Post a Comment